December 2013

December was so busy busy! Not pictured were all my planning meetings and preparations for the Ward Christmas party and Young Women's and Young Men's. It made me a little sad that we weren't able to focus on making the build up to Christmas very special and fun for the boys. Our advent calendar helped a little, but sometimes the activities for the day never got done because I had too many other things going on. I hope I'm never asked again to be over the Christmas party committee until our kids are out of the house!

Finn likes to sport "The Hoff" look. 

Playing in (aka "eating") the snow!

On a different day, we discovered that when there's a lot of snow, the city ditch in front of our house is the perfect tubing hill for little boys. Big enough to make a fun ride and small enough to climb back up themselves!

Rudolph...

...the red-nosed reindeer...

...had a very shiny nose!

On Dec. 5th, I jetted down to Houston to meet baby Jay and see him get blessed.

Nick picked me up from the airport late Thursday night and this was my welcome when I walked in the door. Personal, hilarious messages from  the boys of Pop themselves!

In the morning, after visiting with Mitchell, Faye and Stacey, we were wondering when Nixon would come down. Then we heard a soft, "Yoo hoo!" coming from the stairs. "Yoo hoo!" Cute Nixon was up and full of his fun personality!

He likes to plug in the tree lights and show it off with a "Ta Da!" 

Then, my camera battery died! And I didn't think to bring the charger. Sweet Stacey tried to find one I could borrow, but it didn't work. I took a lot of pictures on my phone, including one of Mitchell at drum practice and all the mini snowmen we made from Secret Santa delivered snow balls (bought from a store!). But, my phone isn't sending pictures anymore for some reason. :( But I had the BEST time holding Jay, hearing his blessing, walking (running) the kids to the bus stop, staying up late talking to Stacey, having one-on-one time taking Mitchell to drum lessons, window shopping at the awesome outlets right behind their house, playing Sorry and Barbies and Wii and Monopoly Deal. I was so sad to leave them but happy to see my boys again. I think they had fun while I was gone although every time I called, Matt sounded very stressed. And awesomely, ever since I got back, he's been a much bigger help around the house! :) He said he was reminded just how much it takes to do everything around the house and how frustrating it can be to clean up the same messes 5 times a day. So, it was beneficial all around!

I got home on a Tuesday, and the following Saturday was our Polar Express Ward Christmas Party. This was the only picture Matt took of the set up before I sent him off on another assignment.

Luckily, someone else in the ward got some pictures. This was the train that Matt built for the foyer. This was after the party was over and it looks like some things were being taken down, but it was awesome at the start with its headlamp shining in the dark and fog coming out the bottom and train idling sounds playing. There was cotton ball snow falling and a super cute snowman and white pine trees and blue lights illuminating the snow on the ground. I was told that all the kids thought it was magical. :)

Then, the Conductor came out and ushered everyone in to the train car (the overflow). Here they got their tickets punched and sang a song while hearing sounds of the train traveling to the North Pole.

  

At the North Pole

Those blurry waiters are the YM bringing out hot chocolate fixings to the Hot Chocolate song from Polar Express. Everyone cheered when they first came out!

We had Buddy the Elf conducting the party and reading the Polar Express while everyone ate.

Then, Santa came out!
He was so sweet and talked to the kids about telling their parents every day that they love them and keeping their rooms clean.

 Here was our Conductor! He was awesome.

Phew! I was so relieved when it was over! I was so thankful to the sweet people who stayed until everything was cleaned up and to Matt's little sister, Debbie, for watching the boys all day for us.

This was the result of Covey and I trying to make gingerbread houses without Matt. We couldn't get the engineering right. Woodside Homes however offered us positions in their summer internship program. 

 The next day was Grandma Lori's Christmas Kickoff Dinner.

Brock clearly has:

A) a secret to tell

B) bitten the inside of his cheek

C) been practicing his invisible hostage routine

Covey loves taking apart and putting these reindeer back together. I loved doing that when I was little, too. :)

He looks just like a picture of Matt at this age!

Finn likes following Thomas around, feeding him...

 and playing this basketball game.

So merry, it's scary. 

Finally, with a week to go til Christmas, we could relax a little and focus on enjoying each other.

Finn's putting out the vibe. 

Finn might not love kisses,

but everyone loves to kiss Finn!

 And cuddle him!

Unfortunately, Matt and my family parties were the same night. We decided that since we went to Thanksgiving  in Mantua, we would go to my side's party at Aunt Cristie's house. 

Shooting hoops using Brock's arms.

There was a short, but evident lull in the party for some apparently. 

 Oh, I just wanted a picture of these two cute (2nd) cousins together. Sweet little Cooper was game but Covey was not.

"Cheethe!"

Grandma helping Covey during the "Suck-M&Ms-on-a-Straw-From-a-Cup-to-a-Bowl" game.

Singing "Jingle Bells". Covey's adjusting his ear piece. ;)
"Who's got that noooooooote?"

Loving Aunt Cristie

 Opening presents

 Finn got Peso.

 Covey got Dr Shellington and the Gup D.

Wow! What a great family picture! I especially like how every one of us are restraining Finn.

Covey had been reading me one chapter a day from his first chapter book. And on this day, he finished it! A great accomplishment, Covey!

For FHE this night, we had the Larsons over for a special Nativity lesson. It was so much fun! The kids stayed reverent for the story and lesson and then we made donuts and milkshakes. By the way, Covey had his heart set on being a sheep and Matt did a great job on the fly, don't you think? 

On Christmas Eve, we went up to visit Grandma Lori and have Papa Mike's party.

Grandma decided she wanted to see the talents the kids were doing for Grandpa's talent show. So, they all got a warm up.

Kaitlin and Lucie singing a Harry Potter-Christmas song.

Covey reading "Ho Ho Ho Tucker".

And showing the pictures. (We had to practice that.)

Grandma doesn't have a piano, so Brock astounded us with some amazing math skills.

 Papa Mike's Christmas Eve Party! 

We usually don't go because we have traditions to do the evening of Christmas Eve. We tried to do it all this year. It was so much fun at grandpa's but because Finn had to miss his nap, by the time we got home, he was screaming and had to go straight to bed without doing our family stuff. So, I'm not sure how to swing it all next year. But the boys loved grandpa's party.  And by the way, Finn started calling Papa Mike "Paco" the last time he'd seen him, so we all joined in with the new nickname.

Finn's talent: shooting hoops (Paco's arms) and kicking goals (Paco's legs).

Reading his story again and using a funny, low voice for Santa that made everyone laugh.

 They both got 5 Big Ones from grandpa!

 Ella's talent: singing Jingle Bells in a backbend. Finn thinks that talent is easy!

Brock is amazing at the piano!

And someday, these boys will be, too. I hope!

Present time! Grandpa spoiled all the kids and they were all so happy. Covey especially loved his Lightning McQueen learning laptop.

Covey had already gotten his Christmas jammies to wear to the ward party. 

So, back at home, we opened our new game...

Sorry! Covey loves it. We got in a round with the real rules and a round with crazy Covey rules. :)

Putting out Santa's cookies.

Covey decided to write a note. It says "For Satu Klos (from) Covey". :)

CHRISTMAS MORNING!

Santa came!

Covey ran and got the cheetah cub poking out of his stocking, first thing.

Finn saw his rocking giraffe right away.

When we gave him some J name options, Finn chose to name him Johnny.

"Eyes!" Yup. He has eyes. :)

Then, he spotted his football.

He loves playing catch with it.

Santa came through and brought Covey just what he'd asked for: The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and characters. 

Finn's gifts

(The cash register was for the both of them from mom and dad.)

Covey's gifts

(MMClubhouse was for both of them from Santa.)

Opening his lego character mystery packs

Matt's main present was an ENT kit (mainly an otoscope to check for ear infections, etc.). We've already benefited from having it! And Matt got me a new Kindle.

Using his new Lincoln Logs and Civil War soldiers to set up one sweet battle. 

An Octonaut Gup made it in, too, as the Confederates' submarine.

We had a great day just relaxing and playing with our new things. We made a turkey dinner and ate lots of Christmas candy!

 The next day, Grandma and Grandpa Nelson came to visit and give the boys their present: a year pass to the the Children's museum! Covey was so excited and we've already used it twice.

 For New Years Eve, we went up to Mantua for a party that was part Christmas, part New Years Eve, and part Jensen's birthday.

"Finn....I AM your father."

In the background Uncle Kade has decided to fall on his sword rather than face another day of war. 

To the untrained eye this may appear as some kind of Angry Bird execution. 

Goodbye 2013! 2014 is an exciting year ahead of us! Covey turns 5 and I turn 30. Covey will play baseball. Homeschool for reals will start. We'll spend a week in Phoenix while Matt attends a Radiology conference. We'll go on a big family trip to Disneyland in November. And Matt will start working independently and taking lots of call to pay off those student loans. We're excited for all of it!