Christmas 2008

On Saturday the 20th we went to Grandma Beddes' house for a Christmas party. We had so much fun! She had put a lot of time and effort into planning some games for the adults and the kids. We had good food and lots of presents. She's great...she puts all the gifts for each child in one Big HUGE bag and lets the kids have at it all at the same time. The kids always get clothes, toys and books from her (and grandpa) and they love it! This year Grandpa Beddes spent lots of time on his gift to the kids...he MADE blocks for the boys! He made them all with his hands and a few tools. The boys were so excited and I cried because that is what you call a gift from the heart!

We also opened presents from the gift exchange and Benjamin could hardly wait to tear into this big one with his name on it. JeriDawn got him a big Thomas the Tank Engine Tent. He absolutely loves it!

On Christmas Eve, we drove to my grandparents house and had the annual Steele Family Nativity. Benjamin got to be Joseph and he did a great job (no speaking parts are involved!) Alexander was a sheep and he would not let go of me so he is not in any pictures.

Just after the nativity and talent show, we had a special visitor. Benjamin was the first one up there to sit on his lap and he did not cry one bit.

Alexander did okay too!

Christmas morning was at grandma's and Santa found us there! We were really blessed this year and got some great stuff from the big guy. Benjamin got some big trucks for the sandbox we plan on having in the spring (hopefully!) He also got some much needed clothes and of coarse some candy in his stocking. Alexander got some cars and a train. We all got the traditional box of cereal and an orange in the toe of our stocking. Taun got me a gift certificate to the spa. That was a huge surprise!

The boys got matching Thomas jammies on Christmas Eve.

We were able to stay at my parents house for a few days around Christmas (Thank You Taun!) The kids had fun playing in the snow with cousins and riding in the sled pulled by the 4 wheeler. On Friday the 26th the kids all wanted to go to the church parking lot to have a bigger space for the sled so my sister and her husband took them. They had just gotten all ready to take off and somehow Benjamin fell out of the sled and it was pulled right over the top of him. My sister and her super-human strength pulled the sled off of him and rushed him back to grandma's house. He was screaming "I want a bandaid! I want a bandaid!" We put him in the car and took him to the instacare and after waiting for an hour the doctor informed us that he would be okay and no stitches were needed. He did so good letting the doctor look at his eye. He has a black eye now and lots of scrapes and bruises but he is fine. How lucky we were!

snow! Snow! SNOW!

On Saturday, we went to my parents house to trade them cars. (Ours was having some work done so they let us borrow their Durango, lets just say I want one!) We only had 1/2 and hour before we needed to get on the road again to Taun's parents house for the Beddes Christmas Party. My dad wanted to take Benjamin and Alex on a ride. We borrowed snow clothes from grandma (she has everything you need and even knows where to locate it!) Alex did not like it one bit but Benjamin loved every minute of it and did not want to leave.

This is Taun and Benjamin going for a ride.

I think he is having a good time.

Nobody was there to ride with him so he went alone.

He had the time of his life. Hopefully grandpa will have his four wheeler out and all gased up for Christmas Day.

Hyrum Holiday

We went to Hyrum Holiday at Hardware Ranch yesterday. We got a picture taken with the Elk wearing a Santa hat (Santa was no where to be found) and then we went for a "sleigh" ride around where the elk were supposed to be. (They had not come down yet.) We drove 20 miles through the snow to get there and even though the things we went for were not there, we had a great time.

Time Sure FLIES!!

I can hardly believe that it is December already. We sure have had a busy time lately (pretty normal for us.) In November we spent lots of time with extended family (mostly mine.) My parents came and spent 4 days with us and while Taun and I were at work they worked their tail ends off at our house. Have I mentioned how wonderful my parents are?! We had Taun's family over for an early Thanksgiving Dinner and it was delish! For Thanksgiving we went to my mom's side of the family and had dinner in my uncle's basement with the other 99 or so people who were there. I love getting together with family but I really hope that next time we will go to the church or something so that we can actually enjoy the company. It was great just a little claustrophobic.

I went to see Twilight with my sisters, mom, and sisters in law. It was a great movie and I am now reading the books. I am really liking it more than I thought I would.

We are all done with Christmas shopping. If only we could find time to put the tree up and decorate it!

We were driving past Taun's work the other day and Benjamin noticed how "daddy" had put lights up at his work. (For those of you who do not know, Taun HATES putting up lights, so we usually don't have them up) Benjamin asked me if daddy would put lights up at our house and I told him he would have to ask daddy. When Taun got in the car Benjamin was quick to ask and Taun (like always) pleased him by saying yes! It looks like we might be having lights on the house this year. YEAH!!