Thanksgiving to Christmas and everything in between

OK, so here are our Holiday in review, I tried to get the pics on myself but for some reason our computer wouldn't upload, so I was dependant on Mikes help from work, (thanks Mike your the best). So for Thanksgiving this year we (White's) rented a cabin up near Brighton and went up there for a few days to celebrate and just spend time together it has been a few years since we have all been able to go on a trip together. It was so much fun and The Best Thanksgiving ever!This is a long post sorry but I hope you enjoy our holidays as much as we did.

my dad making his famous waffles for breakfast
Below is a poker game going on at the cabin, Sooo Intense! Here are the guys watching football
the kids doing crafts with our own Mary Poppins aka Shawna
another poker game
Mike and Blanca helping the kids with stuff before sitting for dinner
Thanksgiving Dinner
We had so much fun the kids were able to sled right outside the door down the driveway, one of the days they spent hours out there. We all Made Pies together on Wednesday night and cooked together Thursday morning. My dad made his famous waffles, Troy made us breakfast burritos we played other games and got in the hot tub, we girls even drove down for Black Friday at midnight... Seriously best ever.

The kids sledding down the driveway

Next in the season we had our annual dance recital, Tiffany broke it into two shows and the Dance Team was suppose to do both shows, well the first number of the first show Winter fell and sprained her ankle really bad and wasn't able to perform the rest of the day, she was heartbroken and so was I, I was really looking forward to her solo that I had yet to see. At first the Dr. (who totally looked like Uncle Buck) told us her foot was broken but then a few days later they called us back and said upon further review from radiology its just a sprain. None the less no dancing for Winter for 4 weeks.

Zarley in her number

Zar again she had a cute song this yr. Zthat you Santa Clause
Winter moments before the big injury

We went to the Nutcracker for Winters Bday with some dance friends and to watch one of her Best Friends Lexi perform.

The cake our nice neighbor made for Winter
Then came time for the preschool program, I love it, I have seen it 6 times now and still love it and can't wait for the next two with Xman. Owen knows the songs and gets so excited then kind of looks like a dud when the time comes to perform, I am wondering if he has a little stage fright.

Next in our season we had a few different Ugly sweater events. I had an ugly sweater Bunco party which was tonz of fun, Mike had an ugly sweater party at work on his bday, and Winter planned an ugly sweater day at school. She was so excited to wear her sweater to school. (thanks grandma Sharon for providing her sweater for her.)

Mike and Winter in their sweaters. notice how they pretty much hide our
Charlie Brown tree. I told you it was a sad little tree.

Audrey and Shawna at Bunco, Shawna was the winner
with her homemade sweater that really had working lights.

side note, we also had Mikes Birthday in the mix, which we celebrated on Christmas eve with his family, but I don't have any pictures of that.
Next came Christmas, we were absolutely horrible at pictures this year, we even took our camera with us and just didn't take any pictures Pathetic I think so.

the loot before the kids came down except Xavier's his is in the other corner of the room that is not shown here.

opening gifts

out of order but pics of the kids as they came down the stairs to open gifts.

On Christmas Eve we had breakfast with my family, and we read the story out of the bible and get pajama's from the pajama fairy, then I did some last minute shopping, then we headed to the Howard's for Mikes bday and there Christmas eve, which is mostly the same as ours we get pajamas and an ornament from the Christmas Tree and read Twas the Night before Christmas. This year Kerry and Our family each got a copy of the book with the recording, David reading the story and it is pretty cool. Some of the Howard's left for a while and went to church while the rest of us stayed and made cookies and just played, then we ended our night and went home to bed. In the morning we wake up and open our gifts, then my parents come over for Breakfast and to bring the kids their gifts and see what Santa brings them, I love this my grandparents use to do the same thing I Love that my parents get to see what ALL their grand kids get for Christmas, they don't watch us open but they make the rounds to every ones house to give gifts and spend some one on one time with each family, seeing that they don't have little people anymore but want to enjoy some of that fun and excitement. Then we head to the Howard's for the opening of gifts with them. I made Jackson and Wyland some superhero capes, I was quite proud of myself,(thanks for the help audge!) then we have a nice dinner and do our cracker things (English tradition). Then it was off to the studio for fun with my family. My mom hosts Christmas dinner with her family then when that ends all of us siblings and the kids exchange gifts. Shawna provided us with all the stuff to play Minute to Win It. It was a lot of fun, thanks for the game Shawna and like I said we sucked at picture taking. That wraps up our Christmas fun. New years again No pics, but we just hung out and played Poker then the next night all adults(my siblings) met for dinner with our ugly sweaters and then went to Shawna and Andrews for games. It was fun. I love how close my family is and even though there are a ton of us and it is loud and crazy we still have so much fun together and we all get along and mesh so well even though there are so many different personalities. Here's to a Happy New Year, hope its even better then last year.

Christmas

I LOVE Christmas love it my favorite holiday but I have a few complaints that have been driving me crazy so I decided to share...
1. I really can't stand the fact Christmas is such a bad word these days, I mean really If I take the time to wish you a Merry Christmas its a good thing I am not trying to offend you, I am taking the time to wish goodness and happiness upon you. If someone wished me a Happy Hanukkah, or Happy Kwanzaa I would not be offended I would just say thank you or something this drives me crazy.
2. Why oh why can't schools have Christmas parties? why do they have to be Holiday parties or winter Parties, we had Christmas parties as kids and I think we are all fine. In fact in my 5th grade class we had a Jewish student and our teacher did a whole special party where he got to tell us all about Hanukkah and we played the dradel game and all sorts of things it was really fun, and we still had a Christmas party. I have no problem with my kids learning about other "celebrations of cultures but I don't know why we cant also stay the same.
3. Kind of the same as 2. but a bit different Why do old songs have to change are we really so sensitive that a song hurts our feeling really? For Winters choir at school they have to change the words to "We wish you a merry Christmas, we wish you a happy Hanukkah, we wish you a happy Kwanzaa" really does anyone know where to find this song, no because it doesn't exist, it is just stupid. Also do you realize that some schools don't let kids sing Christmas songs if they say Christmas.
4. I can't stand when people cant spell out Christmas and they just put Xmas. Are we such a lazy ungrateful society that we cant even spell out the meaning... Christmas is suppose to be about Christ not X. I am not an overly religious person but boy does this really drive me crazy.
5. I really don't like Christmas stuff going out in stores before Halloween is even over, I know I have said it on this blog before but Thanksgiving is getting pushed out by the commercialization of Christmas.
6. I also don't like when people have to be recognized for everything, isn't Christmas about the spirit of giving? I have known some people that give so unselfishly to others and don't ever say a word about it, I have a lot of respect for these people and admire them dearly, this is the true meaning of Christmas. Santa is suppose to be this magical person who gives to everyone and gets nothing in return so when people need to be known for what they give, ugh I don't know why it bugs....
7. I hate neighbor gifts, it seems like people get so stressed about what to get there neighbors with out spending a lot of money, or just finding the time to get it all done. If you don't want to do it then just don't do it. I am a bad neighbor and I don't do them it isn't that I don't like my neighbors it is that I don't want to worry about getting them out on time or getting the right things. I feel like I am basically a single mother most the time so shopping, wrapping, school programs, regular life, family stuff, I just don't want to do it sorry neighbors.
Now I will list some of the things I love.
1. Christmas music, I love it. currently (for the past couple of years) my favorite is Alan Jackson's Let it be Christmas. look it up give it a listen I love it.
2. I love spending the individual time shopping with my kids.
3. I love finding the perfect gift for someone and giving it to them. Or watching my kids get what they really want.
4. I love how into Christmas Mike gets and how he is willing to go shopping and searching for all the right things with me.
5. I love that last year and this year Mike has taken all our gift to work with him and wraps while at work so we aren't left to wrap everything all on Christmas eve.
6. I love sub for Santa's, or being a part of them, knowing that we are helping someone that is truly less fortunate than us... We have our struggles but we don't go without and others do and knowing that your helping someone else have a better Christmas is a great feeling. On that note I love that my sisters dance studio has provided one for us to donate to for the last two yrs so we don't have to find our own Thanks Tiffany.
7. I love the preschool Christmas program I will have seen it for the 6th time next week not including watching my nieces or nephews do the same one, yet I still love it.
8. I love the goofy little Christmas ornaments my kids make for me for Christmas. I have the same one from each of my kids up to Owen so far from preschool (please pray there is enough enrollment for the 3yr old next yr so I can get one from Xavier to).
Basically I love Christmas and all the tradition that comes with it, and the new ones that we make. Follow up maybe more will come to mind on either list this is just all that is on my mind for now.

Edited to add:
Another thing I don't like about Christmas and I know so many disagree, I don't like Christmas songs sung in other languages. It drives me crazy, for some reason Felice Nave' DA (sp?) is the exception....

Happy 13th Birthday Winter

Winter turned 13 and everyone keeps asking me if it feels weird to have a teenager. To answer that no and yes. Winter has always been older than her age so it doesn't seem like a new thing to me she doesn't seem different I guess. But as Autumn put it, it does seem weird that we met 13 years ago already. Some days it seems like the time as just gone by in a flash and other days I just cant remember life without her in it so it seems longer than 13 yrs.

Winter amazes me more and more the older she gets. She has always been smart and funny and social but as she gets older I admire those qualities more and more. She has to help out a lot seeing that Mike is gone a lot and I know she doesn't love it but she does it. I think some people think we spoil her and give her everything and I guess we do but what kids these days aren't spoiled? I think she deserves a lot of it though. She is 13 just entered into middle school which is suppose to be a rough transition for us it hasn't been. She had a 4.0 last quarter, was on the honor roll was nominated for "diamondback of the month" at school, she dances about 9 hours a week plus helps student teach 2 hours a week not to mention all the babysitting she does for us. I know that we don't tell her enough how proud we are of her and all that she is doing at such a young age.

She is a beautiful dancer and it amazes me how far she has come with it. Its her passion and I hope she never loses that. She is also wickedly funny, Sometimes over the top obnoxious but still funny, I enjoy spending time with her and I think that says a lot about a 13 yr old girl. She knows everyone and people seem to flock to her and like being around her. She is very social and needs to be around people all the time.

It was a pretty mellow birthday for her but I hope she enjoyed it. I just wanted to say Happy Birthday to the most awesome teenager I know. Love you Winter.

Christmas Tree hunt

So a few weeks ago my sister Autumn sent out a text saying she was going to get tags for Christmas tress if anyone wanted to go should be at her house at 5:30 am. Its only 10 bucks for a tag and I thought OK we will give a try why not right. So a group of us met up bright and early the next morning and drove up to midway for our tags. To say the least we weren't nearly as prepared as some people. Obvious rookies but just that experience was a good time with Dapper Dan and the rest of the crew. So we planned to go the Sunday before Thanksgiving because the ranger guy told us the earlier the better for more choice on trees. So this Sunday we headed up.
I thought it was so much fun. We trudged through the snow that was "crotch" deep (Tiff's words). Xavier and Annika didn't dig it to much so lucky for us grandma Kathryn had come along for the fun and was sitting in the car with Gabby girl where Xman and Annika spent the majority of the time as well. The rest of the kids did really well as we hiked in the snow and wandered around looking for the tree that spoke to us. Another good thing Grandma and Granddad joined us, my dad had a chainsaw and nobody else brought one. Like I said before obvious rookies. Audge and Dan found their tree first and brought it down to the cars, Tom and Tiff, next or Autumn and Mitch not sure, Mike and I were the last to claim our tree for the afternoon. Unfortunately Andrew and Shawna and Corbin and Jaimie didn't have a tree speak to them and the weather was turning and time running out so we all headed home. Those lucky sons of guns get to go do it all again hopefully with better luck next time. (don't forget a saw guys). Anyway here are a few random pictures that Mike chose, there wasn't many options due to the snow and huge gloves. Our trees are very Charlie Brownish but I think I speak for us all when I say we chose them they are ours and we love them. Thanks Autumn for the great idea, I hope we all make it a new tradition I for one had a great time. Owen, Olivia, Canyon in the snow
The yucky weather as we follow Andrew up the canyon
Madz and Zar in the snow
Shawna and Xav before he gave up

How did we spend our time?

So I have been trying to upload pictures for a Halloween post for a week or more now and every time I try it says it can't upload "program isn't responding" uggh so frustrating... So I thought I would ask this Question because I was thinking about it today....
As kids how did we spend our time? My kids have been movie fanatics lately, I can't even tell you how many times I've watched the Cat in the Hat or Shrek, or Home Alone or Batman. When Zarley comes home from school she says I haven't even watched any TV and wants to watch TV or movies. I don't have this problem in the summer because my kids spend almost every waking minute outside but it's cold now so we are inside and all they want to do is watch something on TV. So today as my boys were fighting over watching a show they were going to watch when we got back from errands I thought what did I do as a kid because I know I wasn't watching movies all the time because I think my family was the very last in America to get a VHS. I played I think all the time really I don't remember I seem to have a horrible memory when it comes to my childhood... I know I played Barbies I know I had an imaginary friend that I did everything with and I know I didn't watch so much TV.
Now days our kids watch TV constantly in the car in their rooms all day if they aren't watching TV they are on the computer or playing video games. What ever happened to good old fashion playtime? I think technology is the downfall of creativity and playtime (not to mention the American family right mike? ;} ). So although it is fantastic at times and really what would life be like with out it, what would life be without it? Maybe a bit more imaginative?
So think about what you did and what do your kids do?

Annual White Girls Weekend

So this last weekend was our annual White Girl Weekend. It was so much fun. We all get together for a weekend and go up to my grandpa's cabin for a get away. A couple of years ago we started to include Jaimie and Shawna which has been a nice addition and has been able to give them a complete inside look into our family. I think its safe to say that after these kinds of trips they know full well what they are getting themselves into and we can't wait for Jaimie to be official this Friday. Anyway back to our trip, some of us bring up crafts or projects to do some of us (me) don't. We bring up good food fun games and it is always a good time.
Nat chillin on her lawn chair before an amazing round of Times up.

Jaimie (your last chance to back out)
The girls discussing and getting ready to go down to Dicks in kamas for some delicious food another part of the tradition. We always drive down for lunch

Audrey, chillin

Everyone preparing for game time. In case any one is wondering, yes all the animals are real... and old. My grandparents who built the Cabin along with my Great Grandparents were big into hunting.

Tiffany setting up her quilting frames outside because it was the only place she could get reception for conference. She made a quilt start to finish this weekend. Good job Tiff!

This is a little history in the cabin. It is a real coal burning stove. I love it and was kind of sad we didn't use it this trip. It was so warm we actually didn't need to make a fire due to the warm weather over the weekend.

Just a shot of the front of the cabin you cant really see the outhouse behind the tree but it is there. Luckily the weather was warm so the water was still on so we didn't have to use the outhouse.

Just some of the beauty that was right outside our door.

Craft time

Gabby got to come because she is still on the tit... Which was also a contest for us.... To see who could say "on the tit" in the most and different ways, to bug my mom because she hates that phrase/word... Autumn was the winner.

my mom chillin like a villan

Some more of the outside beauty. One of my other favorite outdoor places besides Lake Powell, it is also always so pretty up here in the Uintas

the dirt road to get to the cabin... I thought this was a cool picture.

This is literally right out the front door. The Cabin is against the hill side and this is the view you have when looking out the front door. I wish you could see the colors a little better. It was very pretty. I had so much fun it was such a much needed break for me and who better to spend it with then my best friends, my sisters and my mom. So glad everyone was able to make it this year. One of these years we will get Blanca to join us as well. Can't wait til next year girls.

Lake Powell/ Howard family style

We went to Lake Powell with the Howard clan over Labor day this year. Due to Mikes work schedule we had to be back on Monday so we couldn't get the dates to line up perfectly with everyone else so our little family of 6 (plus Winters friend Mckenna) headed down really early (4am) Thurs morning with the boat and everyone else joined us Friday evening so we essentially had 2 days by ourselves. I loved it! Now to be clear I don't think I can go to Powell and not love it but I really enjoyed just being there with my little family it was so fun! The Howard's do it a bit different than I am use to but a little to my surprise it wasn't all that bad. I have to say that Lake Powell is absolutely one of my favorite places in the whole world. I get so excited as we get closer and closer and no matter how many times I go there I am still in awe of the beauty that surrounds me down there. I have notice this year a few things that make me crazy and wonder what in the hell is happening to this world... Laptops, satellites... that's right everyone I said it. I just don't understand why its impossible for people now days to go with out theses luxuries for a few days. Is work or anything really so important that we can't take a few days off of everything anymore? We went to the marina one day and I saw a couple trying to get on line I was in shock and have to admit I loudly wished that they couldn't find service. Take your eyes off the Internet and look up and around you, there is so much to be seen and explored there. We stayed at the campground where people have their trailers with there satellite dishes up outside, I just don't get it. Anyway back to the trip....
We got Zarley out trying the wake board (her idea) then we got Owen out with Mike giving it a shot originally his idea then us forcing him to stick out his idea. I think he enjoyed it after all because he talked about it a lot. The girls and Johnathon did some tubing and cliff jumping and wake boarding it was a lot of fun and I was sad when we had to leave because it means the end of summer and because I just love it there. Can't wait til next year and now some pictures out of order because I have had so much trouble getting them on the blog tonight and have no more patience to try and fix it. Enjoy!
Winter, Johnny,Mckenna getting ready to jump

Xavier in his daily napping spot. Usually much needed

the kids tubing

Mike and Owen

Zar trying to pull herself up

I don't know who but someone landing
after a jump

Winter, Zarley, Mckenna tubing

I believe Evan blurry but oh well

That's all folks!