Rum Pum Pum Pum

All of the boys have loved the Little Drummer Boy movie, and song. This season Josef has really enjoyed singing the rum pum pum pum's. This isn't the best video, but this morning I figured I had to get a video of his singing before Christmas is over.

Merry Christmas to All!

December has been a wonderful and crazy month! Since we got home from California, it has been a whirl wind of activity. Presents to buy, presents to wrap, cards to send out, parties to prepare for...and then it came to a screeching halt....Holden has strep throat. He hasn't been himself this week, so I am grateful for the mommy gut that made him an appointment to the doctor yesterday...he should be just like new again this afternoon (24 hrs. of antibiotics works wonders), and we just hope no one else gets it...because Santa Clause is coming to town!

Wilson

Wilson was so cute on our trip. He wanted his picture taken all by himself. Here are several of his alone pictures. He is growing up so fast!

Wonderful Trip

We had a great trip to Carlsbad. It started out a little rough with Holden getting car sick, in the car, twice on the way there! Other than that the boys were troopers on the way there. We went to Disneyland and LEGOLAND, and several beaches. We saw our niece Mandie briefly at Disneyland - she is such a doll - it has been a long time since we have seen her! We spent time with Grandma and Grandpa (which I didn't get any pictures of:(! We also visited a dear friend, Julie. We own her a lot...she is the person that set Ken and me up! We stayed the night in Yucaipa with Mark and Myra on the way home. We got to see some of their kids and grand kids - we wish we could have seen all of them, but December is crazy for everyone! I obviously didn't do so well at taking pictures of people we visited...I need to do better! It is back to reality now - just trying to get ready before Christmas. I did finally get my Christmas cards in the mail this morning - that is one HUGE check mark on my long list!

LEGOLAND

What a beautiful day to be in the Park! Look at the blue sky!

LEGO Santa

Snow at LEGOALND! My boys weren't as excited as the others kids - they aren't from Carlsbad...they are from FARMINGTON, UT!

Lots of Santa sightings in Miniland!

Star Wars in Miniland was amazing!

Balboa Island

Balboa Island was gorgeous! The boys had fun playing at the playground on the beach, and walking out on the pier. The highlight was driving on, and then riding the ferry. The boys thought it was cool to drive our car onto a boat!

Frist Trip to Disneyland

I love Disneyland at Christmas. Disneyland is so magical, but at Christmas it is even more magical! Wilson & Holden were so excited, and they loved ever bit of it! My mom went with us, and I just realized, I must have been having too much fun, because I did not take very many pictures!

Temple & La Jolla Shores

It was fun to take the boys to the San Diego Temple. They love to go to the Salt Lake and Bountiful Temples, so it was great for them to see another one. They loved the nativity. I wish we could have seen it at night, because there were tons of lights up, and I am sure it is spectacular!

We had a great afternoon in La Jolla. We went down into the cave, and watched the seals swim and on the beach. The boys got to choose a shell to buy to take home. They love putting the shell up to their ears and listening to the ocean in Utah!

A Trip to the Beach in December

We decided to go to Carlsbad to visit Grandma and Grandpa. The first day we got there was beautiful, so of course the boys wanted to go to the beach. We were typical tourist, with swimsuits on in December! The boys had fun in the water, but more fun collecting shells!

Ward Christmas Party

We had our ward Christmas Party yesterday. It was "Pancakes & Pajamas". Holden told me he wouldn't wear his pajamas to church, so he got dressed. Wilson, Holden, and Josef got to sit on Santa's lap, and tell him what they want for Christmas. This is the second Santa they have seen, and I really wish they would be CONSISTENT with their desires! It makes is hard on Santa's elves when stuff keeps changing:) Josef was not too sure about Santa...I am sure you can tell by the look on his face!

One Crazy Wind Storm

Early Thursday morning the wind started to blow (my boys were awake at about 1:00AM). The wind blew, and blew until about 1:00PM. The power went out at 10:00AM, and finally back on again at 8:45PM. The wind gust in Farmington were 86 MPH, with sustained winds between 50 and 60 MPH!

I decided not to send the kids to school, because I didn't think it was safe to be out with the wind and dibris. I was glad I kept them home, because the school sent a text message at 10:00AM to come pick up the kids. We stayed inside and watch dibris fly by our home. I can't believe how loud the wind was!

These three pictures were taken in downtown Farmington, so sad to see so many old trees gone! The sustained winds bent lots of street signs.

This picture was taken during the storm. I watched my neighbors RV roll into their backyard. After this picture we lost two more panels of fence.

After the wind stopped blowing...not a lot of fences left in our neighborhood!
Our mailbox flew off of its base, Ken will be fixing that:)

Wilson

We took this picture yesterday at Home Goods. It is for mom...she loves Annalie dolls, and has lots of them...but none this big! Wilson and I laughed that the doll was taller than him!

Wilson is growing up so fast. He loves to read, and now he loves to write! Every night he reads in bed for 30 to 45 minutes. Now he has started writing in bed. The other night he came out to read me what he had written for me, and then his dad. He is such a good little boy, and has such a tender heart. There are some obvious spelling errors, but for a first grade I think he is doing fantastic!

Christmas Lights

Ken is putting up the Christmas lights this afternoon. He hasn't put them up in a couple of years, because of the weather, so it is fun to see them go up this year. When the weather is cooperating, Ken is always such a good sport at putting our lights up.

When I went outside to check on Ken's progress, I saw our neighbor putting up his lights...

He isn't having to climb up and down the ladder like Ken is... This process looks a whole lot easier:)

Happy Thanksgiving

This is the sunrise this morning, Wilson and I really enjoyed it together!

What a great looking "rafter of turkeys"!

The lynx really liked its pumpkin!

This morning we went to the Zoo, it was so much fun! The boys were so excited that dad was going with us this time.

Ken having fun with his boys!

Tired Josef

The time change has completely messed Josef up! He is usually up by 5am, and goes to bed at about 7:30-8pm, oh, and did I mention he refuses to take naps! November has been a very tired month for Josef. I am hoping he is turning the corner, because this morning he slept in until 6am! When I picked up Holden from preschool, Josef fell asleep in the car. I haven't been able to transfer him successfully lately, so I just brought him in the house. Moments later he was crashed out on the sofa, and I was able to take him to his bed for a nap, yippee!

Wilson's Wrestling Tournament

Wilson's first opponent. He won this series of three matches.

Wilson second opponent. He lost the series of three matches.

Wilson came in second out of these four boys. He was so pleased with himself! I giggled at his size, he is clearly the smallest boy out of the four. When he weighed in, at the beginning of the season, he weighed 46 lbs. 4 ozs, so he has been wrestling kids that weigh 46 - 55 lbs. I was so impressed with his perseverance. He just kept going and trying. I would have totally given up! He is excited to do it again next year.

Josef, Stone, and Sam

I picked up Stone this morning, and so I have the three little guys. I think Stone and Josef make Sam a little nervous! Stone and Josef are quite the pair! I am so grateful Stone lives close, and that Josef and Stone love playing with each other!

Sleepy Holden

Holden is such a good sleeper. He is the BEST sleeper of the three boys. He falls asleep fast, and can sleep through about anything! Last night Ken, Wilson, and Holen were watching the BYU basketball game. It was about 7:30pm, and I heard Ken ask him if he was falling asleep, Ken told him to just go to bed. He told his dad he was just going to lay on the floor, and listen to the game with his eyes closed... Holden was out for the count!

LEGO Star Wars

Holden got this set of LEGO Star Wars for his birthday from Stone. This afternoon he started building one of the ships, and then asked me if I would help. Holden is good at roping me into building stuff for him. Then he wanted me to take a picture, and put it on the blog for Grandpa V to see!

Happy Anniversary

Josef keeps looking at the flowers, and saying "Oh, pretty momma!"
Ken and I are celebrating our 9th anniversary today. We agreed not to get anything for each other, and that going to Flemmings would be our present. I ran out this afternoon to pick up a pizza for Ben and Alli to feed the boys, and when I got home, there was a note on the door from a florist. I was shocked, it has been a really long time since I received flowers (I always tell Ken not get flowers, because they die too quickly.) The flowers are bright and cheery. I didn't even have to go pick up the flowers, Emma (our cute neighbor's daughter) brought them to me! I opened the door and she said, "happy whatever!"

Caught Shaving

We asked the boys to go and wash their hands to get ready for dinner. Wilson and Holden came back into the kitchen, but Josef didn't. Ken went to check on him, and found him with shaving creme, and his razor. Not a good combination...he was just trying to be like his daddy! He is going to have a sore lip for awhile. I am just grateful it was only his lip.

Happy Sunday Dinner

I know these pictures are blurry (dang it!), but it is all I have!
Standing, Allison, Ben, and Ashley
Seated, Blake, Josef, Heidi, Holden, and Wilson

Dane and Ashley

Seated, Josef, Blake, Heidi, Holden, and Wilson

We had Sunday dinner with Allison and Ben, Ashley (we really missed Taylor), Heidi and Dane, and BLAKE! It was so fun to have a surprise visit from Blake (he went to Harvest Dance). Josef warmed up quickly to Blake, and of course Holden and Wilson had a blast with him.

It was strange to have my family and just the Holmes "kids", but SO much fun. It is crazy how much they have each grown up and matured. Allison is engaged, Ashley is married, Heidi is engaged, and Blake will be submitting papers for his mission in the Spring! They are all amazing "kids" - they will always be "kids" to me! I love them, and am so grateful for them. I definately missed the members of the Holmes Family that weren't there, but I am grateful for all that they are doing to serve the Lord. I am also looking forward to seeing Whitney in a couple of weeks!

Ken's Prize

Ken and his team at work, have been competing for a month to win a 42" TV for each of them. Today was the day, and they won! Ken was pretty excited to bring the prize home. Now we just have to figure out how and where to put it!