Swings

***I hope the thought and time that is put into picking a title for each of my blogs is appreciated. You can probably see why I am not a scrapbooker or even much of a blogger.

My parents got the kids swings for Christmas. They love swinging at their house and so we thought it would be a good idea. Unfortunately for Kade, he had to make the "swing set." A man's favorite kind of gift- one with a project attached. He was a good sport and did a really great job, though he was a day late. He didn't build it until the day after Christmas.

So we improvised. An unfinished basement is so good for so many things. We hung all three swings up downstairs where it is warm and they got to swing. Addy loves it, too!

The finished product. It is huge and sturdy and should last forever!

We left Addy's downstairs since right now it is cold outside. I love the simple classics.

The Big Day

This year we borrowed a great idea we heard at church. To help the kids think a little more about giving at Christmas, we took them shopping and let them pick out something for each other. Kade said we weren't going to have them pick anything out for us (boring!) so we did his later. After shopping, they got to pick out wrapping paper and help wrap and write on the tags. They really were excited and it was hard to have them keep a secret from each other. On Christmas morning they took turns wearing the Santa hat and passing out the presents they had picked. I think even Kade was please with what the kids picked for him. Originally, Laynee was set on shopping at Costco for Kade, but Rhett convinced her to go to the gun store (Sportsman's Warehouse.) They found him some bullets, an ice fishing pole and a map of Utah's recreational trails. Not bad.

I videoed most of Christmas morning, so I don't have many good pictures. All in all, I think everyone had a great Christmas.

Tradition

I love traditions. The best memories I have come from doing the same things year in and year out. I especially love all the fun traditions of Christmas and that includes my mom's tradition of trying to make us crazy with excitement. She's the only mom I know that purposely riles up the kids. I try to remember that when my kids keep asking "how many more days until Christmas?" and "I wonder what Santa might bring me?" My mom beat us to the punch and would constantly remind us how close it was getting and what she wondered and thought we might be getting....oh the excitement of childhood. It's so fun to have kids for the holidays.

Every year Grandpa Jack has a big dinner at his house. It is the one time you can count on the Lemmon boys getting together. This year Rhett said, "We go to Grandpa Jack's every year for a Christmas dinner and then Santa always comes!" Score, we have a tradition remembered.

Not everyone likes Santa. This year we only had one crier though, Addy.

Being married means taking turns. This year was the Lemmon Year (that doesn't mean it was a bad year) for Christmas.

In the spirit of tradition, we always have a waffle supper on Christmas Eve. I guess our family just likes breakfast, or maybe we want to get breakfast over with long before Christmas morning and other activities.

This year we had Uncle Corey read the nativity and almost all of the grandkids played a song at some point throughout the story.

My parents have quite a line-up of grandkids. The crazy thing is that eight of them are missing from this picture. They all get along really good and my kids love to go to Hurricane to play with the cousins.

My Girls

I'm not usually one for matching my girls clothes. It stems from the training my older sister gave me. She never liked for us to even be wearing the same color. However, this is now the second time Laynee and Addy have had matching dresses. Once in awhile, I decided it is okay. I found these dresses on clearance at Gymboree (ahhh... the thrill of a deal!) and just couldn't pass them up. Now if Addy would leave a headband or bow on her head until she has hair (should that day ever come), no one would say my little guy is cute.

Christmas Dresses 2008. I remember my mom always sewing us some pretty new church dress and they would be hanging up on the doorway Christmas morning. The sewing machine and I aren't the best of friends so my kids dresses are bought with love and not made with love.
What is it about a tent? The kids love to play in them. Laynee wanted to sleep in it, by herself. Kade said yes (he always gives them what they want) but then he left it in the back corner behind the couches in the family room. I figured that would make her scared and he figured she would last 45 minutes tops. This picture is of her at about 6 a.m. She's up for anything, anytime, anywhere!
Life has gotten a lot busier for us lately. We're having lots of fun and lacking in the boredom we used to always complain about. Addy, on the other hand, has to get her naps in anywhere she can. With the first two I was so scheduled, but with Addy our only schedule is bedtime--we get there sometime every night.

Though she doesn't know when or where she can get some sleep, her one constant is her pink blanket. There have been many a panicked moment trying to find that thing. And, she loves to suck her thumb. Good times ahead....

Christmas Lights

I should've taken this picture when it was a little darker. Our house has lights this year! I was happy Kade put some up. Last year we weren't so lucky. We don't have any front yard to elaborate with, but we put lights on the roof, pillars and windows. I was pleased, then...
Our neighbors have commented about three times now how pathetic our lights are next to theirs. Their sing and dance to music. I admit their lights look nice and if they want to do mine next year, I'll let them. But, I still am happy with our "Christmas Spirit" this year! Although, Kade's friend had an excellent idea for a new creative use of the lighted deer you see everywhere. He hung it from his tree by a leg and trickled a trail of red lights down the deer and puddled the extras up on the lawn below. Maybe our neighbors would better appreciate that sort of light show. There is always next year....

How Exciting Is This?!

It rarely snows in St. George and not usually so close to Christmas. It has been fun to see snow "flurries" the last couple of days. Laynee is convinced there is now enough to build a snowman. Rhett is the realist and assures her that is not the case, but maybe they could find enough to make one small snowball.

I think our yards look much better with a little white covering everything. I just feel sorry for the horses out back. I am not sure they appreciate the snow like I do.

Catching a snowflake. Rhett said it was hard to do.

Addy is up for any activity that is outside. She was so excited she was stomping and laughing!

Thanksgiving

When people are around and exciting things are happening, I always forget to take pictures. Oh well, less to scrapbook. Thanksgiving we still fun even if I can't show you. We went to my parent's house for the big dinner. The kids had a good time with their cousins and the rest of us all ate way too much.

Friday, my sis-in-law braved the shopping crowds with me. We started out with some of my friends and actually were out shopping by 4 am. The four o'clock hour only ever comes once in my day. I think we had fun, though it is mostly a foggy memory now.

Then my family headed up to Lindon, right after shopping, for Kade's Grandma Laurel's 90th birthday party. More food, family, food, and no sleep yet. I was tired by the time we made it to our hotel at 11.

Saturday we toured the conference center, very impressive!, and headed to Mount Pleasant to visit a friend. They invited us to their town lighting with games and food for the kids. Very fun, but it was good to get home.

I am excited about all the family fun of the holidays and grateful for the time we have to share we each other!

Scripture Time

I put this post in so you can see just how perfectly my children listen while we read scriptures (HA!) and how big my feet are. Thanks for the picture, Kade. Actually, we just thought it was funny how Addy found a way to get closer to the action. I try to keep her farther away while I read (hence the feet sticking out) because if she can reach (anything) she is grabbing, tearing, turning pages and generally causing grief.

Coed Softball

Alpha Engineering put together a coed softball team this year. They only had four games and one tournament (tonight). The kids and I have enjoyed the games. Me- watching, mostly. The kids-playing with all the other kids and not watching. I haven't got to see Kade play very many sports, but knew that he played a lot in High School. He is actually really good, much to everyone's surprise. Really, they all get a little misled by his cowboy appearances and didn't figure he knew anything about sports. He's scored a couple of out-of-the-park home runs and had some good plays. Good entertainment, if nothing else.

Addy is a daddy's girl. If ever he is near she has to have him hold her, not me. If she gets fussy, I just have to go stand by the dugout so she can see him and she is much happier. Some of the games have been late and it has been cold. I've had Addy bundled up so much that she was reminding everyone of "Ralphie" from A Christmas Story when she would run for Kade. A couple times she has tipped over and can't get back up and the vision of "Ralphie" was completed.

Soccer Season Over

Actually, soccer ended in November, which is technically only two days ago, but it was more in the middle of the month. You may note that my procrastination problems go deeper than just my blog.

Rhett had a really fun year with soccer. He scored a couple goals, discovered the fun of playing defense and made some good friends. He was sad for it to be over and can't wait for next year.

Go Sharks!

After the last game, everyone went out for pizza at their coach's restaurant. (We knew how to pick a coach, right?!) Good times. Seriously though, their coach was amazing. He held practices and had those kids doing lots of really good moves. Plus, he kept it all fun and everyone loved him. He better "volunteer" next year, too!


Ah, the trophy! Something great about a trophy. This is number two for Rhett. He received his other one doing muttin' busting at the Dixie Roundup last year. He now thinks he is going to need a shelf for all those trophies that are pouring in.