Christmas Day

After a wonderful "go at our own pace" Christmas morning, we had church at 1:00. It was perfect. We weren't rushed and even had time for pictures before we left. Nate and Jaxon sang in the Ward Choir. Jaxon has been going with Nate to choir practice for awhile now. He is finally starting to sing the sacrament songs loud enough that I can hear him, and he sits next to me. After church we headed up to Grandma and Grandpa Anderson's house. They hadn't gotten home from church yet. Everyone carried something into the house and the kids immediately started looking at the gifts under the tree. MyLeigh saw an M&M nutcracker thing that dispenses M&Ms. She showed Mady how it worked and gave her 3. She turned to me and gave me some. The moment I looked at them I realized these were not milk chocolate M&Ms, at that same moment Mady starts SCREAMING, "These taste like peanut butter!". I scooped her up and ran to the kitchen. She was spitting them out the second she realized what she had in her mouth. While I was headed to the kitchen, MyLeigh and Jordan flew out the front door crying and yelling for Nate, who was bringing in some things from the car. I went out the back door with Mady in my arms and Nate went in the front door with the kids. He came back out and we hurried home for the Epi-pen. It turns out that we gave her some benadryl and watched her CLOSELY. We didn't have to give her the Epi-pen. I'm guessing that she didn't swallow any of them and I swiped her mouth pretty good. I didn't give her a drink so that what was in her mouth didn't go down. Her hands and eyes swelled up to a point that I get nervous. But that was all. So, I had been wondering if Mady was outgrowing her peanut allergy. Guess I got my answer. While all the kids are fully aware of Mady's allergy, they take extra care to be careful when she is around. What I realized from this, is that they know what Peanut M&M's are, but had no idea of the peanut butter kind. MyLeigh just assumed they were milk chocolate. Had it been something the kids were unfamiliar with, they would have asked me what it was. Had my parents been there, the candy would have probably been put away when we got there. Later I asked my Mom why she even bought those, cause they aren't "our M&M's of choice". She said they had been a gift from some friends.

After we got these pictures done with the kids, we realized Jaxon wasn't completely dressed. The stinker didn't want to wear the sweater that he was given. But we made him put it on for the rest of the pictures.

ChRIStMAs 2011

Christmas Morning....Can we pause that too? This is my most favorite tradition. Mrs. Clause accompanies Santa Clausesto our house. She busyes herself with setting our table and writing the kids a letter. She also leaves pumpkin waffle batter, buttermilk syrup and breakfast casserole in our fridge, along with juice, already for us to cook and eat. I told Nate that next year, I want to eat first and open presents last. The kids have wanted Yoyos FOREVER! Santa remember and left them one in their stockings.

MyLeigh loves her lifesaver storybook

MyLeigh has patiently waited for new Roller Blades. She wasn't sure if she wanted them for Christmas or her Brithday. I'd say she is pretty excited!

This is about as excited as Mady gets!

MyLeigh added to her collection of "Little house on the Prairie". I don't think Mady is excited about this. She is probably hoping she isn't the next to get a book.

Nope, but Jaxon is!

The boys with their Fishing poles. They also got fishing vests from Grandma and Grandpa Anderson.

This was the best surprise of them all. So, we ask Jaxon, "what do you think it is?"His response, "a snow board!". Pretty funny since we don't do any skiing in our family.Turns out Santa left him a 20 gauge shotgun!

We have been waiting for a new WII for almost a Year. Ours broke last January, thanks Santa! Oh, and no...there was no new Piano! Whew.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve....It never lasts long enough. I always tell Nate that I wish time would stand still on this night. Around 8 pm would be great. Dinner is over and cleaned up, everyone is visiting and enjoying each others company. It is my most favorite time. This year we had dinner at my Parents house. Grandpa Hogg, Lorraine, Trent and his family, Adele and her family where there. It was great. We came home around 9 to find that Elmer had gotten out the Christmas Eve presents and added one of his own....new pillows. I was so surprised that I didn't get pictures, But of course we have Pics of our new PJs.

While I was up helping get dinner ready at my Mom's, Nate was home with the kids doing some last minute wrapping. When we got home that night, this is one of the presents that I found. The picture doesn't do it justice. One on the kids wrapped it with scraps of wrapping paper. For the longest time, I thought 2 presents were there, stacked on top of each other. Oh, and then there was one side that was taped from top to bottom with ONE piece of tape, 5 times over! And for some reason, the kids wanted to leave Santa's treat of Oreos under the tree this year. I insisted that the milk be left on the table. They love to see the oreo crumbs in the bottom of the glass in the morning. And Santa does not dissapoint in that area!

After Pjs were put on, we sat and talked of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Thoughts were shared by each of us. After Family prayer, the stockings were put out and kids went to bed. Jaxon, MyLeigh and Jordan slep in MyLeigh's room. I was amazed at how quickly they went to sleep. My Dad came to get my Mom's present and stayed and visited for awhile. Then realized he forgot something we needed, he went home and returned again. I think he left sometime around 1 am. Around 3 J came upstairs to ask for ice for MyLeigh. Apparently they were awake and jumping around and MyLeigh hit her head on the dresser. They were up a couple more times, but never asked to open presents. ( I was just happy to know there is a little of me in my kids and they were awake in the night!) They came in our room at 7:30 and layed in bed with us while Jax and Mady kept sleeping. At 8 Nate went down to wake Jax up. His first questions was if we opened presents without him!

MyLeigh's 1st Basketball Season

MyLeigh wanted to try Basketball this year. She was so excited. Pretty quick she figured out it wasn't what she expected. She had a very hard time with having others girls in her "bubble". So, she quickly learned that she didn't want the ball at anytime. After the 2nd game she was ready to quit. In true Hill fashion, she was given the talk by her Dad that you don't quit. Yes, you aren't enjoying it, but you committed to a team, and you finish out your season. Slowly she began to get used to the game. The last week of ball, I had to do some things at the church for Young Women's during the week. I told MyLeigh that if she got her schoolwork done, she was more that welcome to come with me and shoot some hoops. When we got there, Bro. Edlefsen was there, shooting baskets. He invited MyLeigh to come play with him. She loved it. The following Saturday was her last game. On the was there, Nate told her that if she made a basket, he would give her $10 and take her to lunch. ***I really wanted to know what happened to offering a $1 when you wanted to bribe your children. Most games we are really trailing behind in the score. This game was pretty close. in the second quarter, MyLeigh stole the ball and hightailed it down court. No one was around her and I grabbed Nate's knee. She shot the ball and made her first basket in a game. I let out a sigh of relief and looked at Nate to see his eyes water up. MyLeigh had ran back down the court and had the biggest smile on her face. I have NEVER seen a bigger smile. She couldn't wait to tell Bro. Edlefsen about her game in church. As soon as sacrament meeting was over away she was to go find him. Way to go, MyLeigh. I am proud of you for sticking out something that you weren't to excited to do. I hope you remember the things you learned from following through on your committments!

Christmas Piano Recital

Today MyLeigh had her Christmas Recital. She did a wonderful job. She played "Joy to the World" and "Rudolph". She has been practicing these songs for so long, that she can zip right through them. I kept reminding her that she needed to play them at the right Tempo. She was a little nervous, but did a great job! Her recital was held in a room at the Piano Gallery. So afterwards, we wandered through the Pianos and Grand Pianos for sale. I do have a new Piano on my list, way down low after all the "needs" are taken care of. Nate called me over to look at one Grand Piano. The price tag was $48,000! GULP. I said, how about this one, and pointed to one that was a quarter of the price he was looking at. To be honest, I am a little nervous that I singled out a Piano to Nate. I wouldn't put anything past him with Christmas so near.

Elmer the Elf and Pics of SANTA!

Our family has had the opportunity to have Elmer the Elf assigned to our house since Jaxon was a baby. The kids have grown up with him. He has visited with them on the phone here and there, left them notes and watched over them carefully through the years. When "Elf on a Shelf" appeared a couple of years ago, the kids quickly caught that bug and wanted "that" Elf. It was hard explaining that we already had an Elf and I wasn't about to change our little tradition of doing things. Jordan has really come up with some questions this year. We are doing our best to keep up with his ideas. First, all the sudden, my handwritting looks like Elmers. Hum. Don't know what to say to that cause Elmer writes in all Caps, not me! He has been writing letters like crazy asking all sorts of questions. He wants to know what Elmer looks like, what Santa likes to eat, how old the Reindeer are and on and on. Elmer decided Jordan needed some reassurance of Santa, so he left Jordan some pictures of Santa at our house on Christmas Eve last year. He also told Jordan that if he told him what he looked like, he would lose his magic.

Notice that there are no presents under the tree? That's cause I was the WORST snoop growing up. My parents learned quickly that nothing went under the tree till we were all in bed on Christmas Eve. I don't think I have snoops, but I don't chance it. I do kinda feel bad that I have kids that sleep all night and don't get up too early. It makes for a boring night, I think. Ask my brother, I use to keep him up all night long. Don't my kids know they are missing out on some fun memories?

I love the Magic of Christmas. I love that Santa and the Savior represent the same things. Both teach us of giving, love, selflessness and peace. Not all the time do either one of them receive that thanks and gratitude they deserve, but they still love us no matter what and continue to give.

Compliment

A couple of weeks ago, I listened to Emily Watts give a great talk. One think that has stuck in my mind is that we can't judge others because we don't know the whole story. She told how her little girl one Sunday morning was upset because she had eaten all her pancakes and wanted her Mom's as well. Well, Sis. Watts had made everyone pancakes and then just made one big one for herself with the batter that was left, instead of making 2 little pancakes. This little sunbeam came into the room upset because she wanted a big pancake. After church, the Sunbeam teacher had heard all about how Sis. Watts wouldn't share her breakfast. She went on to say that nobody gives you credit for getting everyone ready for church and making breakfast, they just hear the part that you where selfish and didn't share your breakfast. I have thought about this alot. I sometimes think people see Jordan and wonder what I do as a Mom. Why his hair isn't combed before church or his shirt isn't tucked in. Or why he is wearing the shirt to school that he wore 2 days ago, or why his hair gets longer and longer. What they don't know is just how grateful I am that he came to church or actually got on the school bus. I choose to pick my battles carefully with Jordan. The fact that he is in sacrament meeting to take the sacrament is more important to me than the fact that he didn't wear a dress shirt to church. They also don't know the fights that ensue when its time for a hair cut. Ask the hairdresser about the time he walked out on her, in the snow with no shoes or coat cause he didn't want his hair cut. I am doing the best I can. Which is why I so appreciated this encouter.... In Jordan's 1st grade class, they have been working on earning Compliments. Each compliment they earn, they get a letter to help spell the word. When they spell the word Compliment, they get to have donuts. So, I wanted to share this Compliment with Jordan Last night, Nate and I were in the grocery store,and as we were bagging groceries, Jordan's teacher approached us. I love Ms. Sanders to death. She let me know that Jordan is doing great in class. She told me that he is so polite, kind and helps everyone. I was really surprised. That probably sounds awful for a Mom to say. She also reminded me that if your kids can go out into the world and know how to behave, then you as a parent are doing your job. It was so nice to be reminded that I am doing my job. I just wish that I could be a fly on the wall at school to see J open the door for people and say "thank you" to everything. I am glad others are reaping the benifits of the sweat and tears I put into him! When I got into the car, I wanted to cry. I was grateful to have learned that about Jordan, and I am glad Ms. Sanders took the time to tell me. At dinner we started talking about Ms. Sanders and 1st grade, since the other 2 kids have also been in her class, they are aware of her rules and routines. They started talking about how often each of them had to "turn a card". Turning a card means that you have had a warning, turning your card after that adds up to not so fun consequences. Everyday you start over (from what I understand) Jaxon admitted to turning a card 4 times in his 1st grade career. MyLeigh turned hers 3 times (little Miss Social). Jordan proudly exclaimed that he has yet to turn his card. This really surprised me. I almost choked on my dinner. I would have guessed that Jaxon never turned a card. I am thinking that I need to implement the card system in our home.