Okay....seriously, Santa?

Santa was good to me this year, but one of the things he put in my stocking was a book.  That's not the part that's wrong....he gives me a book every year.  Here's the problem.  The book?  Twilight.  Yes, Twilight.  Now, to be fair, it IS on the best seller list and they did just make a movie out of it.  So, if I'm Santa, it seems like a no-brainer.  

Here's the problem, though.  I have very adamantly REFUSED to read that book.  At first it was  because I wasn't interested in a love story about a vampire.  Get. Real.  However, I slowly began to notice that Twilight mania was sweeping the nation.  So, maybe there was something to it?  Still I refused to read.  At this point it was just stubbornness.  I DO read.  I love to read.  I read James Patterson, Jeffery Deaver, John Grisham, and recently I've discovered Jodi Piccoult...or however you spell her name.  

Anyway, when the movie came out I secretly made fun of the droves of women who were standing in line all night to be the first to see it.  I laughed at all the obligatory blog posts about their experience at the movie.  I really made fun of those who put that button on their blog about their necks belonging to Edward.  Ha Ha. 

So, here I was Christmas morning, book in hand, and not wanting to hurt Santa's feelings.  He, after all, was completely unaware of my commitment to remain "twilight free".  I love Santa and besides that, I was staring down the barrel of a 14 hour car-ride to the cabin and back.  I needed some serious entertainment.  

So, what choice did I have?  I read the book.  And this is the part where I apologize to everyone I made fun of.  The book was actually... okay.  Okay, it was actually... good.  Yes.  Let's leave it at that.  The book was good.  I'm pretty sure I won't read the other two.  Or is it three?  Everyone says the first is the best.  So, why bother?  I'm also pretty sure I won't ever see the movie.  There's no way it's going to be as good as the book.  Again, why bother?  

Anyway, just wanted to put it out there.  I'm now one of the millions who've read that book.  Yay!  Thanks, Santa....I think.  

More pics from the cabin

Christmas at the cabin

We hope your Christmas was wonderful!   Here's a rundown of ours...

We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas morning here in Boise.  The plan was to head over to Eastern Idaho Christmas afternoon, but the freeway was shut down due to the storm.  So, we left early the next morning instead.  It made for a long day as the roads still weren't great and we had to stop in Idaho Falls first to "have Christmas" with my family.  Then we headed up to Driggs to spend 2 days at a cabin with Justin's family.  His mom rented the cabin from the actress who played Maryanne on Giligan's Island.  Weird, huh?  

Anyway, we had a great time!  We hadn't seen Travis and Jessica for a year.  They were home from Seattle and it's always so fun to hang out with those guys.  The cute little girl with crazy hair is theirs...Hallie.  

Anyway, the whole fam was there...a total of 27.  Mom and dad had their own room downstairs but the other 25 of us were upstairs in two rooms!!!  It made for a pretty sleepless night with all of the little ones, but we made some great memories.  

The sledding was the big event, but I thought the talent show took a close second.  So funny!  Anyway, we're back home now and ready to get settled back into a routine.  We got a Wii for Christmas, so the boys are sure to keep busy the rest of their Christmas break.  

"Snow" much fun!

  

The first day of Christmas break was a hit!  Our next door neighbor Kory loves to play with the kids.  He pulled them behind his truck all afternoon.  There was quite a big crowd....our house seems to be the natural hang out.  Everyone eventually finds their way over and I love it!  Being in primary gives me an advantage over the other neighborhood moms.  The kids know me and I know them and there's just an added measure of love.  

Anyway, here's some of the action.  We're due to get snow all week, so it should be lots of fun!  Finally feels like Christmas....

Of This 'N That

This is the tree we "splurged" on.  I didn't want to spend the weeks before Christmas vacuuming up needles from my carpet. Every other year, we've gone with a cheap tree & I always curse the falling needles.   So, Justin humored me and let 

me spend the $15 extra to get a good tree.  Good!?  I don't think so!  It doesn't even smell..not even a little and as you can see, it's kinda skimpy.  

My mom makes the best stockings!!  I love having a mantle to actually hang them on.  The only downside is that they're pretty big.  Filling them costs a small fortune.  Or so Santa tells me!  

And finally, I hope Carter keeps his enthusiasm for piano when he's older  Every day he asks for a lesson.  He always volunteers to "practice" first.  Here he is playing the little keyboard.

I'm still here

Some of  "my readers" (ha ha) are concerned that I haven't posted for a while.  There's nothing to be alarmed about.  It's just been one of those weeks I guess.  

We got back from Thanksgiving on Sunday night and Carter spent Monday throwing up all day.  Camdon was sick too and we have to watch him closely when he gets that way so it doesn't turn into an asthma attack.  

Tuesday was busy ending in the Relief Society christmas dinner, which I left early, to help a friend out of a pickle.  I spent most of the evening in the cold standing outside her car.  As I watched her feeling sick to her stomach, heart racing, and so sure her husband was going to kill her, I chuckled to myself.   I was happy to be on the other end helping someone else out of a pickle for a change! 

Early Wednesday morning Justin flew to Montana for work.  He just got back last night and we were ready to have him home!  I spent the rest of the week decorating for Christmas.  It seemed to take longer this year as I didn't have a full day to devote to the project. I had to do it in shifts, finishing up yesterday afternoon on the roof.  I love hanging the outside Christmas lights.  It's not typically something the woman does, but being up on the roof realy appeals to my "life on the edge" kind of ways I guess.  

Yesterday morning we had Camdon's basketball registration and Ryan and Noelle had their baby!  Welcome to the three boys club, guys!  We can't wait to meet Michael.

Last night we went to Kuna's holiday night light parade.  Now, I'm to the point where if you've seen one parade, you've seen them all.  However, seeing little Carter shake with excitement was well worth the trip out.  Even Camdon, who will be the first one in line at the "I hate Carter booth" leaned over to me and said, "It's so cute how much fun he's having."  AAWWW!  

Today was just as busy with tithing settlement, my presidency meeting, and then tonight we had a family over to watch the Christmas devotional with us.  Afterwards we ate treats and talked for a while.  After our company left, I promptly put Carter to bed and now I think I'll do the same.  Justin and the boys are staying up to watch where the Broncos will end up playing their bowl game.  I'm content to hear about it tomorrow.  

 

Packin' heat...

A few weeks ago during Earth Science class, a friend of Cam's brought in a big box of rocks and minerals.  Those who know Camdon well, will know that this is right up his alley.  As he was fishing through the box, he found a shell casing hidden in there and asked the girl if he could have it.  What did she care?  He thought he'd hit the jackpot! So, he put in in his backpack and that was that.  

Fast forward a few weeks to this morning on the bus.  He's forgotten all about the bullet, but it falls out of his backpack and the bus-driver finds it after she dropped everyone off.  They have assigned seats on the bus, so she knew it was one of three boys.  Camdon was called out of class and questioned.  He, being the good boy that he is, told the truth about what had happened. 

 Now, I understand that the school was just doing what they thought was best here, but they proceeded to search him and his backpack looking for a gun.  Then they inform him that the police and/or the school would be calling me.  This happened in the morning and needless to say, Camdon felt horrible all day long.  His poor little friends from the bus were called in and questioned and their parents were called too.  He felt so awful that they had been drug into it.  

Here's the part that ticks me off.......shouldn't I have been called right away?  Why was I hearing this from Camdon after he had been holding it in all day?  By the time I got to him he was sobbing and shaking and he said, "Mom, they thought I shot someone!"  Now, I'll admit, it took some self control to hold in the laughter on this one.  I knew they didn't think he shot someone, but in his little mind, that's how they were making him feel.  Here's where I would've wanted to be at the school; to reassure him that they were just following procedure. This guy really could've used him mamma today, and  I'm disappointed that I wasn't notified immediately.  I did get a call from the detective after school, but it was on my cell, and I didn't hear it ringing until it was too late.   

I understand that the school has a reasonable amount of authority here, but am I wrong in thinking I should've been there?

Anyway, the funniest part about it all was that Camdon was so scared of what Justin was going to do to him!  I knew he wasn't going to be mad, but poor Cam was sure he was a dead man.  There was a very clear look of relief on his face when he discovered Justin wasn't going to kill him.  

Anyway, after it was all said and done, I realized that the home really is a place of peace and shelter from the storms of the world.  He had been through a very traumatizing experience all alone today and it wasn't until he got home that he could feel safe enough to let his feelings out.  He learned a little something about love and trust today.  He learned a little about his dad, too!  This parenting thing is really getting interesting!