Christmas Time

For Christmas we headed up to Utah to visit family and could not have asked for a better time.

We spent Christmas in Ivans, UT at Grandma and Grandpa's new house (and we didn't break anything) and loved the beautiful scenary of the red rocks.

The best part was having Jenine's and Cheryl's family there. I loved it when a couple of families are all under 1 roof, you get to know each other really well that way. It was actually great and I think we were spoiled because our little family got our own room a bathroom.

Chris loved spending time with his family and hiking with his parents and Cheryl.

Keaton couldn't wait to play in the snow, the 1st thing he did when he saw the snow was build a snowman and Trini (the great cousin she is), was outside with him and at this point it was raining. Brrrrrr, I was watching happily inside the nice warm house.

The snow didn't stay too long in Ivans (thank goodness). Keaton loved climbing on "elephant rock" in the backyard and him and Elias found a hiding spot.

Sara, Trini, Esther, and Mercedez are having too much fun with Keaton and Xanders new christmas present

Joy to the World

It was a very looooong day with too many events and parties going on, but we made it to the church party because Santa was going to make an appearance.

Keaton couldn't wait. When Santa walked out onto the floor and Keaton caught sight of him, he almost burst into tears, he was so excited. He had one smile from ear to ear. He was the first child to give Santa a great big hug and there was a lot of love in that hug.

Xander enjoyed Santa, but I think he enjoyed the stocking of candy he received from him a little more.

After Santa left, Keaton ran outside to look for his reindeer. He has really been into Christmas this year. Chris and I have used it a little to our advantage and have told him what he might receive if he is naughty,coal. He then tells everyone that they need to be nice so they don't get coal,even the missionaries.

Keaton and Xander are on Santa's good list this year!!!

Couldn't resist snuggly Santa. I have actually been in a bah hum bug mood this season and my family have suffered from my awful attitude. I realized that I was trying to be super woman and help everyone else out except my family and myself.

So I turned to my Saviour in prayer for a change in attitude and refocused my life on what is important and I have had a lovely week.

Pres. Monson said,"Times change; years speed by; but Christmas continues sacred."

The boys picked out a new Christmas tie for Chris, it has the whole Peanut gang on it, something Keaton is into right now. Chris puts it on for the first time and Keaton says with a lot of cheer, "That is the best tie ever! Everyone is going to love your tie!"

Reindeer Pokey--Keatons preschool class performed in the school Christmas program and it was so adorable to see all these children dressed as reindeers and singing the reindeer pokey. I had to fight back the tears when Keatons class walked through the doors.

We signed Keaton up for basketball this past season. He really wanted soccer, but we had other activities and so we were available the day they practice for bball, so I signed him up. He was nervous the first day because he thought it was going to have to shoot the basket at the height the professionals do, so when we walked into the gym his face lit up when he saw all the nets lowered.

I wish I can say it turned out to be his favorite sport, but after his last game he said,"Mom, I told you I wanted you to sign me up for soccer, next time do that, okay."

We have a bball hoop at home and he never wanted to practice outside of his bball practice, but he always had fun act practice and the games, but Keaton preferred to be more social than really play. By the end of the season he was a better dribbler and shooter.

He loves his trophy and thinks it is absolutely amazing.

In my heart I think I secretly wanted him to like it right away, he has height and he could get a good college scholarship in bball, but I am not going to be a pushy Mom. He has many strengths and lots of energy so I think I am going to try for swimming, since they don't have soccer this season.

What would I do without grandparents,the boys great grandparents? I wouldn't get nearly as much done, thats for sure. Once a week Xander got to go to Grandma and Grandpa A's while I grudgingly attended a parenting class once a week for 10 weeks for Keaton to go to free preschool.

Xander cheerfully went each week. My boys are so very blessed to get to know their great grandparents. Xander had a routine that he would do with them and he is stubborn and determined so he made sure they didn't stray from their normal routine.

Battle of the Wills--Who is more stubborn in the family, Mom or Xander?It started out as a normal laundry day and when Xander was outside I quickly ran a grabbed his big blanket (which we try to only allow him to sleep with, but he normally end up carrying it throughout the house) and put it in the wash. I thought I will get it done without him even noticing, not quite.

He brings a chair to peak in the washing machine and what does he see? His blanket.

X says " I see my blanket"

Mom "Its getting cleaned"

X "No dirty, I want blanket"

Mom "Blanket wants to get cleaned"

This goes on for a while and finally he decides that he wants to watch it clean. Well, I can't really let him do that either because everytime he opens the machine it stop and by the rate he keeps checking on his blankets he won't have it for night time. So I confiscate all the chairs, stools, and laundry baskets and he is mad. A minute or two goes by and then I hear the washing machine stop. That boy found one of grandma's laundry baskets and he was feeling pretty proud of himself.

I finally got him to turn his attention to painting and the blanket finally got cleaned!

Every Thurs. with out fail, my boys will come running from any room in the house to stand on the gate and watch the trash trucks. This last time they went running outside they didn't realize how cold it was, 36 deg. (very cold for us sunny CA) they stand on the fence, but decided not to wait for the trash truck to finish the block before they come running back inside. X says, "It's freezing, freezing" as he is shaking his hands K says," We are turning into popsicles" as he is barefoot and has short sleeves on. True dedicated boys.

Thanksgiving Camping

We really enjoy camping so we headed out for Thanksgiving to the SD mountains to place called Cuyamaca Rancho. We got off to a rough start with each of us getting the flu, but we made it up the mountain late Wed. night in the rain where Amanda and Marshal were already were waiting for us.

Thankfully, our prayers were answered and the rain stopped long enough for Chris to set up 2 tents. He is soooo amazing , I had no strength and even though he didn't feel well he was out working. It rained throughout the night and into the morning, but we kept dry and warm.

By mid morning the rain stopped and it was beautiful.

We have grown to really love our dutch ovens while camping. We still did the Thanksgiving dinner, the turkey was done in the dutch oven and took a little over an hour and it was amazing. We had the rest of your traditional thanksgiving dinner.

On Fri. My parents came out with Patrick and Jacob and were able to hang out for the day.

At home we did the thankful tree and Keaton said: i am thankful when mom washes my sheets because then i can make my bed a slide .Sitting around eating our Thanksgiving dinner with Amanda and Marshall we all including Keaton and Xander said things that we are thankful for and the one that came up the most is family. I am so thankful for the fun time I had camping with Amand and Marshal and my little family and that we were able to have even more family come up and join us for the day.Nothing like having fun without the TV.

If you tell Grandpa Nowlin there is a lake, he is sure to bring the fishing poles. Keaton following in his grandpa's footsteps.

Xander was the most dedicated fisherman (besides grandpa Nowlin), he absolutely loved it.

You can't go home with out a catch, well at least for Grandpa Nowlin and he caught an amazing tasting Trout and I don't really like Trout, but it was fresh and good!

So we decided the grandparents needed some time alone with the grandkids fishing and the rest of the gang was trying to get some shut eye.

Trick or Treat

Keaton and Xander went out as Buzz Lightyear and Pooh Bear this year. Some Halloweens I feel I am all prepared and others I am not. Well, this year was the latter, but the boys were happy and they did have costumes. Thanks to Auntie Jenine who lets us borrow the Pooh Bear costume and as for Keaton he was happy just wearing white pjs, aslong as you called them his space suit they didn't need to be the buzz lightyear space suit. They are so happy to please at this age, I love it. The boys scored on the candy(so did Mommy)and we didn't even go very long. We met at a friends house who lives across the street from the Bob Hope house(i know, only in LA). Xander would stick his hand in the candy buckets, I had to refrain him and then he would want me to open up a candy right then and there. He must get that sweet tooth from his Daddy.

Harvest Time...My favorite Time of Year

I love Harvest Time, thanks to another Jewish holiday, Keaton had off of school, so we headed out with some friends to a pumpkin farm. The boys each got to choose a pumpkin, we got to go on a hay ride, cornfield maze, see the farm animals, and the boys favorite was go on the rides.

Tricycle on steroids...Keaton my negotiator scored free tickets using skills. This is how the conversation went.

K:Mom I really want to go on that ride(tricycle on steroids)

M: We are all out of tickets and you already chose the rides you wanted

K: That's okay, I will just ask that guy(a worker running the ride we were currently on) for more tickets

M: I don't think you will get any (i guess i am the pessimist)

K: He's my friend.

So Keaton walks up to the guy and says,"Can I please have some more tickets, I really want to ride those bikes" The man pulled out of his pocket a handful of tickets and Keaton and Xander each got to go on 2 more rides.

During our first ride Keaton would get off of the jumper go and talk to the worker, then get back in and jump some more and then decide and visit the worker again, and it all paid off for Keaton, he got to ride the tricycles on steroids.

Xander says," Look BIG pumkin," then as he tries to lift one because he thinks he is going to take one of these home to carve he says, " HEAVY"