Worth the Price

This trip to San Antonio came with a hefty price tag. Not really. Just a normal cross country trip price tag. Add the ticket in New Mexico (can you believe I'm 34 and that's my first ticket?), the extra hotel room due to treacherous, icy, snowy conditions while driving home, the years off my life for being stuck in close quarters during the 3 days it took to drive home, and the extra gas used to power the car so heavy from Christmas it looked like we were traveling Grapes of Wrath style, and that's the extra cost. No, Winstons - it isn't worth any reimbursements. My point in saying all that is it was TOTALLY worth it. Totally. I got to be with those I love most and who love me most. It was amazing to spend time with them. I would do it all again in a heartbeat. I love each and every one of you. Thank you for using your time and resources to make our family feel loved and at home.

Christmas in San Antonio

I won't bore you with the millions of pictures I took Christmas Eve night and during the crazed present opening morning. But I will bore you with some. We had our traditional Nativity with the Children where we read the account of the Savior's birth from Luke. Then we had a Christmas program where various family members performed - Maleah on the violin, Mike and Brooklyn on vocals, Jake killing us with a Wudolf the Wed Nosed Weighndeew song and "dance", Ben, Garrett and Scott on the piano, and I'm sure more that I can't remember (Jake's performance is so burned into my head that the rest is a little fuzzy). And the big surprise was when Santa actually made time in his busy Christmas Eve schedule to stop by the Winstons. Score! We ended the night with Grandad reading Twas the Night Before Christmas to all the grandkids. Then all the kids were sent to the MG garage to go to sleep. (Yep, same garage they slept in this summer. I may never have to hear the craziness of kids trying to go to sleep with cousins around again.) It was an amazing Christmas with so many pictures, I don't know what to cut. I am truly blessed to have the love of Tom's family and my family.

San Antonio Zoo

We had a fab time at the San Antonio Zoo. It was a gorgeous day that only required a light jacket because we went early in the morning. The kids had a great time running around and I got to be with my favorite people.

Grrrr

In high school I read one of my favorite books ever. It was called Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. It's been almost 2 decades so I don't remember all the ins and outs of the book but the whole premise is it is in the future where the moral disintegration of the world has already taken place. People are born in labs into different class systems. No families, no moral repercussions to human experiences, no feelings, etc. It was a thinking man's book. One that I would recommend to any book club. Spoiler alert - the main character finds some sort of moral compass inside him and somehow finds out that there is a pod of people who have rebelled against the society and have settled somewhere in New Mexico and were living a very primitive, but human life. He goes to find them, I think. I really don't remember everything. The only reason I bring this up is because every time I drive through New Mexico I realize why Mr. Huxley chose New Mexico to put this outcast group of people. It's a barren wasteland where nobody in his right mind wants to settle (except for my brother - another story all together). It's the only place where a group of outcasts can thrive in peace without people trying to butt in. I hate that place. It's the barren wasteland that sits in between my house in Utah and my loving family in Texas. It's the state I have to endure to get home. It's the state that I think my son got Giardia so bad that by the time he got to the specialist he was severely malnourished. And now, thanks to a radar happy police officer in Loving, New Mexico (20 miles from the Texas border), they have 89 of my dollars - that I know I could dispute because of where he caught me in the descending speed limit part of the outskirts of the 1/2 mile long "city". Dang Loving police officer. Dang New Mexico. Yet another reason to hate New Mexico. (Santa Fe is beautiful. And Albuquerque has Taco Cabana. The only redeeming qualities of the state.)

Christmas Decorations

I Heart Christmas. Really, I do. As soon as I stuff my face with pumpkin pie, I jump on to Christmas. Not earlier than that, though. I feel like it's more fun to flirt with Christmas music and decorations - kinda play hard to get - until Thanksgiving. I love passing through radio stations and hearing a line from a Christmas song and then changing it really fast so I don't hear any more. Then I like going into the store and feigning disgust at how early they have their decorations out while my heart gets just a little bit more excited about the prospect of decorating my own house. Then, Thanksgiving night just letting it all come to a head and totally giving in. I love it.

So, this is my house this year. I finally got my own Christmas tree to do what I want. I love it. Tom bought a beautiful flocked one for me to decorate. I even got to go to Tai Pan all by myself and buy all the ornaments. I think that was just as fun as anything.

Then there is the family tree - which warms my heart. I have such happy memories of putting that together with my family every year. We have a teddy bear for each child from the year he/she was born as well as one from when we got married. I also have a Raggedy Ann and Andy that I bought our first Christmas when we were so poor but Tom really wanted me to have them because I was pregnant and he just wanted me happy. Sweet guy.
My mom made all the kids' stockings. Again, tender memories. And I copied my sister-in-law with the whole "Hang your stockings and say your prayers" stocking holder. Kind of perfect for our family.
This picture is blurry but it's my bookshelf. I have the Santas and the more secular parts of Christmas on one side with my nativities on the other. I always remember the Savior and the real reason we celebrate - but I have lots of fun celebrating.

Jake and Scotty started making snowflakes one day and made a really big mess. Then, I started finding snowflakes all over the house cluttering everything up. So, one night while they were sleeping I hung them over my kitchen table. They loved the surprise and I loved that they loved it.:)

Obviously I have more Christmas stuff. But, these make me smile right now. So, I just wanted to document now so I can look at them throughout the year and get excited for what's to come. Did I mention I love Christmas?

La Posada

One of my favorite Christmas traditions is the boys' Spanish Immersion Christmas program. Garrett's first year entranced me. Ever since then I've looked forward to it every year. This year did not disappoint. The program has gotten really big now as the school has become more established. It's fun to see the kids grow up together and come into their own. This is Scotty's first year doing this and he's really catching on. Garrett is an old pro in 5th grade - year 4 for him. I love that Garrett had his arms folded the whole time. Not a sign of reverence but more of confidence. He had this in the bag. Scotty, on the other hand was so serious and focussed so he wouldn't mess up. I don't know if he cracked a smile the whole time. Anyway - Feliz Navidad! Prospero ano y felicidad!

Cough, cough, hack, hack, bark

That's what I sound like. I'm now into week 2 of a nasty cold that is kicking my trash. In the middle of it I've had a sick little girl to care for, a little boy who has an irrational fear of nonexistent mice in his room, a Relief Society dinner to orchestrate and a family of 5 kids. Wonder why I'm not better yet. What's bugging me is that I haven't worked out since last week. This isn't the time to get out of practice - at the beginning of winter when I need to be in maintenance phase for spring races. I don't want to lose my mojo and have to start all over in March. Curses. Thank goodness for Nyquil. That's good stuff.

ps - This isn't meant to be a poor me post. Well, maybe a little. I am a bit sick of being sick. And my poor husband is still being patient. Wonder how long before he gets sick of it, too.

Christmas Letter/Pic

If you didn't make it onto my Christmas letter list, it's not my fault. I need addresses, people. I still love you if you didn't get a hard copy. So, if you didn't, here it is:

Merry Christmas 2010

Just a quick rundown of our family from this fabulous last year -

Ben (12) - Sports, sports, sport. Basketball, competition league baseball and football. Several practices and/or games every week. He loved it, though. He also turned 12 and received the priesthood. Even better - it was during a trip to Texas so my family could be there.

Garrett (10) - Same as Ben with sports. Man, that kid is fast. He did great. He's in his 4th year of Spanish Immersion and is really picking up the language. He even corrects me every now and then.

Scotty (7.9) - Basketball and soccer were his sports. He "played up" a league in soccer and did awesome. I was a little worried because he was by far the youngest out there but he didi great. He started his first year in Spanish Immersion and is picking it up well.

Jake (5) - The smiliest kindergartener out there. That kid is so dang happy. And cute. He's learning to read like a champ. This year he dominated the soccer field and had his won personal party after every goal. he's reveling in losing his teeth right now and likes to be called "Toothless".

Avery (2) - And very 2 she is. She is all girl until her brothers come around. Then she's rough and tumble and loud and crazy. I kind of prefer the quiet, lady time we have while brothers are in school. She's effectively stolen the hearts of all of us. Love that little thing.

Tom - After more than a decade in leadership positions at church he was released and put into the scouting program. While we all felt blessed by his service, it's nice to have him around more. He spends most of his time practicing sports with his boys and doing other "SuperDad" activities.

Elena - Not much. I did start running this year. I finished a half marathon and a triathlon. Go Elena. Just don't ask how fast. :) I've learned that running is more therapy for me than exercise. And with 5 kids, I need all the therapy I can get.

We hope you are healthy and happy this blessed season.

Hello, Toothless

Thanksgiving day Jake lost his front tooth (with a little help from a cousin). I am relieved because it was getting a little weird - growing out and down like Nanny McPhee. So, this morning when I saw him I said, "Hello, Jake." His response - "Don't you mean Hello Toothless?" Why do kids love losing teeth so much? He's just so proud of his cute smile. And, it is adorable - if you ask me.:)

Christmas Kickoff

To kick off the Santa season a bunch of the Davis' and some of us T's went to Provo in the frigid cold temps to run the Santa 5k. 250+ people all dressed up as Santas (in cheap, stinky China made suits - but hey, it was still fun) and ran around the a few blocks in Provo 3x. It was such a fun time and with all my layers I didn't even realize it was like 16 degrees. Tom even surprised us by bringing the two littles to brave the cold and cheer us on. Love that guy. Afterwards the Davis' met us at Krispy Kreme (kind of a tradition after races) to eat back some of those calories we spent racing. And by racing I mean staying with the 7/8 year olds who aren't used to running in the cold and had to walk a good 1/3 of it because of side cramps. While it seemed unnatural to walk it was my pleasure to help make some fun memories for my favorite kids. (Ben and Garrett rocked it and ran the whole time.)

The last two pics are from an article from the Deseret News. If you want to see it, click here. The pics come from the slide show under the picture.

Bring It On

It's here! I've been flirting with the Christmas season and now I can fully enjoy it. Thanksgiving feast is eaten, we're about to watch Elf as a family (tradition), I'm listening to Josh Groban's Christmas album and the tree goes up tomorrow (this is last year's tree). Tomorrow Ben, Garrett, Scott and I are going to run the Santa Fun Run where we all wear Santa suits and run a 5k. It's here, people! Enjoy!!!!!!