Christmas 2009

What a great Christmas we had, though I wish I could have slowed things down.  It seems that once the festivities start, the night and day just fly by.  We always start by having Christmas Eve with the Chattertons.  We go to Kristi's house for Christmas Eve.  We eat, play, sing and give the kids their Christmas pajamas.  We usually are home by 9:00 or 9:30 so that the kids can get to bed and Santa can come.  Yeah!!  Then we are up bright and early the next morning.  This year it was 6:30.  Actually not bad.  We had fun with the kids and they all said it was the best Christmas ever!!  Santa did a good job.  Then we went to Ray's parents house and opened gifts. We got an extra special gift.  Ray's brother and wife had their baby Dec. 24th.  Little Haden finally came. We opened gifts with the Olsons and then headed over to my mom's for the end of the day.  More presents and food.  It was a great day and we all had a blast.  It was nice to have the 26th to play with all our toys and lounge around in our PJ's.  It really was the best Christmas EVER!!!

Bracelets On Her Teeth

Poor Carlee.  She has a mouth full of metal and sores inside to got with it.  She is a tough cookie though and doesn't complain.  She looks cute with them.  She picked multicolored bands. I think that was her favorite part picking the colored rubber bands.  Hopefully everything in her mouth will toughen up soon so she can eat some Christmas goodies.

Twinkle Toes

Laney had her dance class yesterday and then a break for the holiday till we start up again in January.  She danced a Christmas jig to "All I Want For Christmas Is A Hippopotumus".  She did a great job and really knows her stuff.  Then a surprise visitor came - Santa Claus.  She was excited. We are so ready for Christmas.  It will be fun.

Santa Claus Came

The kids started singing, the bells started ringing and in came Santa Claus at our Ward Christmas Party.  Laney was not scared at all and was ready to talk to Santa.  She was the first to sit on his lap.  My old high School Chemistry teacher Royce Garner has played Santa for us the last couple of years.  His is so sweet and patient with the kids.  They all love Santa.

Traditions Traditions

It is tradition at our house that on the first Monday of the Month for FHE we put up our Christmas Tree.  So this past Monday, our tree went up.  When Parker was a baby I  put a tree in his room too.   Then Carlee and now Laney.  They all have a tree.  They each have made ornaments at school or church, so that put those on their tree.  Plus they have some special ones that were Ray's when he was a kid and other ones too.  It is fun to watch them decorate our tree and then turn to their own.  They all have their own special touches.  Laney's has crashed more than once.  Hopefully hers will make it.  

I love you Grandma!!!

This post is dedicated to my Grandmother Blanche Maxine Williams who passed away last Thursday.  There are lots of great memories with Grandmother.  Cooking with her, having her visit, stopping to see her on the way to Salt Lake, (it was always our pit stop and I never remember a time that we didn't stop.  That's just what we did), shopping with her, Richfield, Shoshone by train, Thanksgiving, purses, talking, taking her arm as we walked, Featherville and the list goes on.  My girls say they will remember her stories.  She lived a long wonderful life and saw many things in her life time.  She was born in 1908.  Can't imagine all she experienced. How lucky she was to have such a great life.  We will all miss her.  I will miss just sitting and talking to her.  Her laugh, giggle and and her smile.  Love you grandma.

 

Gobble Gobble Yum!!

We had a great Thanksgiving even though we were small in numbers this year.  The kids had such a wonderful time playing together.  The girls even put a show together for us.  Just like old times. Though they didn't charge any money for it like Gayla, Lisa and I use to do.  Parker did try to get everyone to pay $5 for parking.  Didn't happen.  Like his enthusiam though.  And all the food was done on time and hot except the rolls.  I need another oven.  Good team effort by Kristi and I.   We sure missed my mom. Hope everyone had a  yummy Thanksgiving. 

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving 2008

Once again I prepare for Thanksgiving at my house.  I am so excited and feel like I am organized, but we shall see.  If not oh well.  It will be fun anyway.  The cousins are so excited to get together and play.  My niece Riley asked if Thanksgiving was going to be at my house this year and I told her yes.  She said ALRIGHT!! It made me feel good.  I am so grateful for a beautiful home that allows all of us to gather and make memories.  Happy Thanksgiving to all!!

New Hairdoos

Every time Grandpa Olson comes over, Carlee and Laney love to do his hair.  Recently when I was at the dollar store I purchased some spray bottles for when Grandpa Olson was ready to have his hair done again.  So last night was the night.  They were so anxious to mostly spray him and then do his hair.  We however learned that warm water would be better rather than chilly cold water. We also were able to con Parker into getting his hair done too.  Future hair dressers.  

Auntie Carma

I am an Aunt once again.  Ray's sister Kamile and her husband Will added Finnegan Dee Pigott to their family.  We will all call him Finn for short.  This is their 4th Boy.  His is so cute.  8 lbs 3 oz. Baby and Mommy are doing well.  We will have another arrival in December.  Ray's brother and wife are due Dec. 23rd.   Total Olsons Cousins 10/Chatterton Cousins 10 

Trick or Treat Smell My Feet

Yummy Treat

We had a great night trick or treating.  The weather couldn't have been better.  We didn't have to bundled up at all.  We were able to wear our costumes and show them off.  It was fun to see all the kids in the neighborhood and to see all of our neighbors.  We started off with homemade donuts at one end of the neighborhood and finish on the other side with scones and hot chocolate.  The kids had a great time and we are loaded with candy once again.  It's so fun to watch your kids having a good time.  They were tired when they crawled into bed, but that didn't stop them from waking up at their normal time 7:00 am.  Even with the time change saying 8:00 am.  Happy Halloween to all.  It is Sunday morning and my kids are still in their costumes.  Parker slept in his last night.  I guess they loved their costumes.  Yeah!!

Zombie

Good Deed Witch

Gabriella - High School Musical (Dad and Parker were Troy)

The Loot and Parent Tax

Traditional Pumpkin Carving

Carma's Pumpkin

So our pumpkins are carved and ready to be lit.  Bring on Halloween.  Neighbors are starting to hang extra decorations and the kids are getting excited.  Ray and I are ready for our Candy Tax that the kids have to pay us for going trick or treating.  Milky Ways, Twix, MM's and Snickers yum.  I had better run and an extra mile or two so that I can eat a lot of candy Halloween Night. 

Here are the results!!!

Cousin That Play Together Stay Together

So Makenzie and Laney are the last of the litter.  They are not shy, they get their way and they are very bossy.  They love to play together and get so excited to see each other.  They even talk on the phone to each other.  Boy are we in trouble.  Playdate at the Olsons.

The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown

It's tradition that we go to a pumpkin patch somewhere and gather our pumpkins.  This year Ray's parents grew pumpkins and they were enormous.  Each grandkid got to pick out a pumpkin. They loved watching them get bigger and bigger.  Any bigger and Ray would have not been able to lift them into the car.  The kids were so excited to pick their pumpkin.  

Though I think they had more fun riding around on the dollie and playing on the tramp in Grandma and Grandpa Olson's backyard.