New Year's Eve 2019

We had a great night up at our friend's cabin again this year.

It's been great to have Mel home over for the break!

We "adults" spent the night eating and visiting, and the kids spent it drinking and spilling hot chocolate, and playing...

Plus there was all the usual fun: Swinging in the swing (pics 3-6)

...Playing with friends and new faces -

Daniel and Owen spent most of the night hogging attention from these two cute twin girls -

I don't now their names, but they were so cute to play with Owen and Daniel and let them basically harass them for hours.

...Foosball - Natalie's ready to score a goal

...Ping pong (Ethan turned it into a game of sting pong with the elementary boys in the neighborhood. Wes got stung a few times too)

Around 9:40, people started to prepare for the ball drop. We do it early at New York time, so we welcomed 2020 at 10pm. Then the traditional Polar Bear Challenge at the stroke of midnight -

This is Ethan's last year since he'll be on his mission next new years! He ran around the cabin barefoot -

Wes and Abi joined in with the rest of the kids. We coached them all through recovery and comforted them until they had feeling back in their feet. Then we hung around and visited more. Daniel was dancing for us, it was SO cute and funny. I wish I got all of his dances and strike-a-poses on video, he is cute cute.

Then Corey headed home to spend the night with Hyrum and get some skis that were left. They are all going skiing tomorrow. I went to bed shortly after midnight with Peter, cause he had had enough fun for the day. I told MelWesAbi to be sure the little boys got to bed! Goodbye 2019! We'll meet you tomorrow 2020

Funny Filters

It was a wonderful Sabbath day. Church was great, we talked about family history and family records. It made me want to continue to blog and do better on my spiritual blog. I am almost finished reading a book about President Nelson, it's great. I'll insert the blog post link here of my favorite parts after I finish reading it. And so yeah, it was a good day. And it was fun tonight - the kids were on Corey's phone for a while, making funny faces with videos and making themselves laugh. Here are a few snapshots of the moment:

Here's Ethan speaking Ferb-Latin. I'll explain that again later.

That still shot for the video above is for when they all laughed at Daniel. And Peter got a good laugh too....

So they were on my bed for a long time, laughing and recording again and again. Ok guys, I'm glad you're having fun, but we need to go to bed.... So then they'd get up like they were wrapping it up...

But then they'd just change locations.... onto the couch we go!

Plus Mel just joined, and she wants to see what you guys were all laughing at. So it was fun. Then we did go out to the landing for family scriptures and prayer, and then they started showing the videos again - cause Wes and Hyrum didn't see!!

It was fun. I'm glad that Christmas break gives us time for fun moments of sibling bonding like this.

Lunch, Dinner, and Leg Waxing

We had the annual get together this afternoon with my mom's side of the family. We took two cars down, Corey stayed home to work (cause he understandably didn't get very many hours in this week). Ethan and Hyrum stayed home too, Mel drove one the other car and so we had room for all the rest of the kids. The gathering is always at my grandparent's old Stake Center Church, so we drove by their house on our way to the church.

I wonder who lives there now. Good memories at that place. So at the church we got there shortly after lunch started.  It was a good turnout and fun. The kids brought roller blades to skate in the gym.

Wesley also put curlers in his hear last night so he could see what it is like to have curly hair, and cause he and Ethan are talking about getting perms or something?

Peter loves Wesley.

The kids all had fun, and I visited with more of my cousins and relatives than I have in previous years, so I was proud of myself for that, for trying to reach out. Usually I keep to myself and just sit with my kids, my parents, or my siblings, but I did a good job branching out this year.

My mom is the youngest (she has a fraternal twin) has 5 brothers, so I have 5 uncles and 55 living cousins on that side. There are 63 grandkids including us, 62 living. So even with most of the people not there, it's a decent sized group with all the inlaws and great-grandkids. The family I know the best is my Uncle Don. I can name all the kids in that family! But that is the only one I can do that for. Years ago I made a master list of all the cousins. With the help of that old google document, here's the order of uncles from eldest to youngest and the # of kids in each family?....
  Howard - 13 (8 from first marriage with Rosemary, 5 with Kathleen)
  Don - 8, 7 living (one stillborn)
  Lee - 15 kids
  Stephen - 6
  Lyman - 14
  Linda - 7
My aunt with the 15 kids family was there. I was reviewing in my head how Christmas went this year, and I'm also thinking of how it will be as our kids start to leave the house, so since Carol Ann has been there and done that, I thought I'd ask what she does Christmas for all her children and grandkids. She said they've tried different things over the years that worked when there weren't as many, but as of now she has  she gives each grandkid their own book so that when they leave home they will have a little library, and she doesn't do anything for her kids, other than this year she took the ones that live close by to Hale Center theater to see Seussical. Experiences, not things. That has been something that I've heard a few times recently. I think we'll try to do a little of next year. Soon lunch was over and people started to clean up tables and chairs.

So that was fun. And then tonight we went to have dinner with our high school and BYU friends - the Moon, McKays, McMurrays, and Edwards. The Scotts couldn't make it last minute. It was adults only, but I brought Peter along. The kids are all grown at their house, but they still had a small bin of toys that Dave got out for Peter.

(he's so cute.) And with that, I think all the Christmas festivities are done! Now we get to celebrate new years next week, and then it's back to school. It's been a good break so far, we'll enjoy the last few days of it. Oh, and one more funny thing from tonight. Ethan went to hang out with his friend George. They played pool or something, and George said looser had to wax his legs. He had a stack of leg wax things. Ethan lost one of the games. He had to wax. It hurt. But all the wax didn't come off, so he tried it again, and it hurt again. And there was was left on again. So THEN he thought if he left it on longer it would hlep, and then he froze it too with an ice pack, but when he went to rip it off, it was too stuck on him and so the paper just ripped off of the hard wax and left ALL the wax on his shin. He showed us the videos and is going to make a compilation for his Instagram. Melodie helped nurse him back to health and helped get wax off.

It was funny. Silly teenager. We stayed up late watching his videos and we were all laughing, I was crying with laughter again. Funny stuff.

Victor's Last Day

Today was another lazy winter break morning. I played a quick game of peek a boo with Peter after he woke up -

I was laughing at him when I came out of the bathroom because that was what I could see, those two cute little eyes peeking at me. So I got on the floor to hide from him, then jumped up to surprise him, it was fun, he's so cute.

He liked our game. He is so cute.

After getting him off my bed, I made my bed for the first time this week. It's time to get things back in order! And since it's the day after Christmas, around here that means I get to carry on my tradition of cleaning up the holiday festivities right away. Cleaning up for just one last time and for good... until next December. Yep, party time's over. Victor is still in the basement, so we only did the white tree today, so as to not intrude on his space too much. The green tree has the lights and ornaments off, and we'll finish it tomorrow. One down, one to go.

The aftermath of Christmas wasn't as bad this year, since we gave fewer presents and a lot less junk food and candy. It's still a mess, but not the usual explosion of holiday cheer.

So I was busy today getting the home back in a little bit of order. Corey, Mel and Abi went downtown to the Salt Lake Temple to do baptisms today. They left a little around 10 with Victor and were gone until around 4. It was super busy so it was a 3 hours wait. It was busy because it will soon be closing for 4 years for renovation. Abi has been asking for a while to go with Corey to do baptisms before it does. There are only 3 more days to make that happen, and today worked out best cause today would be Victors last chance. He is leaving early tomorrow morning. Corey, Mel, and Abi did baptisms and Victor did a session. It made for a full day for all of them but we are glad that Victor was able to go. He joined us for prayer tonight. And I took this pic of them all after.

Victor is the 10th of 12 children, so we joked that that explained Owen's attachment to him - they are twins that way. He was a very nice and quiet company. Not cause he was shy, he said it was mostly cause he was embarrassed that he doesn't speak English and so didn't understand the kids when they came up and started talking to him. He is flying out tomorrow to LA to visit a friend for two days and then heads back to Guatemala. Corey is taking him to the airport early in the morning (6am) We are glad he was able to come visit us!

A Good Christmas

This has been a very memorable Christmas. I think the kids will mostly remember this year because of the shock they got when they didn't see the usual stockpile of gifts. That was because last month, Corey and I talked about it, and I suggested that the Savior only received 3 gifts, so it would be good to limit it to 3 gifts too. No reason why they should get more than Jesus got. Also, I really liked this quote from Elder Patrick Kearon:

"Young fathers, and the rest of us, where is your focus? Perhaps this year you have a simplified Christmas with more homemade gifts and gifts of service because the pressure and cost of trying to buy it all is too great—and unnecessary—and it will take away some of your ability to focus on the Savior and feel His Christmas peace."

So again, it was not the usual pile of presents, but they are not deprived. I shall use this post to properly record the day lest their memories of deprivation increase as the years pass.

So I know this was a good Christmas because:
1) We got to talk with Joseph!

And yes, sure we talk with him every week now, so what's the big deal. Yes it wasn't as magical as last year, but it was still good. And I'm glad we talk to him every week, I'd prefer that and less magical Christmas call moment over the only twice a year video calls that it used to be.

I'm glad they made the change in 2019, cause I would have been really bummed if they started the weekly calls AFTER Joseph was done with his mission!

The kids jokingly/ kinda seriously kept bugging me to finish talking with Joseph so that they could play Smash Brothers. As if video games were more important than their brother that they havne't seen for 18 months. That's the true spirit of Christmas. Sigh. I know they were mostly joking, but still I was shaking my head.

It was a good Christmas because 2) the 3 little girls were all happy with the dolls that they got and they were busy all afternoon playing.

They have really been into DC Superhero girls for the past few months.

It was a good Christmas also because:
3) There were lots of homemade gifts! Here was Sophi's gift to Corey - Christmas trees!

Melodie made some gifts for us and her siblings:

Cardinals remind me of Virginia <3 p="">

Lily did this drawing of me. The kids joked that this was me being Santa and seeing them when they are sleeping and when they are awake, and laughing at the revenge she will take upon them.

And the last reason why it was a good Christmas, in my opinion, was because they had me laughing so hard that I cried - twice! This is kinda a continuation of the homemade gifts - so the first time was this morning as the kids opened their presents from each other. The little girls did presents for everyone, so it was funny to see what they came up with. 

Lily gave Ethan and Hyrum pillows she made out of felt squares. She asked me if she could take some of the couch stuffing to fill them up and I said no. (The couch is ripping on the corner and the fluffy interior is exposed) So instead they used toilet paper. And they never asked me for needle and thread, so it was stapled together instead of sewn. Super Cute and funny. Ethan's pillow said "World's Best Brother" and Hyrum's said "Muscle Man". Hyrum commented "I'm not sure what that means... but ok". It was fun. Soph made them both prayer rocks. Ethan's rock said "Do you Pray?" and Hyrum's said "Do you Love to Pray". Again, really funny. The gift that made me cry with laughter was Natalie's to Ethan. It was 5 sheets of paper taped together with a great quote written on it in her cute first grade handwriting: Love Is All You Need. Ethan read it and laughed out loud (he has a great laugh especially when it makes him throw his head back with laughter!) Sorry that was the only picture I had of her paper. Here's a still shot of Corey's video of it - I'll try to upload the video he took. We need to figure out how to use all the pics and videos he takes.

Ethan said he's putting it on his wall, so maybe I'll get a better picture later when it's up there...

He read it again and said "She's right! ... and I can't even complain about this present, cause I don't need presents - Love is all you need!" It was super funny, especially Ethan laughing. I'm gonna miss his laughs when he's on his mission.

After presents at home and talking to Joseph, we went to Corey's parents house. That was where I cried of laughter the second time. We were having a later lunch/early dinner and the older boys were reliving their morning. Their comments, which I will quote below, had me in tears with laughter. So, as I mentioned yesterday, I did a lousy job wrapping. And the stockings weren't great either cause I woke up by myself to do them, and after an hour Peter woke up crying, so I just called it good and went back to bed. They only had like 3 bags of cookies (the Costco snack packs of Oreos, Nutter butters, and Ritz with cheese) and the boys each got a pair of socks, the girls had 3 scrunchies. And like 5 hershey's kisses. And that was it. Much less than in previous years where the socks are bursting with body wash and a whole candy cane tube of kisses. Hyrum woke up first this morning, and came back to report to the other kids about the meagerly stuffed stockings and small pile of gifts. (My picture of it at 3:15 am)

"Santa hates us. I counted 25 gifts, and there are 10 of us.... so we get... maybe 2?" As we ate, the reflection continued:

Hyrum: "We were awake talking about all the stuff we got last year, and it was sad."
Ethan: "There could not have been a better Christmas for Natalie to come up with that inspiring quote."
Corey: "You guys are going to have such fond memories..."
Hyrum: "Yeah, but I had fonder memories of previous Christmases." then after a pause.... "I fully expect a light saber from Grandma..."
Aunt Nancy: "I heard Grandma isn't doing presents this year."
Ethan: "Ah. Awesome. It can't get any worse from here. Help me Grandma Hibbert, you're my only hope"

I had told them several times in the weeks before Christmas that we were doing less this year, but we've said that before and then dished the gifts out, so the kids didn't think we were serious when said it this time. But I was resolved to be serious about it this year, especially after their poor showing at "beat the parents". Several times over the past few weeks, both Corey and I have been cleaning up after dinner BY OURSELVES after having asked for help several times, and we're like "What is the problem here? Are our kids entitled?" Even on Sunday, as Corey and I cleaned up, he told the kids "Santa's watching! ...and she's not happy!" So again, they had been warned. At dinner, Eth shared "Previous years, mom and dad say 'Santa's watching... yeah yeah who cares...' This year 'Santa's watching... Woah....'"

Ethan: "I like how the wrapping paper fit the mood..." Oh our poor under privileged children. Honestly, we do so much for them and give them so much time and money for them for food, fun, music, school, lessons, tours, there is no reason why this should be a day for them to cash in.

One reason why they might think it was a bad Christmas will be because of the "block of wood" story. So, Corey bought Wesley a new mouthpiece for his trumpet a week or so ago, and as he gave it to him, he said "Merry Christmas" and it was expensive so yeah, that really was going to count as a gift cause we can't just throw out money like that for no reason and not get credit for it. So Wesley knew that was a Christmast gift, so he was only expecting 2 more, but we didn't know for sure of that, so I thought Corey wanted me to get the mouth piece and re-wrap it. BUT when I was finishing up gifts at 2:30 am, I didn't want to go find it, so I just grabbed a block of wood that happened to be on my floor, and I wrote on a post it note "mouthpiece" and I put that on the wood and wrapped it. So when Wesley saw he had a third gift, his hopes got up "wow they got me 3 presents after all!" only to have his hopes dashed to find a block of wood with a post it note.

So, lest anyone think our children only got coal, I will now list their gifts:
Joseph: Ties, rocks, letters
Mel: Perfume, Painting of Eiffel Tower, and black pants
Ethan: Eternity Cologne, $25 bowling gift card, $50 Visa gift card
Hyrum: Drone (he wants to return it though, it was a beginner level - how insulting!) more socks, and Piano Books. Ethan teased "Congratulations Hyrum! For Christmas, you get to learn Piano!" (Corey said he and Hyrum had talked and Hyrum said he wanted to learn piano, so I don't know, that was something from Corey.) Hyrum really wanted a lightsaber or Minecraft.
Wesley - Battle Bots, Socks, Mouthpiece/Block of Wood
Abigail - Glass Dolphin (like her hummingbird) Paint by Number, Little Piano jewelry Box,
Lily - Hawk girl, paint by number, metronome
Sophi - BumbleBee, Big plush unicorn, paint by number
Natalie - Katana, Paint by number kitty, hair chalk
Owen - Red Death Trooper
Daniel - Hot Wheels set
Peter - hugs and kisses

After typing that up, it does look like it was not a lot. Maybe next year we'll give 4 gifts. Or atleast I'll start earlier and make sure all 3 things are something they really want. But the kids got lots of great stuff from Corey's parents.

Metal safes, flashlights, little bluetooth speakers, cologne, toys - Natalie Owen and Daniel each got a puzzle of themselves that Wayne made.

And my favorite thing was a letter than Wayne gave to each of us. The first part of the letter was the same for everyone, and then there was a personal note to each of us at the end. The notes to the little kids brought me to tears.

I will keep those letters for each of the kids in their scrapbooks. It was a good Christmas!

Christmas Eve

Well, it's late. The kids are all still awake and getting ready to have their sleep over under the tree. But I'm a little worried. Corey is feeling a little sick and he's already in bed, so that means this is up to me. It's usually been up to me to set presents out, but this year it was also up to me to wrap things up, and I am the only one aware right now of the poor job I did. Well, Mel knows too cause she helped. It was mostly because we waited until today to wrap, and Corey took the kids skiing, so I did it. And I didn't know where he put the wrapping paper he wanted "Santa" to use... I assumed he had left it at the North Pole (aka his parent's house) but it wasn't there. I called him on the bunny hill. It was at home in his office closet. I was already at his parents  and I didn't want to go back home to get it, cause I was under a time crunch cause we were having the Wride family gathering at our house at 3. So, we made do with some that his mom had on hand, that she warned us was not pretty. I figured it was good enough to get it home without kids seeing the gifts. And if Corey was particular, then he could redo it. Well yah, he's in bed so that's not gonna happen. I didn't put bows on anything. I've got an alarm set for 2:10 to set it out - trusting the kids will be asleep by then. But I have a feeling it's gonna be missing some of the "magical"-ness that the presents under the tree usually bring. Mostly because we only did 3 gifts each kid. (Well, Owen and Daniel just get 1 and Peter doesn't get any) So yeah, we'll see how this goes tomorrow morning.

A few pics of today - Mel came to wrap with me, and we brought Peter and Daniel. Corey and I had come over by ourselves to his parent's house on Sunday, to bring the gifts and to go through them and decide if we had enough and what to give to who. So it was all decided and all I had to do today was wrap. I left Ethan, Hyrum, and Abi home to clean, and said they could play the Wii when they finished. Corey took Wes, Lily, Sophi, Natalie, and Owen skiing.

Corey said the skiing was magical. And he felt bad that I couldn't see it, cause it's just wonderful. He loves seeing the little girls ski, fall, and then to get up on their own cause he's too far away to help, or cause he's helping this little guy.

Owen likes skiing! And we love it cause it's such an awesome way for them to learn that they can figure things out on their own!!  

Today was also Victor's first time on the hill.

Corey said the highlight for him was seeing Wes and Victor skiing holding hands as they came down. Wes said that Victor fell, and Wes went to help him up, and Victor wouldn't let go of his hand. Skiing is also a great chance for the big kids to learn more service as they help their younger siblings and occasional guest.

Good job Wes!

So they got home from skiing and I got back from wrapping. I left all the presents sitting in the fiesta, not even trying to hid it. Thankfully the house was clean and ready for the family gathering. We started with food, and then something new this year was a game of Geneopardy (Jeopardy with personalized questions about one's own ancestors. We used Corey's pedigree tonight)

So that was fun.

Owen on the ottoman there, he walked around in his ski boots all night! ...and he had all day too. I think him and Daniel feel cool in them. After that we had the family talent show - I played some violin songs with Sophi, and then I did one with my nephew Seth who is a great violin player and I told him I'm gonna catch up with him when he's gone on his mission in another year and a half. Then we played the saran wrap ball game.

The kids look forward to that.

Wes letting me know that as soon as he has his turn to unwrap, Hyrum rolls doubles right away and Wes basically just keeps passing it along. Everytime!

They were small rolls of the dice, making for a quick paced game.

Ethan and Abi won the coveted $5 bills in the center.

So it was great, that was fun, and I still see lights on out in the hallway. I'm gonna take a quick snooze and then get up at 2 am, Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.