The top 10 of 2010

Good golly miss molly! I feel like this year was a roller coaster for me in so many ways. Aaron worked an insane amount of hours. We put in a yard. I got called to be in the ward Primary presidency where there are 140+ children in it (next year will be closer to 170 children). I felt like a single parent most of the year because Aaron worked an insane amount of hours. (did I say that already?) I reconnected with some dear friends. and on and on and on. So, here's the top 10 in pictures.

10. Baby brothers wedding and all 8 siblings in attendance.

9. Lots of time in Utah's GLORIOUS mountains!



8. Swimming and Piano lessons

7. Visit from Grandma Lombardo and her dogs

6. Reconnecting with old friends

5. The WASATCH BACK!!!!

4. Open Water Deer Creek Swim

3. 7 years of marital bliss!

2. Growing our first garden

#1!!!!! Enjoying our little family

May 2011 be just as great.....no, even better!

Christmas was.....

Exciting

Merry

 Cozy

Magical

Memorable



WONDERFUL!

He Came

Christmas Eve

Great food: Pomegranate Turkey, mashed potatoes, rolls, spinach salad, homemade apple pie. Yum!

Great company: The Nielsons! so fun to have them with us this year.

The Nativity: Hilarious! first time we've had the kids act out the story from Luke 2. Boy were they cute! Suzanna and I were the animals. A chicken and a duck. They were there too don't you think? lol

Hannah really took to the part of being Mary and loved holding baby Jesus.

My new head band from Suzanna. Love it!

Once the Nielson's left, the kids were so excited to open a present from mom and dad.

Matching snowman pajamas!

Also, worth mentioning, Hannah and Nathan exchanged gifts this year. We took each one individually to the store to buy the other a gift. They opened those tonight as well. It was so fun to see their excitement to give a gift to the other and even more fun to see their reaction to the gift they recieved. Hannah got blue lip gloss and matching blue finger nail polish (nathan really did pick it out himself). Nathan got a pop gun from Hannah, and lets just say he's in bed sleeping with it tonight. They were both stoked!

Last minute activities for the night included treats for the reindeer:

Hannah is sprinkling reindeer food on the lawn that has magical dust in it they can see from the sky. That picture is not snow, but fog. Weird huh? 

And then a treat plate for Santa:

(note says: Santa, thank you. Enjoy! Hannah)

Then it was off to bed where visions of sugar plums will dance in their heads. Oh they are excited for tomorrow morning! So are we!!!!

What was I thinking?

that I should potty train both Abby and Nathan at the same time?

What was I thinking? when I decided caroling would be a good idea in the rain?

What was I thinking? when I invited 3 more children over for joyschool on top of the 5 I already had?

What was I thinking? putting up a christmas tree just for the kids?

What was I thinking? spending hours cleaning my house only to enjoy it for a few moments?

What was I thinking? making a wholesome dinner that even I had to gag down?

What was I thinking? reading the birth of our Savior to my children several times this season while they are running around like wild Indians?

Well....I'm not sure. But I hope I was thinking......

- that although I've been changing a lot of potty messes, they're both going to get it soon and my life will be so much easier!
- that my children will love this tradition as much I did with my family growing up. (and so far, I think they do!)
- that my children would enjoy more children at the house, no matter how chaotic it was and that the mothers of those children would enjoy a little quiet time to themselves.
- that my children might understand that it is their excitement at Christmas time that truly makes me happy and that all this "stuff" is not as important to me as they are.
- becuase even if I can't possibly keep my house as clean as I want it at every second, they can see what a truly happy mother is when her house is in order.
- that perhaps I can instill in my children's minds the importance of eating healthy and sometimes (deffinately not always) mom's experiments with healthy cooking is just plain gross.
- and most importantly to me, that along with all the fun with receiving gifts from Santa Claus this year, they are catching on that Jesus really is what is most important and his birth, life, and death is our very greatest gift of all! Oh, I hope so much that they will get this in their life.

And that is what I was thinking. 

Caught!

Eating hot chocolate powder!

I really love this little boy.

This picture makes me smile.

Hannah's 1st Piano Recital

Jolly Old St. Nicholas

She's such a pretty little thing.

 Hannah and her teacher Mrs. Leslie

Me and Hannah playing her song as a duet.

Hannah is Mrs. Leslie's youngest piano student, starting at 4-1/2 years old.

Ugly Sweater Christmas Party

Super fun! Super ugly! Super food! and Super fun company!!! Aaron won the ugliest sweater for the guys. Mine unfortunately wasn't ugly, but it was festive.

Prom Pictures

Jenny, Camille, Jocelyn

 Hilarious people I don't know

 More hilarious people I don't know

The Knights

 Bob & Heather

Karoke - Yowzers! it was bad.

We ate, played games, laughed until our cheeks were hurting, and enjoyed a silly party with no kids.

Meeting St. Nick....

....with no tears!

Hannah told Santa that she wants a pink barbie bike with a basket on the front. First time she's mentioned that. As we were walking out, we noticed a pink barbie bike with a basket on front at the desk for donations. Hmm.....tricky girl! Hope she's not too disappointed.

After Santa we noticed one of those fun houses that puts their lights on to music. So cool! This is the house:

And this is the kids in awe:

Fun night!

Getting into the Christmas Spirit.......

....Bethleham Style.

Aaron and I were asked to play the part of Mary and Joseph at our Church nativity breakfast. Everyone was encouraged to dress up. The kids had a ball! So did we actually. The gym was all decorated to reflect the town of Bethleham. The "Roman" guards were at the door to collect our taxes of canned food, to give to a local food shelter.  Breakfast consisted of traditional middle eastern food along with good ole mormon breakfast caseroles and sweet roles. Yum! I was so impressed with all the work and effort put in to this wonderful morning. Here's some pictures of the reinactment of the nativity.

Bro. Hofenbeck was the narrator (great voice) and his daughter, Taylor, sang a beautiful christmas song from the Primary hymn book.

 While Taylor was singing Aaron and I were walking in between the tables (some set up to be inn's) as we were told by each table there was no room at the inn.

(notice that Aaron even grew out his facial hair to look more authentic)

It was a full house

Me loving on baby Knight, playing baby Jesus

 

Heavenly Angels Singing

The Shepherds and of course the 3 wise men

 

The program ended with a Christmas message from our wonderful Bishop, bishop Gabriel on giving even as our dear Savior has given so much to us.

 And a beautiful solo of "Silent Night" (my favorite christmas song) by Ryan Lambert

It was so fun to be apart of the nativity this year. It filled the true spirit of Christmas into my heart.

Merry Christmas!

The whole crew, including one of the Roman Soldiers.