Christmas!!

Christmas Eve, just before Rob gave the kids their "sleeping potion" and put them to bed.



I'm not sure what he put in the potion, but we put the kids in bed at 8:00, and didn't hear from them until 7:30 Christmas morning! Jaxon was so funny - he was walking to his bed after he had the "potion" and he just fell onto the floor and started snoring. Something tells me he is going to be a comedian just like his dad.


CHRISTMAS MORNING!!





Callie wasn't sure about everything. She was just happy to be crawling around eating all of the wrapping paper. Jax and Kena made sure all of her presents got opened!



Kena just wanted a scooter, and Jax wanted a Star Wars Helmet. Thank goodness Santa came through!



Rob ended up surprising me with a Vinyl cutter for Christmas (you can kind of see the stand for it in the background of this pic). Props to him, because he was pretty sneaky! I can usually figure out what I am getting, but he definately got me this year! He got his AK 47 rifle for Christmas. He's been wanting one forever, and I finally gave in.
We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! Happy New Year tomorrow!!!

Christmas Eve

Christmas eve we went over to my mom's and had a cute little Christmas pageant.



Summer and Nate were good sports again this year and were Mary and Joseph, and Bridger was Baby Jesus. Jaxon and Colin were the two wiseman (we couldn't convince Mason to dress up), and Kenadee, Olivia and Adalyn were herald angels.

Christmas Sunday, Snow Day, and Potato Soup Recipe

Today is Christmas Sunday - I can't believe Christmas is only 4 days away. The kids are getting pretty excited, but I think I am even more so!
We were in a huge hurry this morning getting ready for church. I had to play the piano for a musical number in sacrament meeting, so I didn't want to be late. Anyway, these are the only shots I got of the kids in their Christmas clothes - not the best, but oh well. At least I took pictures . . .



The kids had a blast playing outside in the snow on Thursday. They built their own snowman, and did a pretty good job of it. Kenadee would roll the snowballs, and Jaxon would stack them up. We have been dog-sitting Grace for the past several days, and she even seemed to like the snow. I, however, don't like to be cold, so I spent most of the day inside with Callie.









That night I made the best potato soup, and it was soooo easy. The bishop's wife published a cook book and gave me a copy, and it is the best recipe book I've ever had. Anyway, I am going to post the recipe for her potato soup in case anyone wants to try it.

3-4 C. water
1 env. dry golden onion soup mix OR or small to medium onion, diced
1/2 C. celery, diced
8-10 potatoes (med to large) peeled and diced small
2-3 tsp salt or to taste
1/4 tsp pepper or to taste
2-3 tsp chicken bouillon granules or to taste
2 C. milk
1 (12 0z) can evaporated milk OR equal amount half & half cream
2-3 Tbsp butter
Cheddar cheese, shredded
Green onions, diced
Crisp cooked bacon, crumbled

In a large heavy pan, med to med-high heat, add water, soup mix (or diced onion), celery, potatoes, salt, pepper, and chicken bouillon. Stir together; bring to a low boil and cook, uncovered, until potatoes are tender. Stir a few times while cooking to keep potatoes from sticking. When potatoes are done, add milk, evaporated milk (or half & half), and butter; stir. Dish ip soup. Top with cheese, green onion, and bacon. Enjoy! Yeild: 6-8 servings.

Christmas is coming!!

On Saturday, we went to Axtel and had the annual Pixton Christmas party. Thanks to Nadine, Lori, Paula, and Leann for putting it all together every year. We had a great time eating all of the good food, having the gift exchange, and playing the candy game and Rock Band. And of course, the kids loved seeing all of the animals (especially the chinchilla) and playing in the snow. All was great until the drive home. The roads were so awful! At one point, we about t-boned a guy that had lost control and spun into the side rail. Thankfully he was able to reverse off of the road before we got to him, because we wouldn't have been able to stop! Anyways, we had a great time and we made it home safe so I guess that's what is important!



Jax and Kena were so lucky with the candy game. The both won huge! Kena was so funny - she would blow on the dice before she rolled them - what a professional!




The kids with "Chi Chi" the chinchilla. I have to admit, the only chinchilla I had ever seen before this one was on Dora. Thanks, Maddie, for sharing!


Even Callie was pretty enthralled by Chi Chi . . . she actually cracked a smile. She's a pretty serious baby when she's around strangers.


Monday we went and saw Santa and Mrs. Clause. Cute Mrs. Clause sang songs and read stories with the little kids, and then they made, as Kena says, a "smarshmellow" snowman. When Santa finally walked in, the kids were so excited and their faces were so mesmerized! It was like they just couldn't believe that Santa was REALLY there.
All 3 kids did really well sitting on Santa's lap. Callie isn't old enough to be scared yet, and Kenadee finally got over her fear. For some reason, she thinks at one point in her life that Santa bit her. So whenever she has a scratch or an "owie" of unknown origin, it gets blamed on Santa. Don't ask me - I have no idea! But hopefully this crazy fear of being bitten will go away now that she has seen how nice Santa is.
We got to go over to my mom's for some yummy soup afterwards - so nice not having to cook! She gave the kids a big bag of Christmas books all wrapped up and they get to open one every day until Christmas. They have loved it, and it's such a good idea. I think that next year, I am just going to wrap up the same books and do the same thing again. The kids can see how the pile of books is getting smaller so they know Christmas is getting closer. Thanks mom!
After we got home, Jaxon came up to me and asked, " Does Santa have any toothbrushes?" I figured he was asking because he needs a new one, and maybe wanted to get one for Christmas. So I told him that yes, Santa probably has lots of them, why? And he says " because when I was sitting by him, his breath was kind of stinky." Poor Santa, Jaxon is so sensitive to smells, not even he can get away with stinky breath.

Notice poor Olivia screaming in terror. I wonder if Santa has bitten her too??

What a perfect Santa and Mrs. Clause - don't you think?

Thanksgiving Weekend

Trisha, Izzy, Mom, Callie, Summer, Adalyn, Taylor, and Nate



We celebrated Thanksgiving Day and ate dinner at my mom's this year (Rob's family celebrated earlier). After dinner, all of the girls and my dad went and saw the movie "Twilight". During the first part of the movie, I was sure I was going to be disappointed, but I ended up really liking it! We are planning to go see it again sometime this week with some friends so that Rob can watch it. Maybe after he sees it, he will be convinced to read the books . . . maybe. I think he would like them, but he's not so sure.
We had Thanksgiving 3 weeks early this year with Rob's family because Rhondelle and Ronnie came down and we just celebrated while they were here. We don't get to see Rhondelle and her kids very often, so it was fun to have them here.


*Kalen, Kaston, Rhondelle, McCall, and Ralph
*Leann, Mason, Jax, Ty, Kena and Tate in dirt pile



Sadly, black Friday has come and gone. It is one of my favorite days of the year. I think it's the shopping with no kids that I love! This year was crazy - it seemed a lot busier than last year. But thanks to my mom, Summer, and Trisha, we were able to spread out and get nearly everything that we all wanted.

After I got home from my crazy day shopping, I got my tree put up. I have way too much furniture, and squishing a tree in the living room was hard to do, but I did it!



And I somehow convinced Rob to put lights up on the house again this year. I don't know if it was worth it, though. He is still complaining that his legs are sore from all of the walking on the roof that he had to do. I DO have to give him props, though, they look great!



Yes, that is Jaxon up on the roof with Rob - he snuck up there while I was busy with the tree. I got outside just in time to stop Kena from joining them.

Ear Piercing

My little girl has been begging for her ears to be pierced! She watches me put my ear rings in every morning and always asks if she can "have some on my ears". I have always told her that she can when she is a mom. I guess I just don't want her to grow up too fast. Well yesterday, she got smart and asked her dad for ear rings, and since she has him completely wrapped around her finger, he of course told her yes. So last night after he got off work, we took her in and got them done. I think I was more scared than her - I seriously had butterflies in my stomach! She just hopped up into the chair and waited patiently while the lady got her all sterilized and put the pen mark on her ears. They pierced both ears at the same time, and she was so brave. She didn't even cry! She just wanted to know if she got a sucker for being so brave. I am so proud of her - she is getting so big!!





She got this hot pink fingernail polish as her prize for being sooo brave!

Family Pictures

We got our family pictures taken back in September, but I just got them back. I thought they turned out so cute and just wanted to post a few.

Callie had had enough after about the first 10 minutes of pictures, so we didn't get very many of just her - and she's screaming in most of the family pictures - but atleast we got them done!

Halloween Fun!

I can't believe Halloween is over, and November is here! The kids had a blast trick-or-treating, as well as trunk-or-treating. On Thursday night, we went trunk-or-treating with Randi and her kids.

Then on Friday night, we went trick-or-treating around our neighborhood. Jaxon decided he didn't want to be Darth Vader anymore - he wanted to be Tom Brady.

After we got home, the kids decided to paint their own faces . . . very nice!

And last, but not least, Rob's famous "sick pumpkin". He was so proud!