the last of 2009

I have to post the last of 2009's Christmas before we welcome 2010. McKay has wanted (and waited patiently) for a DS for a little over a year now. I wouldn't ever buy one but she finally got one for Christmas. That wasn't all. McKay has a fascination for otters. She absolutely LOVES them. On her list was a build-a-bear otter so that is what we got her. So while she is trying to beat Kirby, she is loving Molly.

P.S. I've got a New Year's Resolution list going in my head. I've also got a bet going with Jacob on one thing (if I accept). We'll see come midnight!

a chalk board and a white board!

Katanya was so excited all Christmas season. Each day she asked when Christmas was coming. She also grasped the concept of Santa and being good. In fact, one evening a friend stopped by as Santa and he asked if she had been good and if he should bring presents. She answered, "No, not today. (She had just thrown her controller at Cruz's head. Gotta give her points for being honest.) She has loved her "chalk board and white board. (I just realized that Santa has followed Hazel's gifting patterns.) Katanya is also always toting her Tinkerbell doll from her aunt with the movie from grandma. She must be a pixie girl!

Kirsten and Eva

One of Kirsten's present was a (target made) American Doll. She had to make her a name necklace to go with the one she made at the beach. When she gets busy and has something to do, she makes sure that either Dad or I are watching her and holding her. It was funny and I even did a double take when I saw Jacob carry a doll around last night. I love the fact that the kids are still playing and being nice today.

final product

We have had a GREAT and Merry Christmas this year at home. The kids played from a little past 8 this morning to almost midnight tonight. I'll bring a few highlights over the next couple days.
Jacob and I finished Cruz's "Idaho Falls City Map" late last night. We sprayed the acrylic coating on a little before midnight. I got up at 6 am and quickly wrapped it and put it under the tree. It was from Jacob and I but he had been waiting so patiently to see his presents under the tree. This was a week long project and I don't think that you could pay me to do another one, (at least anytime soon.) We drove around the town earlier in the week and took pictures of the buildings I wanted on the map. I wanted it as personal as we could get. Cruz loved it with all the "match box" cars that he got with it to go with the city. We even added our "pit" and equipment to the fun as well.

Sneak Peak

Here is a sneak peak when we started on Sunday evening with Cruz's present. I knew what I wanted but I have a hard time putting it to paper but luckily I have a talented and "visionary" husband. Together we have stayed up late the past three nights and worked on this (as well as I have shut myself in my room and worked on it yesterday.) If you look at the time stamp, that is correct and not fixed. One more night and it will be done. Hopefully I can just make it that far.

I'm so excited to see Cruz's face when he opens it. Although, I don't know which kid will like it more. As I sat in my room tonight drawing, McKay ran to Cruz's toys and started playing with it. I guess I know what to get her for her birthday.

McKay's first Christmas....

at home. McKay is excited this year to finally be able to spend Christmas at home (the first for this home.) The last time she spent Christmas at home was in 2003 (below). Every other year she goes to her other dad's.In 2005 we were in Hawaii (no complaints) a couple weeks before and with Betsy for Christmas.
In 2007 we spent Christmas and New Year's with Betsy again!
This year we have decided to stay at home and the kids can't wait.

This is how it all starts....

McKay wanted an mp3 player for Christmas.....next I'm sure will be a cell phone....and then a car. : ) But to give her credit, the only other thing on her list was a World Geography factbook. She wants to memorize all the facts and all the capitols. So far she has the U.S. and Canada done. McKay loves to spend time with Aspen.
....and she loves to just "hand around".

That's our family in Texas. Back to reality.

Lack of....

Lack of free time, lack of boredom, lack of sanity =

Lack of Blogging.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

We left for our trip on Wednesday evening. We had a few setbacks (brakes, too much stuff, and loading a trailer).

Thursday we ran errands and spent a night at & with Keli & Sean. (see here) (Kirsten's pink hair will be explained later)

We left Friday morning, (not as early as we hoped) but we were on our way. At midnight we finally ran into a major snowstorm. We had avoided bad weather all day. It then took us 2 hours and a lot of doubt in my mind to get 27 miles to the nearest town.

Saturday we were off again. We were in New Mexico, and about 20 minutes into our "stressful" morning drive (very slick roads) we were the first ones to come up on a rollover. Jake and I stopped and helped the family. Luckily no one was hurt but the highway patrol couldn't get there for two hours. They ended up being from Austin and had been driving all night. Jake helped find a tow truck (the parents didn't speak very good english) and then a couple of them rode with us and the rest got into a van that had been traveling with them. We were off to Austin once again.

Our kids have been used to traveling and didn't say a word. It ended up taking an extra 5 hours and they were great! We dropped the other kids off at a local WalMart and then we finally got to Betsy's at midnight.

The rest goes as follows:

Relax, eat, relax, watch movies, eat, and believe it or not Betsy and I have actually been running (starting on Christmas)! I have a goal of improving greatly on the Moab marathon. (btw Karl, it ended up being less then what Jake told you. : ) yay for travel agencies.)

It's been a great couple of days and we are looking forward to another great week here.

I'll follow up with a Christmas post as soon as I find the pictures.

Merry Christmas to Everyone once again. We love and miss you all!