Merry Christmas!!

We had a wonderful Christmas! The kids did not wake up too early. Jay and I were in bed and Sara woke up and got in bed with us and then Travis woke up. He went over to the stairs and looked down stairs and then came into our room and got into bed with Jay and I. He said calmly as can be, "I think that Santa came last night." That was it. He was not anxious to go down stairs or anything. I think that we all stayed in bed for about a half of an hour. The kids then opened up their stockings. They wanted to play with all the stuff in their stockings and Jay kept asking them if they wanted to open presents yet, but they did not. Travis's favorite present from Santa was a spiderman watch and Sara's was all her princess things.


After we opened presents, we got ready to go to Long Beach. All of Jay's siblings were there this year. We ate a yummy breakfast and then took a family picture (I wish that I had it to blog, but I didn't get any with my camera and have not gotten any from anyone yet). Then we opened presents. Jay was super excited to get the Wii. It has been a lot of fun (I am a great bowler).

Paul, Jill, Kate, Roland and Rand

In the late afternoon, my family came up to my house for dinner. The kids had a great time playing. Then we did our gift exchange. All of the kids in my family pitched in a bought my parents a picture of the San Diego Temple (great idea Cheryl!!). It is beautiful. We had a wonderful Christmas! We are so lucky to have both of our families so close.

Clint, Becky, my dad and Jay watching some tv

Taylor and Trav watching a movie

opening more presents

Joe got "Follow me Boys" (his favorite from when he was a kid)

Leah and Grandpa

the picture of the temple

Christmas Eve at the Spongberg's

Merry Christmas

On Christmas Eve, we went to Jay's family house to the annual Spongberg-Fernley Christmas Eve party. It was fun, just like always. Sandee bought all the kids matching pjs. They looked adorable in them. We started out the night by eating appetizers and socializing then ate dinner, then we watched a short video about Christ's birth and then Grandpa bore his testimony (which is always wonderful to hear) and then came present time. Grandma & Grandpa spoiled us all as usual (thanks GG & Gramps!). It is always a great time being together as a family. We were so lucky that everyone was there this year.

Leah and Baylee

Kate and Leah

Kate, Jake, Hallee, Baylee, Travis, Sara & Leah

By the time we got home, Travis was out. Jay took Sara for a drive so I could get some work done, but when they got home she was still awake. She did go right to bed, thank goodness. After hours of work, Santa arrived and left the house looking like...

This!

Bah Humbug!

The Sad Tree

Those of you who know me very well, know that Christmas time is my favorite. I love to shop for presents, I love to wrap them, I love to decorate the tree, I love all the decorations around the house, I love the lights, I love the treats, I could go on and on. Well, I was very anxious to get our Christmas stuff out of storage this year. I actually could not even wait for Jay to go get it, so I went up to Long Beach with all of the kids and got the stuff myself. We got our Christmas tree Dec. 1st. It took me over a week to get the lights on it. Still today....no ornaments. My house is not decorated at all...nothing. I have no desire to decorate it. Usually, by this time I would have so many presents wrapped and under the tree, it looks like Santa had already been by, but no not this year. No presents wrapped, no presents under the tree. The only thing I can say is that I do have most of the shopping done. What is wrong with me? I need a little more Christmas spirit!!

Greatest Hubby Ever!

Jay is the best! He is out of town (the first time since having the baby and I am surviving) and yesterday when I got home from running errands, there were beautiful roses waiting at my front door with a very nice note. Then later on, my friend, Heather, brought over a flat iron that I had mentioned that I wanted. Jay had asked her to pick one up for me. How sweet is he. He has also been just really kind all around and I really appreciate it. I don't know about most of you, but as for me, after I have a baby, I really don't feel super great about myself. I hate that awkward stage when you still don't even come close to fitting in you regular clothes, but you sure don't look pregnant anymore. Maternity stuff looks ridiculous (except for jeans) yet all my other stuff is tight when I am normal, and the tight look is DISGUSTING right now!!! Anyways, I am grateful that he has been so nice the last few days. Thanks Jay! I love you!!

Being the mom of 3

Sometimes I wonder how in the world can I be a mom with 3 kids. It seems pretty crazy. All I have to say is that I have realized that babies are easy, so very easy-2 year olds...not so easy and 4 year olds...not so easy either! Babies are great. They just sleep, eat and love you. They don't talk back, hit, whine, tattle, fight, make a mess...I have really lucked out. Leah is a wonderful baby. Really, even at 5 weeks, she just sleeps. I do feel like Travis and Sara have gotten a little crazy lately. I know that it is normal for kids to act up when another one is born, but for how long? They are both great to Leah, but not so great to each other. I feel like there is a lot of fighting, whining, and just plain being naughty lately. You experienced moms out there, any suggestions how to handle my kids? I feel like nothing works.

Bottom line... having 3 kids so far (5 weeks) has been hard in a different way than I thought it would. Other than having 1 more to get ready and feed every 3 hours, the baby is easy, the others hard. Who knows what it will be like in a few more months.