Christmas Morning!

Merry Christmas To All!

We have now officially joined the world of BARBIE.

Opening their I-pod touches!

They can't contain the excitement!

"You'll shoot your eye out!"

Caleb and Max both got DSi's from Ryan's parents.

She is always wearing this now!

Bitty Babies for the girls!

{Christmas Eve Pajamas!}

As soon as everyone was gone, Dad handed out the jammies from Yiaya and Papou!
Everyone was so excited because they knew it was time for jammies and bed so Santa could come!

Once they were dressed and ready to go, they all headed downstairs to sleep in the playroom together. (Sam and Noah still slept in their bed, just across the hall)

Twas' the night before Christmas!

{Christ}mas Eve Dinner

We had the Birkland's and the Prosser's over for Christmas Eve Dinner

Crab legs, chicken parmesean, french bread, salad, appetizers and apple cider were on the menu

Not to mention pumpkin bread triffle and chocolate silk pie for dessert.After dinner, we opened white elephant gifts.

Some were fun!

Some were funny! Max was not thrilled to get a horsey dressed as a girl!
He was a good sport though!

Kevin ended up with the tiny speedo!

He secretly left it in Ryan's scriptures for him to find later!

{Christmas Eve}

The traditional nativity was joined by the Birkeland and Prosser family this year!

It was fun to have extra players for the event, The kids had a great time finding costumes!

they were quite inventive!

Mary riding the donkey

The angels

Emma and Avra

Mary: Eden
Joseph: Max
Baby Jesus: Mara
Donkey: Channing

The shepards:
Caleb, Noah, Sam
kneeling before the babe!


Somehow now the angel is riding the donkey?

The whole crew

Wisemen: Sam and Ryan- what a good sport!

Sleddin{G} Behind the Suburban!

As a child we used to beg my sister Maria to pull us in sleds behind the car! It was our favorite. We would wait all year for a good snow that would make the roads snowpacked. Well, the roads here have been snowpacked for quite a while, and taunting me to take the kids. When I told them what we were going to do, none of them were really excited. So being the mother that I am...I FORCED them to go sledding behind the car. They of course loved it! Which is why I continue to force them to do things. I hope one day they will just believe me when I say..."let's do this is will be fun!" I mean really...have I ever steared them wrong? Never! (If you don't mention Tower of Terror in Florida. They will never forgive me for that!) Off we go!

Even Emma loved it! she of course didn't get the crazy driving!

Noah after he biffed it!

And it's home for hot chocolate and a rest by the fire!

{Merry Christmas from Our Family!}

What!!! {SAM} A Teenager?

Well it is official...We now have a teenager in the house, and he loves it! He is forever taunting me, "you are old enough to have a teenager" Yeah, Yeah Yeah! Ryan's parents sent him a teenage survival kit complete with Axe spray, shampoo, deodorant, and body wash. He now smells like a man all the time. There was also movie tickets, a movie, candy and popcorn, and other cool things. He thought it was the best. What a great idea. He also got money, so he is really close to being able to get his i-pod touch, which seems to be the only thing he can think of these days.

This summer Ryan took the older three boys to the RUSH concert in SLC. They loved it and claim they are changed for life. Ryan's idea was to get him a RUSH shirt...yep, he loved it. He also got a Lord of the Rings computer game. What do you get a teenager?

Check out Max's goofy face...What a nut!

Sam had to have his favorite cake... Better than Anything Cake!

Man that is a lot of candles!

Love that kid!

Recital 2010

The boys had their recital tonight at the Ursaline Center. They did such a good job! I was so proud of them. Sam played the piano, "O Come, O Come Immanuel" and " Good Christian Men Rejoice." He was not nervous at all. I am so glad that he is taking lessons. Noah played the violin. He was slightly nervous. You could tell by his face, he got a little red and tried not to smile, that is how I know he is embarrassed. He played, "Come little Children" and "The First Noel." It was his first concert ever. And for only taking for just 3 1/2 months, I was truly impressed. I think he is a natural. He had his songs all memorized and everything. I am his mother though, and just a little bias.

I can't wait until they can play together. Caleb leaned over to me and said, "next year I want to do this too." I am all game for a family band, or orchestra!

The End of Mou{S}ey!

Warning, animal rights activists should stop reading right now, I have a love for animals and a dislike for violence, I will leave any creature God created alone as long as they stay in their house (outside) and not in mine. You come in my house...it's grounds for death. Sorry!

I have set traps that look like this. Peanut butter, licked right off, cheese, taken without a crumb left, but never a mouse caught. Nothing!
So I set traps like this, live catchers that were supposed to attract and catch up to 30 mice. they crawl in out of curiosity and can't get out, they just die....Right! Not a one!

So as much as I hate to, I set out packets of poison. A girl has got to do what a girl has got to do and the incessant scritch, scratching and mouse droppings has got to go. You know what they say...were there is one...there is 10. I can't take it any longer... But did the mouse even touch the packet of poison...Oh no! Not our smart country mice.

So what is a girl to do but pull out the big guns!!!

Don't mess with me mister gray mouse. You come in my bathroom and I guarantee
I will come at you will all stops pulled, even if the only weapon I have is a little girls church shoe!

Dishes done dude!

...and with only minimal high pitched screams when he managed to slip past me and run with his tiny little claws over my feet. But to be honest there were a few more high pitched girly screams coming from Sam who was my cohort in the crime.

And I should also mention that Caleb is not very happy at all about the death of an "innocent, darling gray mouse, who never meant anyone harm."

He does not approve of this post as animals were harmed in the making of it. I for one, will sleep better tonight.

I should also mention that Ryan happened to be napping at the time, and didn't even come running when he heard my screams!

Dear San{T}a,

Upon arriving home from the ward Christmas party empty dishes and leftovers in hand, I entered my kitchen where the mess from preparing what I had to take had been left.

When what to my wondering ears should I hear, but squeels of delight and proclaims that Santa had been here.

My mind struggled to comprehend what the kids meant when they shouted "come and see, come and see, come and see what Santa left."

The way was strewn with coats, hats and boots, but eventually to the living room was where my course took.

My eyes how they widened, my mind how it wondered how could it be that before my eyes was this scene?

The note said just this:

The smiles and glows on their faces say all this!

To our secret Santa: words cannot express our gratitude for this most wonderful gift that all the boys have been asking for. We love you immensely and wish you to know that we think you are the greatest and will forever hold a place of love for you in our hearts! The joy on the kids faces was so fun to see, and the wonder and amazement that such a thing would find a place to our home was priceless! Thank you so much!

Love Arkoudas'