Merry Christmas, 2010

Christmas eve was kind of a hectic day for us this year.  I was feeling kind of down about it as I realized how busy we had been, how little time we had spent on making family memories and traditions, and how I had wanted to focus more on the real meaning of Christmas.  I had only read a few of the many Christmas stories that I wanted to read aloud.  

The whole month the kids had kept saying that we didn't decorate enough for Christmas, but I just had been busy, busy.  

We had a wonderful trip to Utah before Christmas, but we had gotten home the day before Christmas eve, and I realized that I hadn't taken the turkey out of the freezer in time to defrost it for Christmas dinner.  

Anyway, Bob had some last minute things to do on Christmas eve, and he decided to take ALL the kids.  The house was so quiet when he left!  I was suddenly struck with lots of ideas, and I rushed around, cleaning, cooking, and putting up lots of decorations.  We hadn't found our nativity scene earlier, but I hunted in the attic and found it.  I put up more Christmas lights, scented candles, and put on Christmas music.  Not long after Bob left, our sweet neighbor stopped by with a Glenwood smoked turkey, our very favorite thing for Christmas dinner!  So, I popped the turkey in the oven, and made lots of yummy snacks too.  Bob was gone for just long enough for everything to be perfect.  When the kids walked into the decorated family room, they were all so excited.  So, they changed into pjs, and we read the Christmas story, put nativity ornaments on our tree, and each of the children got to open a Christmas gift from one of their siblings.  It turned out to be a wonderful Christmas eve! I felt very blessed.

This is Christmas morning.  Abby was supposed to lead all the kids downstairs to open presents, but she was not in any mood to cooperate.

 

Everyone else was excited!

 Taycie's first Christmas.  Sorry for the bad lighting.  It was a new camera, and I forgot about the flash.

Now that she has candy, she's decided that Christmas morning is okay

 Abby gave Jace a ninja hamster for Christmas.  She was SO excited to give it to him.

 Bob gives the presents out one by one.  Each year he wears his Christmas shirt.  He used to wear it other times, but I complained so loudly, that he's decided to save it for Christmas morning.  He loves it.  It is really soft, and so very, very red. 

 Bob keeps Christmas morning quite organized.  Every piece of wrapping paper is disposed of before another present can be opened.

 The kids gave me lots of fuzzy socks and slippers.  I love having warm feet!

 Dad and Abby reading Abby's new Christmas book

 Andrew and Zach got BYU baseball caps.

 Jace got a remote control helicopter.  It was really neat, unfortunately it only worked for one day.  Then I had to work for a month and a half to get a refund.  But I finally got it!

 Abby got a tutu, and a purse with jewelry and chapstick in it.  When she opened the purse she yelled "makeup!"  I think she used it up within a week or so.

 Jace got a monopoly game which everyone had fun playing.  They were all beaten soundly by Bob.  He was the Monopoly King until I decided to play and beat everyone (this is the first time I've ever beaten Bob).  I'll never play again.  I don't want to chance being de-throned.

Jace reading Christmas books.  He's going to be such a good Dad someday.

I love Christmas day with all my children.  Christmas was fun as a kid, but it so much more fun as a Mom.  I love thinking of what Christmas presents will make their eyes light up.  It's true that giving is a lot more fun than receiving.  And, I love having a day where we just can be together as a family. 

Playdough

Everyone enjoyed Grandma's playdough & accessories.  Aunt Christie, one of our very favorite people, came and joined in the fun.  Oh, how my kids love Christie.  She has been such a sweet and positive influence in the lives of my siblings and myself, and now she is doing the same for all of our children.  She is an amazing lady.

Temple Square

We were able to go to temple square before Christmas.  Oh how I love that place.  Bob and I spent a lot of time there when we were dating, because I lived right up the road from there.  We were married in the Salt Lake temple.  When I am there, I love to look at the temple and just soak in the feeling there.  

We went with Nan & Hector's family, Christian & Tara's family, and Grandma & Grandpa H.

Tyler, Zach, & Andrew.

Grandma took it upon herself to follow Andrew and not let him out of her sight.  It was a big job.  Andrew loved this tree with orange lights.  Orange is his favorite color!

Lissy lou

Brandon & Jace

Lamoreaux cousins standing by the bell from the pioneer era.  It was stolen by mobs and hung in another church.  Our ancestors, the Lamoreaux brothers, went and got the stolen bell back.  They had to hide it in a swamp, and then tote it across the plains.  It used to have a plaque telling the story of it, but now it has been re-named the Relief Society commemorative bell. 

We listened to the end of a choir concert

Spud & Matt

There was a bagpiper there.  He had a Scottish accent, but we've heard that he's really from Idaho.

Us and our littlest girls

Taycie was as happy as can be when she could look at all the lights

Katelyn

Zach.  He was getting a bit tired.

Courtney, Katelyn, and Mallory

Gingerbread houses

While we were at Grandma's house, Tara brought all the supplies for gingerbread houses.  All the kids had lots of fun working on them.  And more fun eating them!  This is a picture of Jace's gingerbread football stadium

Andrew's house

Mallory's house

Aliysa's

Spencer & Zach working hard on theirs

Abby sampling the construction materials

College Graduation!

 The day has finally come!  Bob graduated this weekend from BYU-Idaho.  What a journey this has been for our family.  A little over three years ago, Bob was in between building projects. He didn't expect to be going back to school, but that was what he felt he should do.

He tells a little about this story in the speech he gave on Friday evening at his convocation.  You can watch his excellent talk here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loKGKpzYCfc
(Please excuse the wiggly camera job from a true beginning film maker.  He's learning)

The counsel of President Hinckley was one reason Bob considered going back to school:
"You have a mandate from the Lord to educate your minds and your hearts and your hands...The Lord wants you to train your minds and hands to become an influence for good as you go forward with your lives.  And as you do so and as you perform honorably and with excellence, you will bring honor to the Church, for you will be regarded as a man...of integrity and ability and conscientious workmanship.  In addition, your education will strengthen your service in the Church.  The Lord wants you to educate your minds and hands, whatever your chosen field.  ...Seek for the best schooling available.  Become a workman of integrity in the world that lies ahead of you." --Gordon B. Hinckley

Friday night was the convocation, with President Kim Clark and Elder Marlin K. Jensen in attendance.  We got to meet them, and they and their wives are very nice.  I think it was really great of the Clarks and the Jensens to make sure they wore matching clothes so they could coordinate with our family picture. 

 Gumby er...Professor Lamoreaux and Kristi came.  Afterwards lots of people told Gumby that he did a good job on his speech.  I don't realize that he looks that much like Bob, but I guess he must because people mix them up all the time. 

 Mallykins

Aliysa got a hold of the camera

Abby giving Dad a hug

 Saturday morning was commencement, in the new BYU-Idaho amphitheater.  It is a beautiful building that looks really similar to the conference center in SLC.  We're grateful that they finished this building right before Bob's graduation, otherwise we only would have been allowed to get 2 tickets to commencement.  As it was, they only allowed graduates 8 tickets, and the nice lady at the ticket office had to really pull some strings to get us more than 8 tickets all in the same section. 

 Bob graduated Magna Cum Laude with a 3.94 cumulative GPA. I am so proud of him.  He keeps saying that it really doesn't seem like it has been very hard, but he sure put a lot of effort into it.

We are looking forward to the next phase of life without homework for Bob.  We're thankful that Bob has had the chance to attend school at BYU-Idaho.  He learned so many valuable things, and it has been a great experience for our whole family.

 Abby was so tired and ready to go.  We were waiting for Bob afterward, and she took off by herself.  The guy in the picture even passed her and tried to get her to turn around and head back to us, but she just scowled and kept walking.  Jace had to follow her and bring her back to us.