Christmas Day 2009

...started very early. Late night Christmas Eve, my sisters and I were up late wrapping presents and visiting. We finally called it a night at 2:30 a.m. I think Santa and his elves came right after that. I must have been in deep sleep, didn't hear any of the elves or Santa.

At 3:30 a.m. I woke up to the kids' (Allie, Collin and Jasmine) excited voices, ooh-ing and ahh-ing at all that Santa brought them. I didn't want to miss seeing their excited faces so I got up (after an hour of sleep, ha!) and took some pictures and video. My sister woke up too so we stayed up for about half an hour before I decided I needed some good zzz's. Woah, that was a first. Last year, the kids woke up around 4 a.m. but my mom got them to go back to bed, and they didn't wake til 6 or 7 a.m.

At around 9 a.m. (and some of us finally dressed), we started our our sausage and egg bake breakfast, while Andrea and I played elves and divied the presents up into piles (as per tradition). We two were the only ones who knew where the "secret tags" were! I had my camera ready to go and handed the video over to Kevin to man.

Maddie was so excited about this rose petal cottage from her Grandma and Pappi. She would go in the house, peek out the door and say "Hi Guys!". The other three kids thought it was so cool, they played in it the entire day! She was also in love with the play hair and beauty stuff and new Tag books for her Tag Junior.

Collin's list this year was short and sweet, to the point. The pictures don't show it, but he was so eager and excited to open the big Santa sack and find that Santa brought him the CSX Warbonnet electric train set that he had been oogling over for a couple of months at least.

He also got an electronic basketball hoop that hangs over the door for some extra practice (not pictured). He is having so much fun with the Tag Reader and lots of books to go with it too. Collin hasn't found a reading series that he likes to read, the Tag pen has helped him read the books over and over again.

These two exchanged presents this year (tradition). Collin picked out a couple of lovely hair accessories that Allie loved and Allie gave Collin this metal die-cast race car that she bought with hard earned tickets at school. She spent almost all of her tickets on this prize toy because she knew Collin would just love it. And she was right! Collin played with it every hour of the day.

Grandma Lorraine and Pop came over a little while later and delivered more presents. Us and the kids were just in heaven with the stuff they brought over. I was especially happy about the new knife set - they always tell me I have dull knives (TRUE! I had the same set from when we were married. Who does that? Apparently me.) And Kevin and I got matching sleeping bags to go with Kevin's new tent (that we are going to try out when we have a backyard, hmm. maybe.) We were glad Pop could come too - he had just had shoulder surgery two days prior and wasn't feeling good the night before.


A little while later, when it was least expected, Santa dropped off Allie's present - an electric scooter with FULLY charged batteries (we're guessing the elves were a little slow getting it assembled so hence it was a little late). Allie was so excited and was so glad that Santa did bring her the #1 thing on her wish list. She and Jasmine got American Girl dolls, that they both just love. They actually did an AG fashion show a few days later.

Our traditional Christmas dinner at around 5 p.m. with my siblings and Gma & Pop and Chad and Megan. Kevin, Archie, Andrea and Collin went to the Suns game, while the rest of us tried out the Wii and Wii Fit. While watching the Suns game on TV, we heard some bells ringing and thought they were carolers or something.

So we check it out and guess who came??? Yep, SANTA!!



The kids were oh so surprised and didn't really know what to think. He gave some presents out, and I guess our elf Timmy (and Jaz's elf Buddy) passed along the request for him to come and visit for a little while. Then just like that, he left and was gone. In the meantime the Merrills came and as soon as Santa left, they all ran upstairs to see where he'd go. Then Allie and Cade come running downstairs and gave their stamp of approval: "He's legit. He's real!" Todd came by a little while later and we all played the wii some more. Todd was awesome on the wii fit, he just made it look easy to land on targets while flapping his arms like a bird.

It just seemed like yesterday Christmas happened! As I write this post, the Christmas decorations are put away and the house is back to usual, and ready for school to start. I'm not. But glad and thankful we had a good Christmas and looking forward to a great new year.

Merry Christmas!

This is the card that went out with our gifts this year. Didn't make the mail, so here it is for my blog records.

In 2009:

7,495 photos taken, $900 in paper coupons used, 15 piano classes (Allie), 13 ballet classes (Allie), 22 soccer practices (Collin), 4 soccer games (Collin), 3 random Snowflake trips, 1 girls' camp, 3 football games in Utah, 1 July 4th week in Utah, 1 Newport Beach wedding, 1 Polar Express trip, countless requests from Allie and Collin for another baby sister or brother, more requests to be homeschooled, 1 new school, 2 preschool classes, 8 preschoolers, 1 kid to potty-train, 1 blog book printed, and 1 busy but grateful family.

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!

On the 24th Day of Christmas -- the Manger, the Sword, the Star

Reading their letters from the helper elves

Wow things got so busy all of a sudden. We didn't get to do the ornament on the 22nd or the 23rd, so we lumped all of them together tonight, which ended up working out perfectly because the Dickersons came today and Jasmine wanted to participate in the ornament hanging.

We talked about the manger and about how that was what made Jesus' birth different from other babies born in his time. Everyone back then was wrapped in swaddling clothes, but Christ was laid in a manger. A manger is a feeding trough, and carries food. Just as food gives life to everyone, so does Christ to our souls.

We talked about the new star that appeared when He was born.

We talked about what happened in the Americas, and how the faithful Nephites rejoiced when the sun set and it did not get dark. They were amazed.

Andrea brought some special letters from Santa's helpers from Utah. We had some yummy carne asada for dinner that Tony and Archie made for everyone, then the kids watched Samuel the Lamanite movie (about the first Christmas in the Americas).

The kids were all so excited they could barely contain themselves. They tracked Santa on noradsanta.org every 5 minutes and got SUPER excited when it said Santa was in Tucson. They wanted to sleep by the Christmas tree but we talked them out of that and so they slept in the theatre room instead.

While the kids slept we wrapped some more presents and went to bed at 2:30 a.m.

What the tree looked like right before all the adults went to bed.

On the 23rd Day of Christmas

Collin gives Maddie a horsie ride thru the house. Maddie loved it and kept chasing Collin around for more!
She asked oh so kindly, "Please can I "hab" it Mom?"

More baking.

Andrea and Archie flew in from Vegas.

Andrea and I wrapped presents til 3 a.m.

On the 22nd Day of Christmas

We made and decorated Gingerbread Houses. That took pretty much the whole day. But I was glad to be in my sweats the whole day with nowhere to go but home. It was rainy and cloudy ALL day - PERFECT weather to do gingerbread houses.

I made the gingerbread cookies after breakfast in the morning, chilled the dough and rolled them out and baked them at lunch time. Dough was so good I ate it while I rolled them out. The icing was perfect (I use a really good royal icing courtesy of Liz Hamilton). I used two recipes for the Gingerbreads, one from Williams-Sonoma that came with the gingerbread house cookie cutters, and one from Liz too. Both really good!

Allie and Collin each wanted their own houses to decorate.
Here is Collin working hard on his house.
Allie did a really cute roof and had to have a big snowman in her yard.
Collin's finished gingerbread house. He did so well on his own. I snuck in the peppermint above his door (he didn't want me to help).
Cade decorated his own house, too, and we were glad they could come and decorate houses with us.
The Merrill boys

On the 21st Day of Christmas - Brick Wall

Ornament: Brick Wall for Samuel the Lamanite. We talked about the prophecies that Samuel the Lamanite gave 5 years before Christ was born to people in the Americas.

It was the first official day the kids were off from school. We went shopping for some presents, and wanted to go in Build-a-bear since they had a couple of coupons to use towards a stuffed animal. They love this place. They picked out a Christmas moose and named him Maxie Christmoose. Collin got to do the stuffing part and Allie got to do the birth certificate, and they took turns washing him off (including Maddie). We get to the register and Allie's fidgety because she's not sure she has enough money. LOL. She was short 40 cents. which she had in her coin purse, in nickels and pennies. The line was getting long so I gave her 40 cents. They were happy to get this moose whose ears light up.

We get to payless and we find Maddie had sneaked a little stuffed toy in her stroller, so we headed back to the store to return the thing. :) Luckily we weren't too far away when we discovered the toy.

On the 19th Day and 20th Day of Christmas - Candy Cane

19th - we cleaned the Church (somehow Collin and Kevin's favorite thing to do). Then Allie and her friends Macey and Alexa went to Macey's garage sale. Allie came back with a big bag of GIANT PINK GUMBALLS. Silly girl! Then they asked if they could bake cookies for some neighbors that "people don't know exist". So I let them. They baked 60 cookies and ate a whole bunch of chocolate chip cookie dough while they were at it. I think they had lots of fun and what good friends, huh? I am glad Allie has such good friends. More delivering in the p.m. before Kev and I went out. We watched whatever was showing next (I'm not that spontaneous, but Kev is), but I was lucky this time it was a chick flick with Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker - Did you Hear about the Morgans?. Dinner after movie of course.

20th - Allie gave a talk in primary. She did a great job (as usual)! Then spent a quiet Sunday at home. I took the kids out for 10 minutes to take pictures of them in their Christmas clothes, Collin didn't really want one in it so he changed his clothes and came out a little while later and asked if I could take some of him in his orange shirt. He convinced me that it would go with the red and black dresses that Maddie and Allie were wearing - he put up a red bow next to his orange shirt and SHOWED ME that IT WOULD MATCH. Laugh in my head.

I was so out of the whole what to cook for dinner? - so we had breakfast for dinner.

Ornament: Candy Cane for Shepherd's crook - for shepherds. Jesus is also our Shepherd.

His idea of an awesome pose.

Love this girl!

12th anniversary for me and Mr Z

He likes to do this every time because he knows I want a good smile. Usually the first shot looks like this. So I included it here so he can see how funny he looks.

No signs of me being done with the wrapping, haven't even started yet. But me and Mr Harris are going on a date tonight. Because it's our 12th Anniversary tomorrow. What?! 12 Years already. Doesn't seem that long ago we met and got married. But I am thankful to have met him when I did, and married him when I did. In 12 years, we've been through...

9 moves (3 in the first 2 years, you know, students apartments and 4 inter-state moves)
10 jobs between the two of us (among 8 employers)
4 years of grad school
2.5 years of undergrad school
3 kids
0 pets (well, except Allie's goldfish, but those were short-lived)
living in 3 states
3 houses (including this one) and cars
1 house remodel and
1 year of being apart and living in 2 states (except for the weekends)

And we're still going. And I love him and he still lights up my heart every time I see him. I am happy to be his wife. Love you, Kev!

On the 18th Day of Christmas - Carpenter's Square

I was just talking to a friend the other day and I told her I wanted to get everything done (for Christmas that is) this weekend. She said, "That's ambitious!" Yep. Very much so. And darn it, it is not happening! I haven't wrapped one present for the kids, but thankfully already have them so I don't have to fight the shopping mall crowd.

I should know. I went for a quick rounding up trip yesterday (as in 30 minutes) and it took me 10 minutes to find a decent parking spot. I vow not to do that again if I can help it. Maybe I will get most done, so I can sit and read books and sip hot cocoa with the kids now that they are home from school. I don't want that rushed feeling. Like yesterday.

It was the kids' last day of school. Yippee! But I had a crazy morning rounding up those forgotten teacher presents. Then rounded up and wrapped more neighbor gifts in the p.m. while Allie and her friend Macey celebrate Macey's 9th Birthday (Allie gave her a lunch playdate gift last month) and watched the Hannah Montana movie. That was kinda relaxing just to be at home and watch a chick flick with the girls, Maddie included who sat next to Macey and fell asleep on her shoulder. Cuteness.

-- Ornament: Carpenter's Square for Joseph.

Harris Family Christmas

On the 18th, It was the annual Christmas at the Harris' where we enjoyed yummy Mexican food and the kids put on the Nativity show. Allie was Mary and was so excited that we had a live Baby Jesus this year (thanks Jaxon!) . Collin liked being one of the wise men and Maddie just loved wearing her angel costume because it had sparkly garland trim. We sang Christmas carols and kazoo-ed while Allie accompanied us on the piano. We also received a new Christmas Jar to save pennies in and then give to someone special next year. Then we made handprint ornaments before loading up to go home. Busy day, but fun night!

All the grandkids and their Pop and Grandma before our yummy Mexican dinner

Gotta love the sparkly shoes! Maddie was our little angel. She also loved the sparkles on this costume. Did not want to take it off.
Our 3 Wise men: Trysten, Jace, and Collin
Check out our Nativity - gotta love that Maddie and Parker are checking out the tree, Cade the fireplace, and where did Travin go? After the Nativity program.

Allie (Mary) and Baby Jaxon.

Mr P and Mr J

Some of my most favorite shots for Megan.

On the 17th Day of Christmas - the Lily

Edited a multi-family photo shoot.

Started editing another shoot.

Took a nap.

Shopping (for presents) with the whole family.

Family Devotional. Ornament tonight is the LILY to stand for Mary.

Wrapped the above presents.

Remembered that Allie needed an exchange gift for tomorrow. Luckily I had a couple of things waiting to be wrapped.

Then remembered it's the last day of school AND...

I haven't gotten the teachers their presents.

Luckily I have some time (Collin gets out at 10 a.m.) to run to the store to get them something.

Glad I remembered tonight.

Ornament: Lily - for Mary, who is pure.

On the 16th Day of Christmas - Dove

I took pictures of Parker and baby Jaxon (proofs to come, Megan, I haven't got to look at them yet). Then went to my m-i-l's to help put together Nativity costumes for Friday night. They look awesome and can't wait to see them on my nephews.

New Tradition - the Half Birthday Date

Today was Allie's FIRST EVER half birthday date with her Dad. New tradition. I hear they went to InNOut for some one-on-one. The half birthday date idea is so that they have that special day for some personal interviews, and build a good relationship with each other (Dad and daughters, Mom and sons).

I know Allie felt extra special tonight. The first thing she told me was that she had so much fun with her Dad. Thanks Kev!

It will come in handy when these kids turn into stinky teenagers who do not want their parents in their business (we hope!). What better time than their half-birthdays so they always have something to look forward to every year (vs on a random date).

Ornament: the Dove - for Zechariah and Elizabeth, the coming of John the Baptist, who came to prepare the way for Jesus.

On the 15th Day of Christmas - the Scroll

I helped 4 more preschoolers + Maddie make handprint ornaments (that makes 10 for the week!). We had lots of fun at our girls' preschool party (makes 2 for the week). Maddie attended our preschool and sat on the line for me, listened to our 2 special Christmas stories, and wanted to make the handprint so I let her have some dough. It turned out so cute. I love the little handprints hanging on our tree.

Went caroling with YW/YM around the neighborhood in a big hay trailer driven by the Bishop. Then went and did some quick shopping for neighbor gifts that I haven't still delivered (or wrapped). Running behind! :) Then stayed up late making our Christmas tags a.k.a. cards that will go with the neighbor gifts.

Helped Collin memorize a nursery rhyme for tomorrow. It was one of those great teaching times. I had a little orange slice to stand for Humpty Dumpty, half a cookie for a horse and a Hershey hug for the king's men. Collin got to squish the orange slice at the end of each recitation. He got it down pat after five recitations, but wanted to finish squishing all 12 slices and was laughing at each of the squishes he made.

The best part was that an hour or two later, he came to me and said out of the blue, "I wish you were my teacher at school, Mom". It made my day!

Ornament: scroll (to be soon replaced by gold plates) to stand for the Book of Mormon prophets who like the Old Testament prophets told about the coming of the Savior long before He was born. The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ.

On the 14th Day of Christmas - the Whale

This picture melts my heart. Collin adores his little sister so much, he loves to just include her in everything he does, or thinks of things she might enjoy. He put her on his bike and took her for a ride. It was so cute!
I love this picture of Maddie Lou - I can almost hear her giggles.
Grandma Lorraine stopped by for a little while to help me throw the lights on the bushes. She brought Lexee with her and Allie and her friend Alexa were in heaven.
Right before we left to go to the mall for some late night shopping, we heard Maddie scream "Help! I spilled sauce!" I knew something was up because we heard a loud crash on the floor. So we rush in the kitchen to find her looking like this. It was pretty funny.
She tried to get the sauce off the island (see the chips already on the floor) and dropped the sauce on the floor. Oopsie. The girl obviously got some Harris genes to love salsa this young.

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Ornament: the Whale - for Jonah. Talked about how his being in the belly of the fish as a type of Christ, and the importance of repentance. (FHE).

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Today, I had my boys' preschool Class Christmas Party. We made handprint ornaments and had a gift exchange.

On the 13th Day of Christmas - Tongs with Coal

Abby and Jake surprised us! They were in town and stopped by for a quick visit. It was also Jake's birthday (Happy Birthday Jake!). We had a fun visit!

After they left we had our Harris Sunday Family Dinner for Kristie' birthday. I made Buttermilk Rolls and green beans to go with the Roast and potatoes that my in-laws provided. Yummy dinner.

Ornament: Tongs with a lump of Coal - for Isaiah (this could very well be the scroll, but Allie loves this ornament for some reason). We talked about how Isaiah was one of the great prophets who foretold about Jesus. The kids marveled at the gift of prophecy and revelation given to prophets (literally ooh-ing and ahh-ing at the thought of being able to know what is to come). We talked about the many different prophecies that Isaiah wrote about Jesus.

Timmy got his magic back -- he wrote a letter to the kids saying how he doesn't want anyone holding/touching him anymore because he really likes going home to Santa every night. This, after a day of not moving to a different spot, because Allie got impatient and moved him herself after Timmy didn't move early enough in the morning for her. She was so glad to have that be fixed.

On the 12th Day of Christmas - the Crown

We CLEANED out our playrooms and kids' rooms. Man that took all day and all night. But the results are great. We got rid of so much stuff, Collin's closet is actually empty and Allie's room is so clean. The theatre room toys are organized again, and the girls' playroom upstairs is looking spiffy. Lots of work but all for good.

Ornament: Crown - for King David. We talked about his call as a king, what kings do, and that Jesus was literally a King of Israel, having descended from King David.

On the 11th Day of Christmas - Sheaves of Wheat

Wow, I am three days behind on posts.

OK, so on the 11th, Allie and I and our girl friends went to the La-di-da Boutique. I promised Allie she can do some Christmas shopping for herself and her cousin Jazzy. She and her friend were in heaven. They had so much fun just looking at all the cute hair accessories to be had. And had trouble narrowing down their choices to only $20. In the end she bought a cute journal that came with a scented pen, a headband *that I can borrow*, and something special for her cousin Jazzy. We will definitely be doing it again next year.

Ornament: Sheaves of Wheat - stands for Ruth - who is King David's great-grandma, whom Jesus descended from. We learn about her story, because she and Boaz are the reason why Mary and Joseph registered in the census in Bethlehem - Jesus' roots are in Bethlehem.

On the 10th Day of Christmas - Kneading Bowl

Ornament: Kneading Bowl, the kids are asking to change it to the "passover door" after hearing the story of the Passover. I agree. The kneading bowl stands for the unleavened bread that the Jews ate/eat to celebrate Passover.

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Today was one of the days I actually got dinner done and ready to eat at 5 p.m. and cleaned up by 6:30 p.m. So, Allie and I went on a fun girls' hour at DBlvd, where she found some cute earrings and ate lots of chips and bean dip. She is so excited to go to the local boutique this weekend. What she wants? Some hair accessories. It was so funny she brought her little pail of quarters to see what she could get with it. Now that she knows what could be had at a boutique, she's motivated to save all the money she gets all during the year so she could spend a little bit more next year. I hope it lasts. She is also been wanting to be homeschooled. I get lots of letters *just about everyday!* telling me all the reasons why she should be homeschooled.

Today is also Kristie's birthday! Happy Birthday, Kristie!

On the 9th Day of Christmas - the Burning Bush

(in the middle of yawning, stretching his legs, and holding his Daddy's finger!)

Jaxon was born! I got the call everyone was waiting for right before 9 a.m. Megan had the baby around 8 a.m. and had an awesome delivery! I was in my sweats/jammies still so I hurried and got dressed, dropped Maddie off at Mindy's (on VERY short notice) and called Lara (my carpool) and arranged for her to pick Collin up. Kristie, Lorraine and I got to the hospital at the same time and got to see little baby J! I took some photos, and got to hold the little guy. He is so cute and adorable. And oh so cuddly. I forget how small babies come! Congrats Chad and Megan!

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Busy day - Activity Days, Mutual, did lots of baking, and got my walking done.

Ornament: Burning Bush - to stand for Moses, reviewed the story of when Moses was called, and how he was given the lesser law to prepare and be a constant reminder for the people of the coming of the Savior.

Collin's Christmas program

Last night was Collin's Kindergarten Christmas program. He volunteered to be one of the wise men for the nativity part of the program. He did a great job singing the Christmas songs and paid attention during the program even though he couldn't see where the rest of the family was sitting. It was mass chaos, as they didn't have a stage, so we didn't even have a good view of the program and many people didn't either - so that gave way to too much noise by the audience. I sneaked my way to the front so I can at least get good pictures of Collin. And that way he also could see me (at least). Grandma and Pop came to support Collin too (thanks!). After the program, we went to Someburros (we let him pick where he wanted to eat).

Singing Jingle Bells

Glad I made some Nativity costumes last year.
He looks so handsome as a Wise Man from the East.

Us after the program

On the 8th Day of Christmas - sack of grain

Last night's ornament: sack of grain. I told the story of Joseph and his brothers, how he was sold and then years later he met them again and forgave them, and gave them grain so they could have food during the famine. Grain as we know is made into flour that is then made into bread. Jesus is the bread of life. Just like Jesus, Joseph gave bread to his hungry brothers to sustain their life. When we look at the sack of grain, we can remember that Jesus gave us the gift of eternal life.

On the 7th Day of Christmas - the Ladder

The ladder stands for Jacob, who married Rachel, had 12 sons and later becomes Israel. One night he had a dream in which he saw himself on the earth at the foot of a ladder that reached to heaven where the Lord stood above it. The rungs on the ladder stood for the covenants he made with the Lord that he himself would have to climb in order to obtain eternal life. We talked about a few "rungs" that enable us to return to Heavenly Father.

Collin whispered, "Oh I know what tonight's ornament is. It's the ladder." Uh-huh, I said.

Then as quickly as I turned, he added, "so is that why it's called The Church of Jesus Christ of Ladder-Day Saints?"

Oh I almost laughed out loud. But I didn't.

On a more serious note, Allie had her big thinking cap on tonight. After she mentioned that baptism was one of the "rungs" on that ladder, she made a connection between the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 oxen found holding up the baptismal font in the temple. We had been to the Oquirrh Mtn Temple open house back in the summer and she remembered that she had seen them there. So that opened up another short discussion on the gathering of the 12 tribes and baptism, and that baptism really is a very important part of that gathering in the latter-days. Big thinking cap she has, I know.

** Timmy flew up really high and the kids and I found him on top of the window valance in the kitchen! Oh and no outdoor lights FHE for us. It's been rainy and cold all day.

On the 6th Day of Christmas - A sheep

Tonight's ornament is the sheep, to stand for Isaac. Our devotional was short and sweet as we had talked about Abraham's sacrifice the night before. We did however focus on what the word "sacrifice" meant - giving up something you LOVE. We asked the kids if they had ever given up something they loved and how it felt to do that. Then compared that to how Abraham was willing to give up his son Isaac, just like Heavenly Father gave up his ONLY son Jesus Christ, because he loves all of us and wants us to return to Him. And that Jesus was willing to do it even though He knew the pain and price it would cost Him.

I think just thinking about what the word "sacrifice" means and focusing on it made Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ's love for us even more profound to me and I am at a loss for words to describe.

** Collin and Allie were half asleep so Maddie went and found the sheep ornament. She knew exactly what to do with it! I love that she is learning the tradition well. Every time it is time to start, she asks for "bells" and sits at the piano to bang on some keys.

Little Miss Laynee

For Jody ... my two most favorite shots!