Christmas is over!

Yesterday was exactly one year since we got the keys to our house. I really cannot believe that it has been a year. It was went by very quickly and here it is almost 2008. They say as you get older time goes by much quicker, then once you have a house it goes even quicker, then once you have kids it is over. I do believe that. 2007 was the quickest year I can remember.

We do need a recap on the past week though, with all the crazy hooplah going on.

Last Sunday we went over to my parents house and spent Christmas with them. Everyone had fun of course here are a couple of my favorite pics.

My Sisters and I all got together some photos and made my parents a calendar which they loved.

The tent was a big hit everyone was having fun getting in it.

Christmas Eve we went to Ben's parent's house and had Christmas with them. We were there with Caleb and Micah's families too. It is always nice to get together. Just wish that everyone could be there.

Whenever Ben is around the kids you know that it is going to get loud and crazy. There is always alot of "Uncle Ben can you play with me?"

We told the kids that Santa was coming and so Eden had to check outside to see if she could see Santa. Too cute.

I made Mary a calendar with all the Birthday's and Anniversaries on it. It is easily modifiable to add more Birthdays when they come.

Christmas Day and the day after I worked. Ben went snowboarding one of those days. We also went over to the Zarco's Christmas night for some La Abuelita, Mexican hot chocolate. We got there at about 8:30 and didn't leave until after 11pm. So much for a quick visit! but we had a blast there. Sis Zarco was kneading Masa for tamales which Ben then helped to make. We laughed ALOT! Ate ALOT! and finally had some Hot Chocolate. We also got to take hoe some of the tamales Ben made. We might have to make Christmas night at the Zarco's a tradition. It really was so much fun being with their family. I just wish I would have brought my camera.

On Thursday we went shopping. I got some material from the gift card to JoAnn's I got from Mary. I was going to make a dress from it, but I think I might make a quilt. We shall see what happens. We went over the Beth and Kevin's to give Tara and Brynne their tent.

Beth was gracious enough to make Ben a Birthday cake.

Friday Ben went snowboarding again with Nate this time while I stayed home and took down Christmas.

Saturday we went over to Gert's house to empty most of it out for construction workers to come and put in new carpet, new windows, new appliances, granite counter tops and some other repairs to the house. Gert was still recovering from her surgery so she won't be home until Monday, but she will be there while they are doing all the construction. We shall see what she does when everything is new in the house. Hopefully it won't be a cluttery mess like it is now.

Beth and Kevin then came out to the house and just played. We played Hungry Hungry Hippos, we played outside, we played with nerf guns, we play the Wii, and then we watched Nanny McPhee. The Mitchell's came over for a few minutes and brought their Christmas tree to Burn. I had never seen or done that. I will have to post the pics later.

Today, I stayed home from church to hopefully get over this cold so that I can go to work tomorrow. We shall see. Well I think I jabbed on long enough I will type at you all later.

Church Chaos

Can you believe it I am actually going to post something two days in a row. Maybe I will get on a roll?? Doubt it but hey, ya never know.
So, this morning we got up by eight and started lazily getting ready. Then Ben decides he want to make cookies for his class, but what he really means is = Anna, do you have time now that it is nine and church starts at ten to make some cookies? I don't know why but I did it and he was happy and some how we made it to church while they we singing the opening hymn granted we did sit in the second row of the chapel.
In Young Womens they started planning the activities they wanted to do for Wednesday nights and the first activity is Slumber Party at our house. I guess since we have no kids and extra room it will work. It should be fun and I have no idea if there will be slumbering occuring.
Well, hope all is well, I really need to wrap presents, we shall see what happens. the Kitchen is also calling.

Type at you all later.

Anna

Yo!

I have something that I have to do first. Ammy "tagged" me and I am supposed to write 6 things about me you may our may not know.

1. I love pastel colors. You may not know that by looking at the colors in my house, but I am the secret agent for the Easter Bunny. LOL!!!

2. 90% of my wardrobe is from Old Navy. If I am needing a new shirt or pants the first place I go is Old Navy.

3. I have to be productive before I can get on the computer. I have to make a list or a mental list of the things that need to be done, or else if I get on to the computer I will not get off, but will I accomplish much in the time that I am on the computer...NO.

4. I have to have routine, lists, or "missons" as Ben likes to call them. If there is something that I want to get done , you cannot deter me from it and if I am deterred from it I am usually cranky because that was not how it was supposed to go.

5. We buy and usually put up our Christmas tree on the 1st of December. I want to have as much time with it up as possible but I do not want it up in November.

6. I cannot sit still. I am always fidgeting with my nails or hair. I am trying to work on this.

Now back to our irregularly scheduled programming. I told Erin that I would take a pic of our house with the lights on. Here it is.

It isn't the greatest pic but you get the general idea. Ben really wants to get the blow up Santa on a motorcycle, but that ain't going to happen. Here is our tree.

There is absolutley no rhyme or reason to the tree. It is just the stuff I like. I have never done a themed tree, I think that would be hard. Would you have the same theme every year or do you change it up every year? I just don't know.

Today was Max and Jesse's Birthday Party. Here is a couple of pics from that.

Singing Happy Birthday to Max, he was very scared and thought that we were a bunch of lunatics singing to him.

Jesse loving every minute of the lunatics singing to him. This is great stuff why don't we do this every day!



Max absolutlely loving the "Cars" cars. He could not wait to get his hands on them and the fight with Jesse over them.
Well I am going to the Ward Christmas Party, Wish me luck! :)Type at you all later.

Anna

PS Yes Sarah, I will be sending you the pics soon.

Christmas Is Coming

Beth sent this out so I decided to put it here.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Paper. I think it is so much more fun to open a present that is wrapped
2. Real tree or artificial? Real tree. Growing up we only had an artificialone and wanted to have a real one but i had to wait until I was married to have a real tree.
3. When do you put up the tree? We have made it our tradition to buy the tree on December 1st. I love Christmas and want to have the decorations up for as long as possible
4. When do you take the tree down? Early January.
5. Do you like eggnog? No. I think it really has to do with the name Eggnog. It sounds wrong
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Cabbage Patch dolls. That is the first Christmas I remember. Well, I remember waking up and seeing the Doll on the couch and being jealous of Sarah's because her's was Blonde. But, mine was the Cheer Leader.
7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes., 2 and one Picture
8. Hardest person to buy for? This year, Ben and Sarah
9. Easiest person to buy for? Neices and Nephews
10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Not sure.
11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail. I am waiting for our cards to be shipped they might be in the mail box now, I just need to go out and check, but it has been raining, the joys of having the mailbox across the Street.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? The Claymation Series
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? When Costco starts putting up Their christmas stuff, Usually August or September
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I don't think so
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Thumbprint cookies, with the Chocolate Kiss on top
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Both
17. Favorite Christmas song? Mary's Boy Child Jesus Christ There is another one but I don't know how to spell it something Canons, I think
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Home.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? Heck Yeah.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel, my mom got it for me at Hancock Fabrics a few Christmasses ago
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? I make Ben Wait until Christmas Morning, but i have to work this year on Christmas so we will see what we'll do.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Too much going on in such a short amount of time.
23. What I love most about Christmas? Making Memories with Family and Friends

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!