Alliances at the Yankee Swap

Ben's work has a tradition of having a semi-formal dinner and a game at their Christmas party. The game is yankee swap, but isn't like any version I have ever seen. In the middle of the room is a huge tarp/blanket covering a gigantic mass of assorted shapes. After dinner they remove the blanket to reveal the gifts. We are talking BBQ grills, bounce houses, big screen computer monitors, gps systems, ipods. . . you get the idea. It's exciting and stressful all at once.

Every couple gets a number. The first person chooses a gift from the pile. The second person can either steal a gift or choose from the pile. Each gift can only be stolen 3 times and can only be stolen once per round (a round ends when the stealing stops and someone finally picks something from the center).

Last year we won a complete Dell computer. This year I had my eye on a dual trainer elliptical/bike. We got the elliptical and of course it got stolen. Later got it again. . . stolen. Eventually it got stolen for the third time by the people sitting next to us. I was so bummed. Fortunately, we still had our eyes on the GPS system that was on it's second steal, and we currently had a fire pit set. We were discussing our strategy, when the people next to us overheard we were going for the GPS. They agreed that if we got the GPS they would trade. It was the next persons turn and Ben was peddling the fire pit set, while I was praying and they took the the set. So I came home with this:

Ah, a desperate and overweight woman's prayer answered.

The Real Santa Came To Our Ward Party!

This is the statement Hyrum has been repeating over and over ever since our ward party. "Santa" was a friend of our relief society president and I have to say he looked pretty darn convincing, white beard and all.

The best though was Hyrum trying to kiss up in front us Santa, literally. Any time he thought Santa was watching he'd lean over and kiss or hug Ella. Yeah, like that's gonna make up for a year of naughty :)

Here's some of the pictures of the kids with "Santa". They didn't hesitate at all to climb on his knee, although Ella talked more to me than to Santa. Logan just had a funny expression on his face, but he wasn't really scared. He hasn't gone through the stranger anxiety thing like the others . . . yet.

Christmas Stuff

Our first order of business, after returning home from Thanksgiving, was to get our tree up. It's not a huge tree, and we got it for like $20, but I've always liked it. I'm kind of a scrooge when it comes to the tree, because I don't let the kids decorate it. Yes, gasp and be astounded at what a horrible mother I am, but I'm really weird with things coordinating and looking even, etc. It drives me nuts if there's an ornament out of place, so the kids help set the tree up and then we decorate it when they are in bed. Then they are really excited to wake up the next morning and see how beautiful it is. I don't even let Ben help me decorate it usually, but I was exhausted this year and decided I valued my sleep more than a perfectly decorated tree. Ben is usually in charge of all the lights on the tree and tinsel. I don't have any patience for that. Someday I'd like to have a tree downstairs just for the kids to decorate with colored lights, popcorn strings and homemade ornaments. Maybe next year, but for now, it's my tree :)



I am excited about a new Christmas purchase I got this year, stockings. I actually bought them last year in Boise the day after Christmas at this fancy store for 75% off. Originally they were like $20 a piece, which is ridiculous (I don't even spend that much on what I put in the stockings). So I bought enough for our family and two extra (believe me I won't be needing more than that). This way they will all match, even after we have more children. My mom's friend even embroidered all our names on them and they look so beautiful. We don't have a fireplace or even a mantle, so I got creative and hung them from my hope chest. Pretty clever I think.

I'm really excited because our ward Christmas party is tonight . (We missed last years thanks to kids throwing up everywhere). It's catered, except for the desserts which they asked everyone to bring, so I was excited to try a fun Christmas cupcake I've had a picture of for years. Usually I just make Ben make the dessert (I'm more of a main dish kind of girl), or I just buy something, but I actually went to the trouble to make something for this years party. I'm sure all those primary kids are really going to appreciate all the time it took for me to cut out all those leaves from fruit roll ups (ha, ha) So keep your fingers crossed that no one wakes up from their naps sick.

Logan- 7 Months

Time continues to go fast and Logan continues to learn new things. Here are some fun milestones he has reached at 7 months:

*army crawls

*says da da (waiting excitedly for ma ma)

*feeds himself crackers and cheerios

*holds onto toys and can switch hands

*likes to play peak a boo and other social games

*recognizes family members

*is interested at looking in the mirror

*holds own weight when standing

*losing interest in pacifiers (but really likes his thumb)

*doesn't like being left alone (always wants your attention)

*has 2 teeth

We just put up our tree last night and I'm a little nervous as to what he will try. I mostly kept him in high chairs, exersaucers, or close in my sight and he just seems bewildered by the tree. He looks at it, but I don't know if he really realizes the damage he could cause to the helpless thing. I'm sure it's just a matter of time.