Dreamy, Delightful, December

Christmas is hands down the greatest.  I LOVE it.  I love the time of year, love the lights that glow at night, love the smells, the sweets.  I love the joy and excitement my kids bring as the anticipate the arrival of the big day.  And above all, I love being reminded about that miraculous day of Jesus' birth.

One of my favorite things to bring the Christmas spirit is listening to holiday music.  My all time favorite Christmas album is Kenny and Dolly's Christmas.  It is awesome (I love Dolly.  Blond bouffant, press on nails and all.) Here are the lyrics to one of their classics:

I believe in Santa Claus
I believe in Santa Claus
I believe there's always hope
When all seems lost
And I believe in Santa Claus.

I believe in Santa Claus
I'll tell you why I do
I believe that dreams and plans
And wishes can come true.
I believe in miracles
I believe in magic too
I believe in Santa Claus
And I believe in you.

I believe in family
In country and in smiles
I believe in turning negatives
To positives in life.
I believe in looking farther up
The farther down we get
I believe when someone hurts us
We should forgive and forget.

And I believe in Santa Claus
I believe in Santa Claus
I believe that love
Should prevail at any cost.
And I believe in Santa Claus

I believe in saying what you mean
And meaning what you say
I believe a better attitude
Can make a better way.
I believe in viewing life
As a journey that we're on
And looking at our troubles
As another stepping stone.

And I believe that everything
Is what it's meant to be
I believe there is a God somewhere
Although he's hard to see.
I believe I am so therefore
I should do all that I can
To be a better piece
In the puzzle of God's plan.

And I believe in Santa Claus
I believe in Santa Claus
I believe there's always hope
When all seems lost.
I believe in Santa Claus.

Pretty great, right?  Now just imagine Kenny and Dolly rocking out to that!  Classic.

 

 

 

 

This year we again did the 12 days of Christmas, full of games, stories, treats and activities. They took us to family parties, and to the shops at Riverwoods in Provo where we met Santa.

 

Dax showing santa his letter to "Please get me a batman batcave toy."

Ella telling Santa she wants a "Pink Guitar."

Josh's encounter was so brief, there was no time for a picture (I guess 10 year olds aren't too fond of sitting on some old guys lap.)

Amelie refused to sit on his lap, but quickly snatched the sucker he held out for her.

A bit blury, but we look younger this way.....

The lights were beautiful at the Riverwoods!  It was FREEZING cold!

 

Their gingerbread village.

 

 

Leaving some milk and cookies for Santa

Christmas Morning!!

A happy bunch of Eggertz'

 

Josh

 

Joshua wanted an Ipod touch from Santa, but Santa said No Way.  Instead, he got Epic Mickey 2, a very fun game for the Wii. 

 

Josh is loving basketball and continues to practice twice a week with games on Saturdays and some Mondays.  He is improving with each game, and even had a great steal followed with a layup at last week's game.  Good job little buddy!

 



He loves his litle sister!

For school, Josh had to create a closed circuit using a 9Volt battery and christmas lights, and create a "home" to put the lights on.  This is what he came up with.

Someone ALWAYS ends up crying.  Bob and weave little Dax, bob and weave!!  It totally looks like Dax has a

6-pack.............unfortunately he is an Eggertz' and those are his ribs.

 

Daxton

 

 

Sledding with the cousins at Nana and Grandpa's Cabin

Snowmobiling with Dad

 

We finally got some snow after Christmas.  Cam fired up the snowmobile and pulled the kids along in the sled.  So much snowy fun!

Dax got just what he wanted from Santa, a Batcave complete with action figures.  It's pretty much a barbie dream house, just painted a little differently.  There are elevators, trap doors, and it is even equipped with the bat signal.  I'm not going to lie, I was pretty excited to play with this one!

 



Ella

 

Our little Ella Bella turned 6 this month.  At first she wanted a "China Party," as in an Asian themed party.  I'm not creative nor disciplined enough to come up with something on that end (plus is it P.C. to do that?), so we opted for her 2nd choice: a Dance party.

 

She invited her friends from the neighborhood: Kaylee, Hailey, Semry, Beck, Sam, and Max.  After pizza and cake, they each picked a costume and danced to their heart's content. 

Birthday Cake

Girls Dancing

 

Boys Dancing

Partay!!

Nana Trish gave Ella some baking items, one of which was a cool tool that helps you shape pancakes!  Ella opted for a princess pancake.

Ella the red-nosed (and red-haired) reindeer.

Ella's present from Santa: a pink guitar.  Here she is singing "jingle bells."

 

Amelie

 

Amelie with her new kitchen set!(Thank you Wendy for scoring that one for me!!)

Ella did this to her.  And though it looks like I should go to jail for this incident occuring in my household, she was giggling the whole time (and yes, she could breathe.  And, yes, I did tell Ella never again....)

This year Amelie wanted one thing from Santa: a rock.  Each time I asked her, she never waivered or changed her mind.  It was always, "a rock." So, Santa deliverd.  He got Amelie a big, smooth, white and silver-speckled rock.  Watch your toes people, she carries this one all over the house. 

Sound asleep after all the excitement. 

Sledding time!

 

 

Cameron

 

Cam also had a birthday this month.  Unfortunately he scheduled himself out of town for his special day, so we celebrated it after he got home with some delicious spaghetti and homemade apple pie for dessert.

 

Some presents from Nana:  a blanket and delicious Oreos.

Some pics of Cameron pulling the kids around on the hill behind our house.

......What to wish for........

Is it just me, or is he breathtaking with facial hair?  Ooh la la.

Candid shot at my parent's cabin.  Wish I knew what he was saying with that hand motion.....haha.

Cindy

I love being a mom.  As the temperatures drop outside to negative temperatures, I feel so blessed to have a home that keeps us warm and protected.  What a wonderful Christmas we had, full of laughter, hugs and love.  How better to spend a day then surrounded by your little family, playing in pjs?!

Merry Christmas!

Hanging out at the cabin. 

Oh, so cute.  Snuggling brother-in-laws.

Shera and I look deep in thought for this one.











Our happy little family!  We love the snow!!

 

Nice November

I feel blessed to live in a country that sets aside a day to declare gratitude and thanksgiving.  A day to join with family and friend and give praise to God for the blessings He has given to us.

This month has provided me with several “precious moments,” that motherhood can afford.  It’s those rewarding moments that as a mom, don’t come too often.  I feel that generally my life involves laundry, dishwasher, picking up, and sniffing at brown things to ensure that it’s a smeared nutella on the cupboard, and not it’s nemesis.  But when those sweet moments come, it always subtly reminds you: “Yep, motherhood is the greatest.” 

One of those moments occurred during the early hours of the morning.  Amelie awoke, coughing and feverish, and wanting her mom.  We quietly walked downstairs, got her some Tylenol, and then switched on the fireplace and lied down on the couch together.  With her warm little body on top of mine, I laid there studying her petite features. Her little button nose, her tiny fingers, long eyelashes, and soft blonde hair.  She began to twitch, which signaled her slumber, and I held her little body in my arms as her chest raised and lowered with mine. 

Yet another moment was sledding with my kids.  The fresh fallen snow always brings about an indescribable joy within me.  If snow is even mentioned in the forecast, I anxiously awake each morning, pull open the blinds in hopes that there is fresh whiteness blanketing the earth.  One such morning proved very exciting as a fresh foot of snow had fallen the night before. The kids and I adorned ourselves with gloves, hats, and boots and ventured up the hill with great anticipation.  Seeing the countenance of three beautiful faces, with rosy cheeks and happy eyes; made my heart swell and cup run over.

It was a great month.  I love the holidays.  Love having extra time to relax, and enjoy good conversation and laughter with my family.

We hosted Thanksgiving with the Eggertz’ clan this month.  It was a wonderful day.  Beautiful bronzed turkey, fluffy seasoned stuffing, delicious butter-glazed“Glen Eggertz” rolls, sugar infused candied yams, and creamy potatoes and gravy.   Finish it off with some apple, banana cream, pumpkin and oreo pie…….and you’ve accomplished what Thanksgiving is famous for: eating until you hate yourself.

Our Thankful Turkey

World Famous "Glen Rolls"

The boys playing "Just Dance".  Justin must have some Latino blood with the way he was shakin those hips!

 



The next morning we ventured toFernwood in East Layton to have our annual "Thredgold Thanksgiving Breakfast in the Mountains".  Nana prepared a delicious spread with everything from pancakes to cinnamon rolls to biscuits and gravy.  Yum!

Amelie was a bit lathargic, and just wanted to be held by her mom.

After breakfast we sang some songs while Scotty accompanined us on his guitar, then played a little two-touch ball in the parking lot.  Not to brag, but I scored two touchdowns.  Only sad that I didn't capture my touch-down pose on camera.  Classic.

 

Joshua

Josh and Dax built some snow forts on our first snow fall of the season!

This month Josh tried out for the comp team in basketball and was lucky enough to make the gold team!  He's a Wasatch Wasp and practices twice a week for 2 hours at a time and plays each Saturday.  So far he's played in Provo,  Springville, and Heber.  It's been a good experience and he's been putting in lots of extra practice to try and get more playing time. 

Josh also entered the reflections contest this year with a poem he wrote.  The theme was "The Magic of a Moment."  Josh wrote a poem about the magical moment that occurs when a soldier is reunited with his family after serving in a war.  Here is his poem:

 

The kids also went sledding after our big snow fall.  There is a perfect sledding hill right in our back yard.  Good times!

Here are some views from on top of the hill: looking into the valley, and down at our house.  Hopefully they will help persuade you to move up here.

 

Daxton

 

 Daxton also entered the reflections contest this year with a drawing he titled "The Golden Tower."

 

 

Dax also lost a top tooth this month.  Check out that cheesy grin!

 

Ella

Ella also entered the reflections contest.  She drew a picture entitled "Magical Rainbow". 

Awesome, right?  She came home beaming one day because she won for her grade level and got a medal and giant chocolate bar.

Ella and Dax with matching milk mustaches.

Ella took a series of photos of her stuffed animals in different poses on her bed and around her room. 

Ella also had her dance recital this month at Midway's "Swiss Christmas."  Much to my surprise, she was incredibly nervous.  I had to hang out back stage with her and hold her hand, trying to coax her into dancing.  We finally settled on bribery.  I told her she could pick any item she wanted from one of the Christmas booths if she would go on stage and perform.  To which she replied,

"Deal.  But I'm not going to smile."

Lucky me, she picked a red-rose ring that only cost $2.

 

Amelie

 

I was watching my neighbors boy one day, Amelie's good friend "Joey." He accompanied us at the grocery store. With the two in tote, everyone asked if they were twins.  So fun! 

Amelie and I ventured into Salt Lake City together to set up at the Zion's Bank Art show, and had lunch together afterward.  Here she is sipping her soda.  Pretty cute date, right?

Amelie had her first haircut this month too.

The finished product!

 

Amelie is my little sidekick, my little shadow that follows me around wherever I go.  Unlike my other kids, she's pretty clingy.  She has to be in the same room with me, and if I climb the stairs quicker than her pace, she will begin to panic and cry because I'm leaving her behind.   90% of the time I love it.  The other 10% is when I need to shower or use the bathroom, don't much care for an audience on either of those.  We share the mornings together, just she and I, until Ella returns at 11:30. 

 

The neighborhood has nice paved trails, so we've begun to spend our mornings going on walks together.  She absolutely loves it, and will give me commands on where to go from her stroller seat.

"Over the bridge mom!" and "Turn here" and "I want to see the fishies in the pond."

Here's a view from one of our morning strolls.

 

Cam

 

Cam is awesome.  I think that sums it up.  We were able to go to Salt Lake City for 2 nights to celebrate our 12 year anniversary.  It was a great time.  Cam treated me to many delicious meals, including pana chocolate and a delicious dinner and desert from one of our favorite French restaurants, "Francks".  Let your mouth water as you read my dinner description of "Franck's Meatloaf":

 

Slow Braised Pulled Pork, Beef and Chicken, Banana Squash, Whipped Potatoes and a Wild Berry-Lavender Sauce

 



Try it, you will thank me.

 

We were also able to see the new movie, "Lincoln," and on Sunday morning were able to attend "Music and the Spoken Word" in the tabernacle on Temple Square.  Gave me goose-bumps.  Twice.

 

Cindy

 

I was able to help my good friend George Handrahan with the 2012  Zions Bank Art Exhibition.  Since George was double-booked, attending Zion National Park's Plein Air Competition, he again asked me if I would be interested setting up his amazing paintings and wheeling and dealing.  It was once again, a delight. Delicious catered food, desserts and hors d'oeuvres, and amazing artists from all over Utah. 

 

George pays me with his artwork.  YES! This year I let Cam pick the painting, and he chose a great one.  It's called "The Sentinel."  Beautiful, no?!

I was also able to see, in my mind, one of George's most brilliant pieces. ( I literally jumped up and down when I saw it.)  It's called "No More Work."  I have no doubt that one will be in a museum one day.

You can check out George's other paintings:

http://georgehandrahan.com/

 

 

Recently I have felt so happy and blessed that I almost feel guilty about it.  Feel like I should be doing more to somehow earn the joy that I feel.  God is great, and sending me these 4 beautiful bundles is such a huge gift.  Living in the mountaintops is another great blessing, and being surrounded by good people yet another.  I feel so blessed to have such an amazing family that gives me and my children love and makes us smile and laugh.

 I love the holidays!!

 

Oh, p.s.  I have decided to make my blog private.  I'm not sure if anyone else reads this, aside from me when I put it in a book at the end of the year, but there are enough weirdos in the world that have forced my decision on going private.  If you're not in my email contact list and would like to continue viewing, shoot me an email:

clegg25@msn.com