Katie Was Accepted to BYU!

We are thrilled for our Katie girl right now! We just found out she was accepted to BYU for Fall of 2009! Competition is fierce, especially these days! She is continuing on in quite a family tradition...both sets of her grandparents and both of her parents are BYU Alumni. (They all met and married there, by the way, but no hurry for Katie! She's planning on a mission.) Good job Katie, and hooray for home school! We will miss her SO MUCH. I can't believe one of my children is about to fly the nest. :( "It's always better when we're together"...but if she MUST go, this is a place I'm okay with. Rise and shout, the cougars are out!

Clam Chowder by Candlelight

Christmas Eve starts with clam chowder by candle light, a birthday cake for Jesus, our"gifts" to Jesus, reenacting the nativity story (the wise men bring our gifts), candlelight carols and story, new pajamas, hanging up stockings, cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer, setting out the gifts from the children to each other and a slumber party in the boys "dorm".

Each year the children look forward to discovering the new member of the nutcracker patrol on Christmas morning.

Waiting by the nutcracker patrol before the official count down....10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1!!!!!!

Hooray! Santa came to our house! I was a very good boy.

It's Christmas morning!!!

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care...

We first open stockings and our presents from Santa, then pause for breakfast (usually o.j., eggs, sausage and toast) before opening family gifts to eachother.

A "thank you" hug to Julie. The children were so excited to give their specially wrapped dollar store gifts to eachother.

Santa knew Jefferson and Anthony needed this to make their three-wheeler run again. :)