Christmas Day

Christmas Day started out great.  We slept in so late.  That's the beauty of Older children.  No one is in a hurry.  Jack is sort of, but we had no where to go so we might as well sleep late. 

Picture before we started  

I got up and went to Maverik.  Then the rest of them got up and decided they wanted to go to.  So they went and stocked up on beverages before the festivities began.

College kids bot some money for Christmas.  Abi got hers in this Hello Kitty Wallet. She reminded me that last year I made a paper wallet. I have certainly stepped up the effort ...

I put Andrew's money in this empty Coke Can and glued it shut so it didn't look like it had been opened.  I didn't have much time after I got the idea or I could have made it look better.  

Brooke got hers in this Pill Case because she takes daily medication..the case was also filled with m and m's.  Thats why I had to make an early run to Maverick.  I got these ideas for the money wrapping during the night so I was on a time crunch.  

These are pictures of the morning.  The polka dot pants we got on Christmas Eve 

This is the Rubber Duck Nativity.  Brooke loves ducks so we got a nativity all in ducks. I added the fake snakes and frogs for the zoo keeper effect.

Abi got a Stethescope for Nursing school that she starts in January.She was practicing listening to Andrew's Lungs and heart...

Great Christmas, Brooke, Andrew and Abi all got money, Nike Zoom Sneakers and a sweatshirt for Andrew, Stethescope for Abi and Brooke got an exercise Bra.   Nick and Jack got Air pods, basketball and sweatshirt and Stance Socks.  We also had Christmas socks with Candy, tooth brushes, socks, exercise bras, and everyone's favorite chips.  Brooke liked Mickey Mouse veggie Straws, Andrew liked Veggie Straws, Abi Boom Chick a Pop, Nick likes Pringles, and Jack Flaming Hot Cheetoes.  I was impressed I found all of them.  

After we opened the presents Andrew ordered us some Chinese food.  It is our tradition of about 5 years.  We get it from Sam Pan in SLC.  We spent 101.00 on our food as everyone got a dinner A.  So we had plenty of Rice, egg rolls, soup, and entrees.  Andrew picked it up also.  I'm happy to pay if I don't have to go get it.  I'm so surprised everyone doesn't do Chinese Take out. 

I also hit the Jack pot for Christmas.  

I got this Yoga Mat

Socks 

Flowers (which I love)

Gift Card to PG Nails for a Mani and a pedi. . .

I also got some Body Scrub from Trader Joes.  I didn't get a pic of that.  But I have used it and love it.  

Christmas was the best.  I was stressed but not like normal.  I just worry that everyone won't like their gifts or it is a little sparse because I'm on a tight budget.  Especially since I'm divorced now.  I thought the best present for me was just having all of my family home.  

Holiday Fun

It was absolutely the best to have all my children home for Christmas.  Or home for any reason for that matter.  We went to the zoo about 4 times, some to see the lights and other times to see the sloth.  Brooke thought the sloth was the best.  We had to see the progress on the Sloth in the Gross Small Animal Building that has been the same since I went to the Zoo as a kid. 

We also saw Frozen 2

And lots of cuddling in my bed with my besties.  

Andrew wasn't as interested in the sloth as Brooke...:)

My socks for the other Holiday.  Lynne gave them to me like 20 years ago and I still wear them

All the college kids got a pair of Nike Air Zoom shoes.

Time to relax a few times

Christmas Eve

We held our traditional Christmas Eve event of Temple Square.  It was raining but we foraged anyway.  We have never had rain and as we were entering the Visitors Center and waiting to go up to see the statue of Christ, the fire alarm went off and we had to evacuate.  That was a first for us.

We headed to In N Out burger after Temple Square for our usual Protein Style Burgers and fries.  I don't have any pics of that event.  It is the only place open that we can find since we don't want to cook when we get home and it is more and more crowded every year. Guess everyone is seeing the fabulousness of eating there on Christmas Eve.

After we did get some pj pants.  The Girls got our thermal pants from Old Navy that we loved from last year and the boys got some with camping on them.  I didn't even take a pic of them but they were super cute.  

Black Card

With Brooke, Andrew and Abi home for the holidays we needed to upgrade our fitness memberships since we are so fit...(well, they are, I am not).  I had a black card for Planet so I could get a guest in, but then that left 2 of the 4 not able to go to the gym.  Brooke got an Upgrade and so she could use the Planet in Bountiful AND in Florida.  Here we are working it up. Andrew was the trainer and he totally killed some of us a time or two.

We even saw our grandma at the Planet

Maverik Stop after the gym.  Brooke is so good and gets .25 water.  

Abi was sick over the holiday so she didn't actually make it to the gym with us very much.   She did however, sleep with me since I have the best Wifi in my room.  It was the best.  Here's Brooke cuddling with us since she was jealous of not sleeping with us.  She did sleep with me when Abi slept over at her friend's house.  She said I yelled at her to scoot over...

These pictures actually make me smile as I reread then.  I love them and thats what I want to do...go to the planet, and snuggle with them.  I LOVE it when they want to sleep in my bed even if I yell at them in their sleep.. Abi did listen to my heartbeat with her stethescope when we were sleeping. So convenient for both of us.  I LOVE that they LOVE me. 

Trip to the Zoo

I was shopping in Walmart one day and found this ugly Christmas Sweater.  It is one of the worst I have seen, BUT that green thing in the front is a pocket.  A pocket for your drink.  WOW.  All of a sudden it isn't to ugly.  I would have bought it but it was still expensive and I'm minimalizing and don't need it.  But how functional.

After Church on Sunday, (Abi played the song for me in Sacrament meeting.  I wasn't prepared as well as I would like to be so she accompanied the primary kids for the Christmas song they sang)  Brooke wanted to go to Hogle Zoo to see someone, AND to see the sloth that they just got new.

Here they are checking out the new Sloth.  It is in the building I absolutely hate because it stinks and is discusting.  But I took one for the team and went and looked at the sloth.  How could I NOT see the sloth.