Manners

We did a Family Home Evening on manners. We talked about good manners and bad manners and then we taught the kids how to set the table properly. The kids really enjoyed it and it was a great chance to teach them a little manners while making it hands on and fun.

And the closing song was "When Joseph went to Bethlehem" and Kambree wanted to act it out so Kyle was the donky carrying all the Marys to Bethlehem, Poor kid.

A little to real

Take a guess who is he???

Well Kyle of course but the costume... That would be Anikin(I don't know if that is how you spell it) Skywalker!!!! A little scary donn't you think?

Brittlee

She is 8 months old, almost nine. Why does the 9 months they are out of your tummy go so much faster than the 9 months they are in your tummy. The time really does pass to quickly.


She gets called Brittlee and Lizzie and even Elizabeth so take your pick:)


She is crawling. She would rather be held and I the main reason she has learned to crawl is so she can get to me when I'm not close. She likes playing with toys and things as long as I am right by her. Sometimes she will play with Kayelee and Kapri, and Kambree and Kyle are still really big helpers with her when they are home from school.


She jabbers and the kids think it is so funny. She says no with her head (she doesn't know she is saying that) and the kids love it and laugh just about everytime she does it.


She now has her 2 bottom teeth and is eating a lot of solid food.


She still gets held 90% of the day someday she won't like me so much and I'll remind her of the time she coudn't get enough of me:)


We love having her around... How can you say no to those big brown eyes...

Christmas 2009

Here's our Christmas Highlights... (see pictures)

We spent most of the holiday in Utah with Joe's family We had a great time.

Here's a few highlights we didn't get pictures of, and then for the rest of the hightlights you can just look at the pictures.

We went to the Gateway Discovery Center and to the movie the Princess and the Frog in Salt Lake with Dave and Karen's family and Amanda, after the movie and the discovery center we went to their house to watch the BYU game. We didn't take our camera but we had an awesome day with them and their kids, our kids love being with their cousins, it's fun that they like each other so much.

We also played lots of games and had really good food with Joe's Mom.

We went to Wingers with Larry and Paula and had so much fun.

We looked for a new van... no luck yet.

We had a great time with family and I love the magic of Christmas with my kids. The night before Christmas I asked all the kids if they were so excited for Santa to come and Kayelee got big eyes and said "YEAH" and then she said "I hope he brings me some presents cause I've been kind of naughty"! I'm glad she realized that:) it was funny hearing her say it with a bit of worry in her voice. Lucky for her she much have been a little good, because he brought her some fun stuff.


Christmas Eve dinner



The Nativity, you gotta love that Girdonky She was very proud to wear that costume and be the donky

Joseph with an attitude (Maybe it's because he was the only boy there, besides the dad's and little Max, 6 girls, he had a good time though)

The Angel and her daddy

The Wise Women

Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus aka Maxers

I loved Max's smile in that one

Bringing Gifts

After Santa Came and before the 5 children awoke. I make a good Santa I must say:) It's one of my most favorite nights of the year!

The line up to see if Santa really brought them anything, while sporting their new Christmas Jammies

The line up with everybody, we all can't wait

Daryl and McCall, Daryl slept over and McCall came at the crack of dawn to come spend Christmas with us we loved it. They gave us some amazing gifts, one of the handcart pioneers I already have it up in my house I LOVE it!

Enjoying the morning!!! I think the man in red came!!!

I loved her many faces. She wasn't sure what to think of it all but she had a great time, she slept through half of it and then enjoyed the wrapping paper.

Her shopping cart full of her goods.

Her shopping cart full with some better goods but I'm not so sure she is ok with that.

Ok get me out of here!!!!!

Snow fun!

Our posed picture

I so got Kyle...

And then Kam's got me good while Amanda laughed.

Kayelee and Ellie at Kangaroo Zoo

Kyle

Kambree

Kapri

Kyle coaxing Hunter to go down look at the boy on the side laying down, "when is this kid ever gonna go down" He's thinking I just thought it was a funny.

I love this picture of Ellie, pure fun and excitement.

My awesome friend made us these mugs I love them. I am a huge hot chocolate lover so these were so so fun for me. The kids loved having their own names on their cups. So stinking cute!!!

Our Christmas Card

Not so much of a Christmas card I know but if you want to know what we are up to start reading:) If not here's a picture for you. We just wanted to wish everyone a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Here is a brief run down if you don't want to look through the blog, a little more detail than the e-mail I sent out, I figure if you came to the blog you wanted a little more so here you go...

Joe is still working at the same job as a commercial real-estate anaylist and is enjoying it(we are very grateful he still has a job. He is also a residential agent and this august flew to Chicago to take the final exam to get his CCIM designation (it's like a masters in real estate). He is the Young Men's president in our ward and he loves it. He is the worlds greatest Husband to Deborah and the World's greatest Daddy to Kyle, Kambree, Kayelee, Kapri, and Brittlee

Kyle is 7 almost 8 and will be baptized this year, he gets to be baptized in Wyoming in the Sweet Water River, He is looking forward to it. He is a great big brother to his 4 sisters. He is going to a classical charter school this year and is really enjoying it. He has a great teacher and has made some great friends. I am so glad He and Kam's go together each day. He played football this fall and did very well. He enjoys playing anything from games to sports to make believe and he loves being with his family. He really loves being with his family and I love it. He is a great kid and we are so glad to have him in our family.

Kambree 6 never ceases to amaze me. I say that about her every year and I think I will say if forever about her. No mountain is to tall to climb and she does it with a smile on her face. Early this year we found out she had some pretty severe hearing loss in one of her ears (probably due to the cerebral palsy), she has had tubes put in twice and also got a hearing aid, she is doing much better hearing and it is helping her a lot in school. She is going to the classical charter school as well and loving it and learning so much. She has memorized so many wonderful, songs, and poems all while she is learning, it is so fun for her, she walks around the house repeating them over and over. She has a wonderful teacher who loves her and that has been a huge blessing to her and I. She is the biggest helper with Brittlee she holds her a lot for me and she loves being the "little mother" she loves playing with her sisters and wrestling with her brother, she asks him often if he will wrestle with her, she is rough and tumble on the outside and soft and sweet on the inside.

Kayelee 5 still gets to stay home with me and I am so glad, she will start school next year and I will miss her so much. She is a sweet little helper and it is so fun to have her around. She loves princesses and is one herself. She loves all the girly things and pink is her favorite color. She thinks she is very much the boss around here and sometimes tries to run the place, she sometimes has to be reminded that she is only 5. She is so fun to have around.

Kapri 2 is very sweet. I do have to admit the 2's have hit her I guess I realized my little angel does have a strong will streak at times, it's a good thing. I love her to pieces and she makes us all smile daily. She love all her babies and her dollhouse. She is very easy going and good natured.

Lizzie Brittlee almost 8 months is a spoiled little sweetheart. I probably carry her around 90% of the day when she is not sleeping and Kambree and Kayelee carry her the rest when we don't she is screaming and she does do that sometimes too, I know we spoil her it's bad but it's ok I won't have babies forever:) I love her sweet nature. She is very happy especially if she is in her mama's arms. She has beautiful brown eyes and brown hair and looks just like her daddy. Kyle told me the other day he was so glad Brittlee had brown eyes because they were so beautiful and they fit so good with her beautiful face. I thought that was so cute. She is our brown haired brown eyed little beauty.

Me I chase five little people around daily. I serve in the primary and really enjoy that calling I love being with my kids teaching them and learning the same things they are learning. I am playing indoor soccer right now and loving it. I ran a half marathon in October and am going to run another one in the spring. Exercise is my outlet and my therapy and I love it. One of my favorite things to do is curl up in my bed with my blanket and Joe by my side and watch a good movie and eat ice cream (bad habit I know but I love it!). I love spending time with Joe and my kids, they are my favorite people. I love my extended family and friends too so much and love every chance I get to spend with them.

Life is good and we are doing great!! We hope you are all doing great as well and Wish you the very Merriest Christmas!

With Love,

Joe, Deborah, Kyle, Kambree, Kayelee, Kapri, and Elizabeth Brittlee

My Christmas Wishes

My friend sent this to me and I loved it so I thought I'd share it with you!!! This is exactly what I need for Christmas, it's a little scary how that is really exactly what I need and want:)

Dear Santa,
I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my children on demand, visited the doctor's office more than my doctor and sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground. I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years.
Here are my Christmas wishes:
I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze, but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle in the grocery store.
I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy.
If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music, a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals, and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.
On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, "Yes, Mommy" to boost my parental confidence, along with two kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools.
I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting "Don't eat in the living room" and "Take your hands off your brother," because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog.
If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.
If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely. It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family.
Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is calling and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back. Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in and dry off so you don't catch cold.
Help yourself to cookies on the table but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.
Yours Always,
MOM....
P.S. One more thing...you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my children young enough to believe in Santa:o)

Christmas Concernt

Last night Kyle and Kambree's school put on a Christmas Concert it was so good the kids did amazing and were so proud to show us what they have learned in music (not that we haven't been hearing it for months around the house, especially from Kam's she loves music) it was fun to have them share and see them shine. We loved going. Kambree sang a song about lighting your candle of peace and it was so good she sang one about slippers as well and one about being greatful for your hands, legs, lips, etc. Kyle sang one about Hanukah and Jolly old St. Nick. They both did a great job and it was fun to see what they had learned. I didn't take any pictures:( so sorry you get a pictureless post.

Sleepy Bug!!

So cute!!

And on a side note at random she will say:

Merry Christmas Martha May Whoviaaaaaa!!!!!!! (from the Grinch Stole Christmas) The first time she did it I about died, it was pretty funny.

Also last night I was rocking Kambree and the "Where are you Christmas" song from the Grinch was on and I was belting it out singing and Kyle says: "Mom you should be a singer you can sing loud and clear" It wasn't you should be a singer cause you sing pretty just that I am good at singing lound and clear. I really am a bad singer so it was nice that he came up with a compliment anyway:0 I love the funny things kids say!!!

Christmas Came Early!

My sister had our name for Christmas, she bouught us this picnic table from little tikes that seats 8 little kids! (most of them only seat 4 or 6) We were so excited it came tuesday in the mail and Joe set it up last night for us they love it it is so fun! The umbrella is on it's way in the mail. I think we will keep it in the house for a while since it is still so clean. What a fun present we will use it all the time!!! I love it!