Christmas Day!

Due to some sneaky little kids who were super excited for Santa, we had a slumber party in our bedroom Christmas eve. The kids were thrilled at the idea, but when 5:30 a.m. rolled around Jay and I were not very thrilled. We managed to keep them corralled until 7 and then the excitement was too much!

On to see what goodies Santa left for us!

 

Payton didn't get a rocking horse, but the flying horse was "much better for her dolls". Santa also brought her some Barbies for the horse and some princess perfume! Dominick was thrilled to see his race car, the indiana jones legos, and his tech deck. To his amazement and wonder his stocking was also hiding an eagle webkin! Dominick says santa was testing him to see if he was good enough to get the webkin.

Time to open presents! The kids were so spoiled this year! Nana and papa sent them package after package of goodies for under the tree. It was a wonderful morning. I also managed to get Jays Yankee throw blanket finished and he was thrilled!

 

I caught Jay playing with the kids and all of their fun new toys! I think he enjoyed them just as much, if not more than the kids.

Tis the Season.......

I know it has been weeks since I have last posted. Things have been very busy and exciting around here for the holidays. We finally got some real snow, being snowed in for days! The kids had a blast getting all bundled up and venturing outside to play in the never ending snow. Poor Payton had a really hard time wading through the waist high snow drifts, but she managed. Unfortunately, I have many cute videos and pictures that I can't get to upload from our video camera. I do, however, have some fun pictures from our other camera.

First up is decorating the Christmas tree! Dominick reminded me as soon as we got home from our Thanksgiving dinner that it was now time to put up the Christmas tree. For DAYS he begged to decorate the tree. Now our poor tree has been with us since we were first married, and before that it was with my parents for years. As we put the decorations on and admired our tree, we realized it was looking "Charlie Brown", so we discused it and decided that our tree will not be seeing another Christmas with us.

Next Came the Breakfast with Santa at Dominicks school. The kids were super excited to get to tell Santa exactly what they wanted for Christmas. Dominick asked for a webkin eagle and Payton asked for a rocking horse for her dolls. After giving santa their very short list it was on to all the fun crafts and food! The kids made gingerbread men, candy cane reindeer, ornaments for the tree, colored pictures, and ate tons of yummy goodies! Dominick later got a phone call from Santa telling him that he was all out of webkin eagles. Poor guy was so upset! He did have a few other things to ask for as back ups, Indiana Jones legos, a race car, and a tech deck skate board. 
 
Our next event was Dominick's Christmas concert for school. He looked so handsome in his Christmas best. We were so proud of him, he remembered to sing this year and he did all of the actions to go with the song. 

Now we are up to Christmas eve. The kids helped me make and decorate cookies for Santa, then we ventured outside to leave a special treat for the reindeer. Dominick made some special "reindeer food" at school and we bought carrots too. It was a warm and wet evening but the kids were so excited!
 

CHRISTMAS 2008

I know it has been a while since I have posted. We have been busy little cherrey's this holiday season. My kids have loved all of the snow and I have some great pictures and videos that I took on our video camera, but I haven't been able to download them! I have tried several times and failed miserably each time (I need to find the instruction book). I do have some holiday pictures from our other camera to share with you

   .

Decorating the Christmas tree. We have had this fake tree since we have been married, and my parents had it for years before us. So as we put it up this year, looking a little "Charlie Brown" we decided this would be it's last year as our christmas tree.

Next we had the breakfast with Santa at Dominicks school. The kids knew exactly what they wanted from Santa, they were both very specific too. Dominick asked for a webkin eagle, Payton asked for a rocking horse for her dolls. Thats it, one item per kid! Dominick later got a phone call from santa saying that he was all out of webkin eagles, what would he like instead. He was pretty upset but he asked for a race car, some indiana jones legos, and a tech deck skateboard to take the place of the eagle. 

    

Next was Dominicks Christmas concert! He did so well this year. He looked so handsome in his Christmas best.

     

Now we are up to Christmas eve. The kids helped me make cookies for santa and then we went outside to leave stuff for santa's special helpers.....

     

Thanksgiving.....

I am thankful for our many friends we have here. Not being able to be with family around the holidays is really hard for me, I had never spent a holiday without family until we moved here. This year we had several invitations to spend Thanksgiving with many of our friends. It was a beautiful day and we had a wonderful time with the Ashley family. I forgot my camera, so no pictures. After the meal, the town of Hull had a huge bonfire. We walked down to the beach and watched the fire for a while. The kids were super excited (their first bonfire) until it got too hot. Of course Thanksgiving brings in the Holiday season and with it, Holiday movies! I love the cheesy and sappy Christmas movies, old and new. Payton sits and watches with me asking questions about santa and Christmas. The Holiday spirit is in full swing at our home! Happy Holidays to everyone.........

The Tooth Fairy

So Dominick lost his first tooth. They grow up so fast! The tooth has been loose for about a week now, we have been discussing the tooth fairy, and reading the tooth fairy book (the same one from my childhood) almost everyday. So last night, with a little help from DAD, the tooth came out. One down and one to go for the all time christmas wish, "All I want for Christmas are my two front teeth". Payton believes that the tooth fairy magically turned the tooth into money, she keeps checking Dominicks treasure chest to make sure it stays money. Now she keeps checking her teeth for loose ones. So what does a first lost tooth cost? A US Troy ounce of silver and a dollar bill.

Our NY City Trip

We had a blast on our trip to the big city. It was a fairly warm day, even though it was misty and rainy the whole time. My pictures are backwards but here we are on the double decker bus at the end of our day (after being drenched for most of the day and finally drying off!)

Here are Jay and the kids sporting our rain ponchos! It was misty and bearable then all of a sudden it started to pour on us! The kids hid in the stroller and we covered it with another poncho! This happened while on Liberty island, where there is no shelter whatsoever! 

The First ever Macy's building and the site of the twin towers.

The Empire state building, it was so foggy you couldn't see all the way up

The start of our day, see all smiles from start to finish. Now anytime the kids see NY on the tv or anything they shout, "we went there, we were there!" It really made for some great memories!

Five Favorites Tag......

FIVE FAVORITE PLACES I HAVE LIVED......

1. Taylorsville, UT (Salt Lake)

2. Mesa, AZ

3. Boston, MA

4. California (I have to be general because the exact place I lived sucked, but other places are great!)

5. Farmington, NM (only because we have family there)

FIVE FAVORITE SNACKS........

1. Anything Chocolate!

2. Apples with peanut butter

3. Granola Bars (as long as there is chocolate in it)

4. Chips and salsa or Guacamole

5.  um....... I am not a snack person, so I had to stretch with the first 4 as it is........

FIVE FAVORITE JOBS I'VE HAD.........

1. Office Manager at EZ Autobody & Glass Inc.

(seriously I did everything at that job and loved it! I was 16 when I started and practically ran the place. The owners let me do whatever I wanted and I got paid really well. Plus I was the only girl at the place...... bonus with muscles and mechanics all over the place)

2. Nanny (it was for the same family as above, they paid for me to do some seriously cool things with their kids.)

3. Shift Manager at Vanity clothes store (great discounts, good money)

4. Shift Manager at Quiznos (I was able to travel and help open other locations)

5. Career Counselor at UCMT

FIVE THINGS I WOULD DO IF I HAD A MILLION BUCKS.........

1. Travel, Travel, Travel

2. Build my dream home

3. Retire my parents

4. Pay off debts

5. Invest and triple our money!

FIVE THINGS I LOVE...........

1. My family (extended included)

2. Shoes and purses

3. Food

4. Traveling and meeting new people

5. Having lasting friendships

FIVE PLACES I HAVE LOVED VISITING..........

1. San Diego

2. Florida

3. New York

4. Mexico

5. Colorado

FIVE PEOPLE TO TAG........

1. Gretchen

2. Tamsen

3. Stacey

4. Liz

5. Kristen

(only because I would love to get to know a little more about these people)

Family Visits....

So I need to first start off by saying a HUGE THANK YOU to Missy. Last minute she said she would watch Payton for us while we went into Boston to do the tourist thing. She also picked Dominick up from school and had him for several hours. I really wasn't planning on being too late, then 7:00 rolls around and we still aren't back! BLESS YOU MISSY! I OWE YOU BIG TIME! 

Now onto being a tourist. Jay and I have already had the opportunity to do most of the stuff in and around Boston. So when family comes to visit we get to do it all over again, which isn't so bad. It is fun to be with people who have never experienced it before. So we took Carol down to Salem and spent a whole day wondering in Salem. The kids were champs for that day. It was cold, the Pirate museum was closed (after we promised Dominick we would go), most of the Halloween attractions were gone, and we did a lot of browsing and window shopping. Carol LOVED Salem. 

            

Next, the kids and I took her on the train into Boston to go to the Aquarium. I forgot the stroller and Payton ended up falling asleep half way through the day. Let me say she is a heavy weight to carry around Boston! Anyway, Carol was thrilled with the Aquarium and enjoyed having the kids play tour guide. They told her all about the different fish and things.

          

Next we did a full day in Boston without kids! THANKS AGAIN MISSY! We were able to take our time and enjoy the Freedom trail. We walked the whole trail, from the very start at Boston Common to the very end at the Navy ship yard. Were were able to visit a few of the museums and historic homes. Carol then treated us to a wonderful dinner at the Chart House. Wonderful food, great old building, too pricey for me to ever go back!

Then Payton and I took Carol to the Nantasket Beach. It was a beautiful day and so peaceful at the beach. We were able to walk along the shore and collect shells. Payton got her boots and stalkings soaked but fotunately it wasn't all that cold. We then decided to get lunch and bring it back to the beach. It was enjoyable until Payton got the brilliant idea to feed the birds! YIKES, we were attacked from all sides at that point.

         

Today the kids and I took the drive to Plymouth so Carol could see the rock. Of course we all know what people expect and what you really get. It was funny to see her reaction to the plymouth rock. We wandered for an hour or so and then headed home.

Tomorrow we venture to NY city. We have never been so it will be exciting for all of us. A new adventure that we all get to share together. Keep an eye out for our NY post coming soon......