Christmas 2008

Merry Christmas! Our day began with Lauren waking up around 5 or 6 am. We don't know for sure because the power was out! We told her to go back to be until 7 am and hopefully the power would be on. All the kids came and got us around 7:30 am., but our power was still out. It was crazy because I could see the lights on at our backyard neighbor's home. Along with the power being out, a snow storm hit with a vengeance. We kicked on the fireplace and watched as the kids took down their stocking and uncovered what Santa had left behind. Lauren rec'd an ICLOK, and and I-dog for her inherited nano from Garrett. Santa left a weight bench for Garrett and left an Indiana Jones whip and hat and a clone wars helmet for Ashton. The kids found all kinds of candy, Itunes cards, movies, earrings, "chunky guys" and cd's in their stockings. We then moved downstairs to open gifts from each other. My dad received some new shirts, gift cards and a bonsai plant. Travis rec'd a retractable flag pole and Ute's flag to take to the stadium for Utah football games. He also rec'd a new razor and clothes. I rec'd new slippers, a book, a jogging outfit and a silver ring. Garrett rec'd a new game for the WII and some clothes. Lauren rec'd some new jeans, and Kirby for her DS and Ashton rec'd a new game for the WII and a couple of board games too. Our family gift this year was Rockband for the WII. It has been a blast. After unwrapping gifts, the power was still out and Christmas breakfast at our home was looking more bleak. I called Tammy my sis-in-law and we made plans to move breakfast to their home. Shortly after hanging up with her, our power came back on. Yeah! Breakfast was back on. My entire family, minus my cute sister, Shari and her family in Philadelphia, enjoyed Christmas morning together. We ate nummy pumpkin waffles with buttermilk syrup, a fabulous egg/hash brown casserole, and fresh fruit. We exchanged gifts, watched movies, played "A ticket to Ride - Europe", and played Rockband. Around 4pm we loaded up the car and headed to Tracie and Anthony's home for Christmas dinner. Our driveway and streets were buried with snow. However, when we got off Bangerter on 134th and headed west to their home, we realized they must have rec'd two feet of snow. Their neighborhood was buried. Thank goodness for snowplows. We were so glad we made it safely there. Once inside, we enjoyed dinner together with Trav's parents, sister Megan and Jeremiah, Tracie's next door neighbors who don't have family close and my dad. The kids opened a few more gifts and then we played Tracie and Anthony's new WII Fit. It was so much fun. I think I liked the ski jump and heading the soccer ball. My kids liked it so much that they used their Christmas money and bought one for our WII.

After a long but wonderful day, we headed home and crawled under our covers and stayed snowed in throughout the 26th. We played all day in and out of the snow and enjoyed all the fun presents the kids had rec'd on Christmas.

Merry Christmas 2008!