Mcdonalds visit...

Mimi and John and kids came to visit for a family Christmas celebration in December. In a selfish world we would HATE sharing them with all that amazing family of theirs, but alas, they really do come for that reason and we are lucky they have any time to see us! They drove all night and stopped to nap, shower, recharge at our house on their way into town. It was a fun day for the kids. 

We lost a chicken that morning or at least we realized someone got her that morning. We knew John would have no problem taking care of her carcass. It was Puffy...my chicken and possibly the favorite of the whole family. Something got to her and literally left bones and feathers. Chris would have heaved multiple times had he done the job, so it was nice to have John show up, put it in a bag with zero feeling and toss it by the garbage can. Thanks John...she was our pet forthelove. I love how Lucy sat right above her bestie's body all day until she was gone for good. Sweet Lucy. 

So the last night of their trip we got to have them for a sleepover. We had fun playing some new games and just being stupid. When your friend wears a nightcap that matches her jammies, you have to wonder. (Actually they were a sweet homemade gift from John's mom, she made them for all 1,000 grandkids...can you believe that...she sews all year I am convinced!)

John and Chris really get going. It is impossible with these two because suddenly the most normal words that you don't hesitate to say become the constant trigger for a joke that doesn't die. I'm not going to list the words, I'm sure you can imagine. 

Chris probably only laughs like this around like four or five people in the world...

On their way out...off to UT, too short of a stay! Alice, Jensen, Ellie, Ruby and Sammy with a big, gaping hole of a very missed Mia who is in heaven.

Can't stop with these two. They really love each other. I love watching them facetime and when they get together they just LOVE playing and talking up a storm. 

Holding tight...but really, JB was about to drive away alone if they didn't scramble. 

Sad Betsey wanted more goodbyes. Bets, I feel your pain. It isn't okay with me either.

Christmas Fun...

We had lots of extra fun this Christmas season!

The girls had fun making up roles and playing pretend with the tree ornaments. Endless creativity!

 The Mondrut family invited us over for a gingerbread making activity and the kids really went to town using lots of candy...mostly just in the yard of the gingerbread house. Hahahaha.

For our Christmas party with our homeschool co-op, we went to a retirement home across the street from the church where we meet and sang two nice Christmas songs for the residents. The kids also made cards and passed them out to the nice people in the audience.

At our annual ward Christmas party, they had the primary children dress up as angels and gather around a little reenactment by a child Joseph and  a child Mary and a baby doll Jesus and sing some Christmas songs. It was lovely. I love my three angels!

Santa always comes at the end of the party, but Betsey was a little shy and unsure about him. I managed to gather that she asked him for a SKATE BOARD! Whhhhaaaatttt? I didn't even know she knew what one was! Why would she want one!? Crazy girl.

We had our annual friend party at the Keim's house with the Asher, Anderson, Davis, Hoang crew. After dinner, the kids went upstairs to watch a movie in Kelly and Danny's room while we played a fun game downstairs. Actually, it was really fun. I think it is called Celebrity and we had lots of laughs together over some of the "celebrities" (anyone we all know) that were chosen.

Kel, Adam, Sand, Jenn and Ede being all festive!

Someone spoiled us with fancy cupcakes in all flavors. Ruby didn't mind that a bit.

Ede, Leish, Sand and Jenn.

Leisha was sweet to hold Leo, and Zella was very interested in the baby.

Betsey was thrilled with her Disney Princess sticker (thicker) book. She dug right in...right away!

Zella got a cape from Bets and was pretty taken with it.

We had some fun as a church group of girls ages 8-12 making cute homemade tree ornaments for a family that had recently come to the mainland from America Samoa. We took them over with lights and helped decorate the tree.

I love the Christmas season! We are so blessed to have so many people to celebrate with!! Here is the Christmas card we sent out this year. I love this shot of my FOUR beautiful children!

Happy Anniversary! Twelve years!

I'd say our twelfth year was our best. I love Chris more now than I did when we got married. I loved having a fourth baby with him and enjoying a little man around the house with Chris has been so much fun. I feel like we are better at putting each other first and it makes us happier together to think of each other. That may be simple for some, but it isn't for us. We are naturally selfish! I used to think Chris was an Ace at parenting and could earn maybe an average grade at the whole marriage thing...but I don't feel that way anymore. He is a straight A kind of guy. I think this is due to both of us average spouses becoming better at being together, certainly my complaints have never been just about how he made our marriage hard...but how we both do. Anyway, I think we are pretty darn good at being married to each other at this point...I know it is a continually shifting things, I mean now that we have the new baby stage mastered we are done having children and moving on to parenting tweens and soon teens...that could be a challenge. (I hope not.) Who knows what the future holds for us, but I do know that whatever comes our way we will eventually figure it out and rise to the occasion together.

Chris got me something I have been wanting for a couple of years...a handgun! Without knowing he got me one, I planned a date night to go shooting so I knew how to handle his handgun. So I got my Christmas present early and got to take her shooting the same night. Right now it is locked up tight but after ruby and Alice take an 8-hour gun safety course and I am through nursing, I will concealed carry. I plan to wear it without the clip around the house only for awhile to get used to never, ever, ever removing it from my person. If I feel sure that I am always aware of it and locking it up when removing it, I will wear it in a bra holster. I know this is a controversial thing, but the passion felt by those who don't believe in protecting themselves is equal to my passion to protect myself. I will not remove it in my house to accommodate anyone but I will of course if asked to do so at someone else's house...if I ever do carry.

There really is nothing about shooting that I like. I don't ever want to aim a loaded gun at anyone or anything. That said, I do value having the ability to protect myself and my family if I ever needed to, which I sincerely hope I never do. The times when I feel this is most important is when a natural disaster strikes and victims who are not prepared to deal with that kind of situation become more victimized by the additional reality that the people who have guns are in charge. I have felt this way since hearing about what went on after Katrina when masses of people were sheltered in a big sports dome for days and scary, bad people who had guns did heinous things to innocent people. I don't want to be a sitting duck in a situation like that. While we are on the subject, all my my five readers should know that they should seek shelter at an LDS church building over any other option. Seriously, find your closest LDS neighbor and go to them and or to the nearest church building if you need help or shelter. Don't go anywhere else. Okay?

Back to the anniversary...we went shooting and I learned to how to use my gun. We both like it a lot. It is small and powerful. I was surprised how easy it was to hit the target, even with my first shot ever.

Our actual anniversary was on Sunday and the kids made the nicest celebration for us. See these cute spirals they cut? Cute.

They set a pretty table and made deviled eggs for us. Yes, yes, they did...it was a mess. Chris asked them if maybe the devil made the eggs because the mess wasn't our favorite. The kids that made the mess saved the whole situation by being so cute and proud of their hard mess making work.

Yes, there were place markers. Betsey wrote the words. So darn proud.

See the candle? It's a Yankee candle and Ru removed the label and made a new, anniversary appropriate one. We may have dined with grilled cheese sammies and tomato soup from a Campbell's can.

Another party favorite...a banner..."Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad". Gosh. Ruby needs to go into party planning business. She gets such a thrill out of being fancy and spotlighting those who have a need to celebrate.

November 30th, Ruby's actual birthday...

Ruby's birthday fell on a Saturday, which was an obvious choice for the Hamm's to pull out of town for Utah. SAD! So we went the day after Thanksgiving to a pool and swam with cousins (everyone but Jeff and Mary's family because they were hosting Mary's family at their house all weekend). Robb and Heather were busy packing up final items for the trek, and so they weren't there but we got to have Hailey and Emma for the day which meant a lot to Ruby.

We had a family party that evening for Ruby.

We woke up the next morning (11/30) around 5 or 6 am and said final goodbyes. There were lots of tears...I cried some the night before watching Heather say goodbye to her close friend, Kelly and seeing the cousins sit around the table and cry together after saying goodbye to Kelly's kids. The morning was rough.

Sitting room only? No. No sitting room. The entire van was packed to the square inch and the Jetta was used to transport people...

Hailey in the Jetta.

Off they went.

We had a special breakfast at Oma's house (in the random November post) and then went home and decorated for Christmas.

After Leo went to bed we got a sitter and went to see the new Disney movie, Frozen in 3D. It was good, so I hear...I slept through it. Sad!