Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning

We have a tradition of decorating Gingerbread houses with the entire Holland family on Christmas eve. It has evolved into an intensely fierce competition with the neighbors coming over to judge the winner. Last year, people spent hundreds of dollars and spent weeks planning. My poor mom had to put up with everyone at her house until well after midnight finishing their masterpieces. Dave even had a working ski lift on his, Keri did a Beverly Hills glamour house, Steph and Mike did Whoville, PJ and Julie did "White trash trailer" and Stacey and Chris had a doll house that you could look inside (they won "best concept gone bad"). I didn't participate last year because I was pregnant and not feeling well.

Things weren't quite as out of control as they were last year. For one thing, Julie, Steph and Keri were missing so it wasn't quite as competitive (Keri has won for the last 3 or 4 years--Brat!). Our family made the Polar Express with each of us making a train car. Jacob did the "Dark Knight" batmobile. He is currently obsessed with the Dark Knight, yet he is not allowed to watch the movie.

Kate and Nicole made a snow house. Kate put on all the candy and Nicole filled in all the snow.

Josh made a police car/train.

Lucy made "just a regular train" and decorated all by herself.

I think we all know who the winner is this year :)

Chris and Stacey fizzled out big-time with only 1/2 a roof decorated--Losers!

Jeff and Sam succeeded in getting a box open--that's all

Dave made a South Carolina beach house complete with stilts underneath.

My cute mom doing all the work of course.

Christmas morning. Lucy got her Mia American Girl doll, Aurora tea cart and tea set, Sleeping Beauty's horse, Sleeping Beauty and her Prince, etc. I love this princess/doll phase and will be sad when she grows out of it.

Yes, Jake actually asked Santa for a big skeleton for Christmas. He is going through a morbid fascination phase.

Jake on his new electric scooter.

Josh on his new electric scooter. I really wish he didn't like to wear dad's old t-shirts to bed.

Sam didn't know what was going on and we let him sleep through most of the morning.

I don't have any pictures of this but Jeff got me the best gift ever. He totally surprised me by picking out a bunch of new clothes and a coat at my favorite store, Anthropologie. He got all the right sizes and I loved everything. He seriously has good taste!

School Christmas Programs

Here are pictures from all the kids' school programs this last week. Lucy got to sing in the mall. She knew every word and every action and was beyond excited to have everyone come and watch her.

Jacob's grade sang "Jingle, Jingle, Jingle" and "The Most Wonderful Day of the Year". He actually got into the actions this year--quite uncharacteristic for him.

Josh grade sang "Grandma's Christmas Secret" and "Holiday Blessing". At one point in their program the kids each got to shoot a loud firecracker. Josh knew when the part was coming and he scooted as far away as he could from all the kids and only pretended to shoot his. I could tell from the look on his face that he wanted to plug his ears sooo bad (it WAS very loud and all the babies started crying). I almost peed my pants laughing so hard.

I had to throw these pictures in of Sam. Is he not the cutest thing you have ever seen?

Many Faces of Sam and Droubay Family Christmas Party

"Hurry, I need to get away from my crazy mom and the camara!"

"Please feed me some more, I'm hungry Mutha, I really am"

"I know that flash is coming"

"Oh, stop, please. Hold the applause"

"I'm gonna rope me a heifer with these here boots I'm-a wearin'"

"These gall durn boots is covered in manure. Next time I'll look before I hop off ma horse"

"Hey, is that Manchester United playing on TV?"

"I vant to suck your blood"

"Do I have any boogers?"

"MMMM.....vegetable Risotto"

"DURRRRRR!"

We had our annual Droubay Christmas Party in Brigham City last Saturday. It was great to see everyone. The kids each got to open a present from Grandma and Grandpa Droubay.

Sam got a new walker

Lucy got Strawberry Shortcake Bathtime and claims it is the "best present I ever got!"

Jacob got a 42 inch Nerf gun. It's taller than he is and he is barely strong enough to aim and shoot.
Josh got his usual: Legos.

Little J

Having kids has turned me into a cheesehead. Jake is getting baptized today. I'm proud of him, and thankful for him. He is the child wedged between attention-demanding Josh and the only girl. He is the only one of our kids who could handle being in that spot. I can't believe he is 8 already. We love him, and are blessed to have him.

Dinosaurs, Thanksgiving and Christmas Lights

Last week I took the kids to Dinosaur Museum (or Dinosaurs, you see 'em, or Dinosaurs, to see 'em--as the kids used to call it when they were younger) at Thanksgiving Point. Here are Jake and Lucy comparing their dino costumes.

Josh and Jake spent forever building a dam in the erosion table only to have Lucy come and destroy it.

Why, oh why can't my kids just pose normally and smile?

We went to Jeff's grandparents house (Oma and Opa) in Tooele for Thanksgiving. The cousins had a great time playing "Ghosts in the Graveyard" outside.

After viewing all these pictures, I guess it's not just my kids that can't just smile for one picture.

Oh wait, this one's pretty close. Click on the picture to get a better look at Cooper's smile. I laugh every time I look at it.

This last Sunday we went to visit my Grandma who is going on 96 years old. She is very frail and has virtually no short or long term memory left. My kids were so cute and just kept answering her questions over and over again. Jake had to tell her his name and age 4 times. Everytime she turned and saw Lucy she would grab her hand and pull her close to give her a kiss and a hug and a pat on the bum. Cute Lulu just let her do it again and again. Even Josh teared up a little when it was time to leave. He is old enough to remember her when she was independent and lucid and funny and he knows she will die soon. It was all very sweet.

Afterwards, we headed to Temple Square to see the lights. The kids loved it, even Sam all bundled up in his stroller.