Christmas break

I can't find my camera so I'm relegated to the few pictures taken the last while on the "back-up" camera....no pictures of Christmas morning and the family get together at Cheri's house...so they will have to come later..out of order (I hate that ;)

More pictures of Maddie and Ashley...the one above is Maddie trying to get to know the cat...the cat has dissapeared for almost a week and we were wondering if she would ever come back. Luckily she came back yesterday after the dog chasing her again...I wondered if she wasn't regretting her decision.  

Before Christmas Ashley "helped" me make chocolate houses. I ended up making 9 of them...by the time we were done I was done with them until next year ;)

Right in the middle of the rains we found this little dog on our front porch shivering and scared. There was no collar on her and I didn't recognize her. She was a tiny thing and thought for sure she couldn't have come far. We took her around to the nieghbors with no luck, held onto her for about 3 hours hoping someone would come look for her but finally had to drive her out to the pound. (I realized without Maddie having all her shots we couldn't keep her around).

On Wednesday Ashley had a couple of friends over (after she had hung out at Mia's during my hair appointment) After doing each other's make up nicely...

They decided to do "clown" makeup

It was quite a job making sure they were cleaned up before I sent them home!

Here is a quick visit from Jenna and her family to say hi and see the puppy.

Also on Wednesday night Taylor passed his Eagle board of Review and is now an EAGLE SCOUT! We're so proud of you Taylor!

Christmas was great, nice and low key and staying close to home. The kids haven't really wanted to do anything or go anywhere. Maybe they just want to wind down from their "normal" life. :)

A few of my favorite things...

Since I'm too busy to write much and anyone reading this is too busy to read much a few highlights of our favorite things lately like...

Jacob getting an award for getting 5 A's...

And the fact that the next day people told Jacob "Your dad is awesome!"

The Annual Little People of America Christmas party

Big kids decorating Christmas treats with the little kids...

And enjoying their creations a little "too" much :)

Children getting gifts from Santa even though they are too heavy for his lap...

Children who still believe in Santa (even though she said this was his helper)...

Large and tall children sitting on Santa's lap...and Santa not complaining...

Watching reactions from present opening...

Just what we wanted!

The one teen Taylor's age finally coming to the party so he had someone to "hang" with.

Eating yummy food later that night at the ward Christmas party and catching up with ward friends...

Creating an "ugly Christmas sweater" for the event and winning first place....though practically by default since Ethan Stubbs was the only other one wearing one (I think some people thought I was serious)...

Primary singing "no room in the inn" (such a fun song)...

Candy Canes from Santa!....

Cute snuggly dogs (that make it hard to get homework done)

Boys that get certificates for Cross Country and coaches that say "you have great potential"...

The Christmas Elf that came and cleaned all the kids rooms to mom's satisfaction (the children think this should be a new tradition.)

Steve's birthday giving us a reason to go to lunch with family and friends...

Watching Grandpa with his first grandchild.

My sweet sister-in-law who didn't want to waste the soup and salad that she accidently put into the same bowl...

Then coming home to rescue Ashley's "craft challenged" teacher in the last hour of school helping him finish these. (He kept saying "this is so hard!!" and wanted to give up)

Then coming home to relearn how to make these and finishing 4 in under four hours so I could make it to our Relief Society party where I learned how to make tamales...

A daughter who borrows the camera to take pictures of our rapidly growing puppy...

Mischieveous dogs who find every scrap on the floor and under the cupboards and make it impossible to hang towels on the stove any more...

Pets trying to make friends...

Getting through Taylor's MRI (and getting him to go back to school), doing all our visiting teaching and getting kids through all the afternoon stuff in time for Jeff's dinner out with his agents....

Having Ivan and Ann Marie come aboard to New York Life...

Having Vern Parker work with Jeff and be the one to dispense fatherly wisdom.

And hearing about Ethan's antics at the office like buzzing the bell and tricking the agents to think that there is a client at the front.

A great couple like Amy and Ethan to work with Jeff.

Seeing our former babysitter and Jeff 's former secretary having her husband successfully build his career with New York Life...

A generous and caring husband.

(And a resourceful one who wasn't shy to "borrow" the stuff to pour or own Martinellis instead of paying $20 for them to do it :)

Honor roll awards assemblies on the same day as....

New York Life general office pot-lucks... 

where Santa gave everyone real presents...

on the same afternoon as Ashley's class party...

Where kids passes out all kinds of goodies....

Class parties that have WAY too many good things to choose from...

On the same afternoon as haircuts for all the children (who really needed it)...

Hairdressers who bring their dogs in so we can play with them...

Then racing home to eat clam chowder in a bread bowl before we were off to and Ugly sweater party...

Friends who plan things like ugly sweater parties....

and the friends who host them...

Not being the only one to wear an ugly sweater...

Seeing old friends....

and new ones...

Playing crazy games...

And getting to know Taylor's friends parents who were the most outlandish couple.

And her being nice enough to share first prize with us runner ups (me and summer).

And last but not least getting Christmas packages from Grandma and Grandpa Hovey.

Thanks You guys!!!