Christmas, New Years and Beyond...

This was a good Christmas.  We didn't expect it to be, but overall it went really well.  Sometimes you think you aren't going to have anything to spend on your kids (husband included), but some how it works out that they all get what they wanted.
Madison got to play Santa and hand out presents.  It's a tradition that a Santa hat is worn to do this job.  But this year Meme found a new Santa had that sings and dances on your head! Still pictures don't do it justice.

The most exciting gifts were from Ben. Madison got a Bike, Taylor a Crystal owl, Jordan a cellphone and Bailey an ipod touch!  When Jordan saw her cellphone she didn't know what it was.  It's a Twist phone.  You don't slide it or flip it, it twists.  It looked like just a blank screen, until we told her to twist the top, when it pooped open she was so excited!  Bailey LOVED her ipod touch! As you can see by the picture.  It wasn't charged, so she couldn't play with it until later.  Now it's her constant companion!

Here lady is waiting for her gift.

Here Lady is hating her gift.

Lady is having puppies around February 17th.  We are hoping for February 14th, but there are no guarantee's with anyone's pregnancy.  Except those who get a c-section, but we aren't going to that expense with a dog just to have the puppies die because they needed more time in the cooker!

We spent New Years at Jason's parents with Suz and her two younger kids.  It was fun.  The boys couldn't seem to figure out how to play with out killing each other.  And even the girls were over tired and cranky.  I think it's better when these kids can get 8-10 hours of sleep and then play!  (No pictures, not because there was nothing to take pictures of but because I forgot my camera)  We went sledding down a HUGE hill!  That was so much fun!  Even lady enjoyed it until the sled tipped over, then she just trotted away like it was nothing and the person on the sled got a face full of snow.  It helps to have 4 legs!

I sent in Lady's information to the newspaper to have it published as Pet of the Month.  They said it will show up in March.  It's only the local paper, so I'll see if I remember to take a picture of it to show it off here.

I really can't think of anything else exciting going on.

I lied, I just thought of one.

Ben is thinking about going on his mission early.  I guess the Ward or Stake Senior Missionary couple, the Stake President and the Bishop have decided that Ben should leave now for his mission.  He still has some things he needs to put into order.  But once he does they want him to go.  This messes with his entire plan.  And he doesn't like it when plans change.  He sets a goal and works towards it.  If things change it makes him feel out of control.  So he is praying about it to see if they are prompted by the Lord, or if they are just trying to see him off sooner.

Personally, I'd like to see him go sooner.  He seems to be stuck to me.  He's working, he's being a good kid, but he has a life to live and it's like he's waiting until October to start it.  So I prayed that he would find an answer, the right answer.

So it will be exciting if he goes early.  It will be just another day if it turns out he has too much to put into order first.

Oh, and our friends, the Dahl family, Mark, Kat and Canon, came over for Christmas day.  They have no family in the area, so we invited them to come with us.  Here Canon is playing with his giggling Elmo that TJ and Co bought for him.  Isn't he so cute!  The girls just love him!  We have to be careful though, I think Bailey and Jordan might love him to death.  Unintentionally, but literally I'm afraid.