Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

This winter has been like no other that i can remember. I will fully admit that my memory isn't what it used to be either, but it seems like we've had a lot more snow than we have for years. It seems that generally speaking there is one maybe two big storms a year that dump enough snow in the valley's to really play in and enjoy. But this year there have easily been 8. So i know i've already posted some pictures from past snow days and the fun we've had in them, but since we have another storm or two or three since then i figured i'd post a few other pictures. And these are just the amounts from one storm. I was a little worried the branches on the tree would snap from the weight of the snow. They didn't, but you can see how heavy this particular snow was.
Ryan came out and helped me shovel the walk after ethan and sam went off to school. It was still snowing so you can only partially see that i had shoveled the driveway. I know, i know, the saying goes: "shoveling the walk like it's still snowing, is like cleaning your house while you're kids are still growing." It's just easier to shovel small amounts 2 or 3 times rather than 4-7 inches all at once.

Extra christmas pictures.

Christmas morning.

Yes, that's a victoria's secret box for grandpa. (notice the smile) It was a photo album with pictures from his mission, but that box was the best one for it to fit in.
no peeking!

New lightning mcqueen and mater pajamas, now that's something to smile about. Christmas afternoon when all the gifts were open, there was new snow to play in, 4 wheeler in the garage, and new sleds to take a ride on. Boys will figure out something to do.

Arrrgg! Where's me treasure!
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Christmas Day!

Santa was good to us. It was a fun exciting day. I am truly greatful that the boys slept in till 8. I remember years of waking up at 4:30-5:00. Partly to help my brothers get their paper route done so that we could 1)surprise my dad so that he didn't have to do it and 2)get to the unwrapping a little earlier. I'm sure my years of sleeping in on christmas morning are due to come to an end, but this year i was greatful.

Blake went in and started the fire (like all good dad's do on christmas morning **wink wink dad!**) all the while ooooing and ahhhhing at the room. Then just when the boys can't take it anymore, standing in line in the hall, they are given the ok to come into the room. They were greatly surprised and very excited to see all that was there. This year we had the boys pick something for each other and i know that added to their excitiment for the day. After opening gifts here at home we headed off to grandma and grandpa youngs to exchange gifts there. The boys ended up with a nice load of gifts. Lots of games to play as a family and they have already really enjoyed those together.

Since we really didn't get a christmas letter off to anyone this year I figured the blog should count for something, right?

We know we are very blessed to have such great family and friends. We know that we are blessed to have the gospel and to have the blessing that come from it daily. We hope that all had as wonderful a holiday season as we did and hope that the year to come hold as many blessings and opportunities as this past year did.

Christmas Eve

The Priday's Christmas eve consists of the yummy crab bisque soup with rolls and cracker and cheese ball. With Rice pudding with the hidden almond. Then the nativity and singing christmas songs. It was a quiet and small gathering compared to other years, but it just wouldn't be christmas with out the same traditions. I asked my grandma how long the family has had crab bisque for christmas eve and she said that she thought it was since 1954. So just a few years.

Darin, Kali, Kylie Kylie Kae
Grandma Priday and Ethan
I truly was impressed with how still the boys all sat while Nathan showed them pictures and told the nativity.

Nathan and Jani and their family

The Young Family Christmas eve festivities consisted of the nativity acted out by the kids, singing songs, Dad reading "Old Mac", and testimonies after. It's always a very special evening.

Ethan and Jaimi playing some christmas songs together.

Ethan the Sheperd

Ryan and Summer (Mary and Joseph)

Sam the Wise guy

Sleep at last!

Gingerbread houses.

The day Blake was leaving for California we decided to build our gingerbread houses. We had been putting it off for a few days because of schedules and behaviors. So with and hour or two to go before Blake had to take off to the airport we sat down and did the houses. It's too bad that gingerbread houses are only done at Christmas time since the boys love doing them so much. Who knows maybe we'll do one for easter this year. They each got to do their own with some assembly help but mostly on their own. Blake and I worked on the big one together and they were all on display in our front room. (notice the "bling" ryan is sporting? he went to a "prince and princesses" party. he was one of 2 other princes and 7 other princesses, they all had some rings in their goody bags. He liked it since it was green and a square.)

A few other December activities

Ryan's 4th birthday. Sunday dinner at grandma and grandpa Youngs (while dad was in California for work). Blake flew home the night of Ryan's birthday, so we really did more celebrating the day after. Ryan didn't mind celebrating his birthday for a few extra days. In fact he sometimes still thinks it's his birthday.

The crown from pre-school and his hand showing you that he is 4.

Our family firends Fernando and Monica and their daughter Polly and her husband Dejogo and their new little boy Joshua came to Sunday dinner. Ryan really likes to "pet" the babies. Ethan and Sam had a great time listening to Fernando playing the guitar. I didn't know he played that well. It was really pretty to listen to.

Ryan on his way to Chuck-E-Cheese for his birthday party with some of his friends. He was pretty excited to go. Earlier in December I was sitting in the front room by the fireplace reading books with Ryan. He picked one of the christmas books that talked about santa. We were reading about how Santa comes down the chiminey and Ryan's eyes about popped out of his head and he started to back up away from the fireplace. Ryan has had this fear of Santa for quite some time, more so than just the fear of a stranger that some kids have. We talked alot about how nice santa is to bring toys to good boys and girls. It was for several days that we had to tell him about how nice santa was before he was "ok" with it. So at the ward christmas party i was really amazed that he was ok--even happy--to see santa. But then even more surprising is that he actaully sat on his lap and told Santa that he wanted a train. (I had pointed out in one of the pictures of Santa with a big bag of toys over his shoulder had a dolly in it and that maybe Santa was going to take that dolly to Ryan's friend Livy or to his cousin Summer. There was also a plane and a train in the bag too so he decided that that's the toy he wanted santa to bring him.) Now Ryan seems to be ok with santa. If he's talking about santa don't be surprised to hear him say something about santa comes down the drain (even though we've tried to explain it's really the chiminey).
Sam and Santa. I'm not sure Sam ever decided what he wanted Santa to bring him.
Ethan was writing his list for santa back before October. So to have the opportunity to sit on his lap is always a highlight for Ethan. We did get him to narrow down his list some, and he is always always good to remember to ask santa to bring something for his little brothers. Ethan believes so deeply, and i really appreciate that.

Sammy's Christmas program

All the first grade classes put on a Christmas program of singing and poems. The first graders had the opportunity to put on the program for the school in the mid-morning hours but i wasn't able to get there quick enough to see it since i had my two nephews and Ryan here (and call me crazy but i didn't know if i could do 3 kids under the age of 3 at the school by myself and actually watch the program too.) Anyway, sam's teacher said that she about busted out laughing when part way through the program in the morning Sam yelled out "sing with us everybody!" Sam's kindergarten teacher Mrs. Perkins told me later that she and one of the other kindergarten teachers heard sam yell that and were about to join in the singing when they thought twice about it since it was sam that yelled it, and no one else seemed to be joining in either. I still feel bad that i missed the program during the day. But i did get to see the program that evening for the parents and family to come to. Grama Young even got to come see. Ok, so who are we kidding? Sammy was the program. Sam acts better than he sings most days. I'm going to post this short video clip that sums up most of the program. The video shows a few words were sung, many were acted, and lots of sam's faces and antics. He kept pulling on his hat and scarf cause he was hot and i'm not sure what he was doing with his mouth. That's entertainment! Merry Christmas.