Christmas In Our House

Christmas...
EVE

I didn't leave Braiden out of these pics on purpose. He was with Quinn on Christmas Eve this year. We hung out at home, ate hoagie sandwiches, watched House Bunny (yes, House Bunny, very festive, I know), and left cookies and milk out for Santa while outside the heavens opened and left a few inches of snow on us. It's a good thing Santa has Rudolph cause he never would have found us through all that snow.

DAY

There is actually a small time lapse here as Braiden did not actually get his "Santa" stuff until the afternoon since he was with his Dad this year on Christmas morning but no matter, they all did very well this year, as usual. Paige would have lost all faith in Santa had she not come down to find a scooter and a new hat and gloves as that is ALL she has asked for since October. Braiden is now on his way to ripping it up in our "Greatest Snow on Earth" with his new snowboarding gear- anyone wanna take him up cause you won't find me anywhere near a ski slope...California Girl. Thank goodness for community programs. Cameron has been constantly entertained with is little activity table and bowling set. If only they stayed that easy to please...

Festivities at Mom's House

We made the treturous trek to my moms house for breakfast and presents. As always, there was way too much food and way too many presents for the kids. But also, as always, we had a good time and we love Christmas at Mom's house.

Faves

These are a few of my favorite Christmas Decorations that I hope my kids remember as things that were always around at Christmas time in our home. I especially love my "card door". If you look closely you may see your card up there (if you sent me one). I measure how loved I am by how many cards are on my card door so I even hang up the card from my OBGYN office. Don't laugh...it counts. So if you did not send me one this year, remember that. There's always next year.

I threw in a picture there too of what it looked like out my front window on Christmas Day here in Draper, UT. Wow! Winter Wonderland anyone?

This year has been a weird one for me. I have really struggled to get my self into the Christmas Spirit amidst all the changes happening in our world and all the economic "stress" that seems to be so prominent right now. I let myself get so stressed and caught up in the business of life and worry so much about how there is never enough time for anything that I forget that all of that means that I am so blessed. I am blessed with a stable job, a home, great kids, a hard-working, loving husband and a knowledge the we are watched over by a loving Heavenly Father that will not ever forsake us.

I love Christmas and how it brings people together to help each other and to wish each other well. I love the Lord and the gift He gave us by sending His Son to earth. Merry Christmas Everyone...see you next year.

Band geek in the making?

This post is long overdue as Braiden has been in band since October but he just recently has his first performance. Considering that he has only been playing for a couple months, he sounds great. He can actually hear pitches and get the notes fairly easily. He really likes it and even if he doesn't do it for very long, at least he is learning to read music and those concerts are pretty entertaining. I have to admit though, is it wrong for me to worry about my kid being a "band geek"? I mean, don't get me wrong, I played the flute and did the whole marching/concert band thing and I turned out ok but I don't know...is that shallow?

Call us crazy...we did it again!

DIDN'T I TELL YOU THAT WE LOVE DISNEYLAND? Southwest Airlines had a 50% sale so we made a spur of the moment, 3 day jaunt, to Disneyland with the whole family. It was so fun to take the kids and see their excitement at all the fantastical things about Disneyland but, dang, its a lot of work to drag 3 kids on 2 plane rides, on a 1.5 hour bus ride twice, in the cold and rain and with a 15 month old with an ear infection and TONS of luggage.

I love Disneyland at Christmas time. Everything down to the last little lamppost is decorated for the holidays. The parade is all about Christmas cheer and Santa is everywhere.

Like I mentioned, Cameron woke up the morning of the trip with a 102 fever, of course. We made a trip to the pediatrician, he worked his magic and Cameron was a new man in 2 days. He had a hard time at some points but we have a nice comfy stroller that was his new home for 3 days. he did enjoy Toon Town, however.

Made it through the mile long line at Small World to see the newly renovated attraction. This is the outside all lit up but the inside was 100 times more festive. Once again Disney has outdone itself. Every square inch was Christmas across the world.

Paige was a little trooper. She was so excited to do everything she could possibly imagine. I love this age. She will believe anything and everything she sees or hears. Braiden has endless energy when it comes to any form of amusement. He can be a little impatient when everything has to be toned down for the little kids but he was not in want of anything by the end of this quick trip.

We are taking a little Disney hiatus...for now. :)

Dear Santa~~ Love, Mom

This was my moms Christmas Letter this year. She always surprises me and writes something that makes me cry while I am checking my email at work. I hate that but I love her and her special way with words. Thanks Mom.


Dear Santa,
Am I too old to still believe? Because I do---let me tell you why.

I was no different than most young girls. I had dreams of a magical life—why wouldn’t I? I had a wonderful family with a houseful of terrific and crazy brothers and sisters. I had two of the best parents ever and a childhood full of magical Christmas’s. Oh how I believed!

The years following brought me many adventures---not necessarily the life I had dreamed of---but just as miraculous in so many ways. Four of my early Christmas’s brought new babies to share the life I was given. I believed.

Amy was my first miracle. A wide eyed baby that had a smile that never left her beautiful face. I remember her tiny little fingers gently touching the ornaments---so afraid of breaking them. Memories of the Christmas tree light sparkling in her big blue eyes. How could I not believe?

Bonnie was my second miracle. She had a smile that would make her nose crinkle. I remember her dancing in front of the tree with her arms spread wide as she twirled around and around, memories of her long blonde hair shinning as bright as the lights on the tree. Of course I believed.

Whitney, truly a miracle, the baby I was told would not come. But she did---and what a perfect sweetheart she was. Timid and shy she would stand and gaze up at the tree and point at the twinkling lights with the amazement only a child can have. I still believed.

My son Benjamin, the surprise after the miracle! What a joy he was, a quiet strength in a small child that brought peace and comfort into our Christmas. His homemade ornaments covered our trees. He would spend hours making sure they were in the most prominent place of the tree. He would write detailed list of the treasures he desired from Santa---with pictures! He believed---so I believed.

These children are gown now, Santa. They have incredible spouses and have brought five new little grand cuties into my life. Braiden. Abby, Paige, Bailey and Cameron. The Christmas lights sparkle in their eyes and shine in their hair. They point in amazement and dance by the trees. They are making their lists because they believe! They make me believe.

This year I broke my nails as I pulled the decorations from the garage. I brushed the webs from the boxes of homemade ornaments, now crushed and yellowed and replaced by new ones. I untangled the lights and threw away the burned out ones. I found the years of stockings from each child. They looked smaller than I remembered. I decorated the tree by myself. It’s still beautiful and glows brightly. I bought new stockings. Two---even though I am one. I guess I still believe.

I do believe Santa, for 52 years I have believed. I believe in the beauty and hope this season brings. I believe in the love and happiness that is in our lives. I believe in family—no matter what it looks like. I believe that the Christ child brought new life to us and still does. I believe that the people who have come and gone from my life were blessings that taught me strength and fortitude. I believe in laughter, hugs and smiles each day. I believe we need to still dance in front of the tree and point in amazement, we need to touch gently and make our list with pictures!----I need to believe. So I do.

We all need to believe.

I wish you happiness this season. May you set aside your fears and experience the blessings and love this world has to offer. Tell someone that you love them; kiss the forehead of a child and-----
*~*~*~* Believe!*~*~*~*

With Love and Hope always,
Betsy

Can you hear the Angels Singing?

Warning! This post is for Mommy eyes only: Deals with toddlers and potty training.

I just have to take this opportunity to share with the entire world that my 3.5 year old just pooped ON THE POTTY for the first time all by herself!!! Up until today she has expressed some sort of fear of doing #2 on the toilet so she will squat in the corner of the bathroom and mess her panties. It has taken all my strength and patience to deal with that for the last month but I am praying that this is a turning point.

Paige: I need some pricey mom (privacy)
Me: Ok tell me when you are done.
About 1 minute later
Paige (shouting): Mom come here! I think I going poop!!!
Me: Uh..really? Let me see. (Checking the toilet, sure enough...poop) Yeah!!!
Paige: I have a Barbie now?
Me: Oh ya, I did promise you that like a month ago. I'll buy you a car if you promise me to go poop on the potty all the time.
Paige: No thanks. I jus want a Barbie.

Hallelujah!!!

November 19th was Erics 36th birthday. Since he really never wants us to make a fuss about his birthday and always wants "a nice quiet evening at home" (I don't know where he lives, but that rarely happens in my house) we have had to improvise.

We have a little tradition where the kids get to pick out the cake, and bake it and decorate it pretty much all by themselves for Daddy's Birthday. Paige got to pick the cake this year and she picked Fun-Fetti everything. MMMMMMMMM!

Paige was very proud of her creation. We bought the "36" number candles but Paige found a box of candles in the cupboard that she had to put on the cake and guess how many were in the box...36!

Yup that cake was ablaze! If you look closely you can see the Kit-Kat in the front center that is on fire due to the lit candle right below it.

See the smoke coming off the cake- that's Kit Kat smoke. Cameron thought it was his birthday all over again and dove head first into the diabetic coma inducing cake.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

In case you care

Opening Act- New Kids on the Block, Salt Lake City, Single

I am too old for this...

I have been quite the crazy concert goer lately so this post is dedicated to two things that at one time I thought I loved...and then I grew up.

Madonna

(This is the most tasteful pic i could find of her)

November 6th I saw Madonna on her LA stop at the Dodger Stadium. Anyone who might be judging me can just stop "casting stones" for a minute and think back to when you wore leg warmers and giant bows in your side ponytails and rocked out to "Material Girl". Everyone has some memory that has something do with a Madonna song and I vowed that I would see a Madonna show before I died. The woman recently turned 50 (which doesn't sound that old to me since I am only 19 years behind)and even from a half mile away- she looks amazing and she sounded amazing. It was an awesome show and fairly PG-13. There were even cameo appearances from Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and Kanye West. Very cool.

~Britney and Madonna. Britney was surprisingly tasteful and sounded really good. They sang the controversial song "I'm Not sorry" aimed at their X's. Very entertaining, especially if you have an X~

~Ecstatic Madonna Fans- or maybe we were just high...still not sure which~

~Do you see the resemblance? Uh, we didn't either~

NEXT...

NKOTB

Otherwise known as New Kids on the Block. Just believe it...after hiding for 15 years they decided to make a comeback and their tour landed them in Salt Lake City. Apparently, however, the November 15th concert did not sell very well because the only reason I went is because I got 6 free tickets through an email I received. Seriously- I would not have gone if the tickets weren't free but, honestly, I have to admit, that it was pretty fun. Made me feel young and REALLY old all at the same time.

Probably one of the coolest parts of the show was the opening act- Natasha Beddingfield.

I didn't realize that I was a fan but I love her music.

~The entire show as a highly choreographed and they changed outfits like 4 times at least. The white attire was reserved for the "I'll Be Lovin' You Forever" by Jordan Knight~

~I had to add the one on the left since this was where Jordan ripped his shirt off and danced around the stage half naked. Not bad for a old guy~

I was going to add video but I think you got the point.

Here is my official review of both:

Madonna: Hot to trot at 50 and very entertaining despite the obvious twisted political agenda.

NKOTB: Sounded pretty good live and the show was a great mixture of the nostalgia of NKOTB and today's THE BLOCK. Brought back many embarrassing memories of prepubescent swooning. Jordan and Joey are still the hottest New Kids.

In both cases, I have to say...it's time for people to start acting their age-

including myself.

Escape to Fantasyland- November 08

On November 5th we kicked off our Watson Family Disney Vaca to California. We planned this getaway a few months ago prior to Whitney's engagement. They set their date for November 1st and opted out of the family trip (heavens knows why?) but we still went with it and it was a BLAST!!

The trip was especially great for a few reasons:

1. My immediate family has not traveled together since about 2002 when we went camping in California together and got the flu together (lovely and memorable, maybe that's why it has been so long).
2. Jenice (My lovely SIL whose face is pictured below was a Disneyland VIRGIN). She even got a button.
3. My 84 year old grandmother also joined us and she had not been to Disneyland for about 45 years. (Qualifies as virgin if you ask me). They gave her a button too!

4. I saw Madonna in the flesh. (Like a virgin!)

Oh and I forgot to mention that this was a primarily ADULTS ONLY trip. Yeah!! Do we love Disneyland, you ask? Well I am not sure why you would think that since I have only been 5 times in the last 12 months and am an Annual Pass Holder even though I live in Utah, we are Disney Vacation Club members and half the time we go there WITHOUT our kids. I suppose you could say we are fans. There is just something really special about escaping to a land of fantasy. And since this trip hit right after election day-- we figured it was a PERFECT time to escape to another land. Agreed? Obama can't be EVERYWHERE.

This is Eric, Myself, Jenice and Ben our our way to the Disneyland Hotel. I think Ben was especially giddy!

The Disneyland Hotel is a really nice place to stay especially if you are a Disney Freak. Everything has reference to some Disney character...everything. Even the little shampoo and conditioner bottles have mickey ears. Seriously.

My Grandmother rented a little scooter so she could conserve her energy since there is no such thing as a short walk around there. She dang near took out a couple small children and ran over some toes here and there. Did you know that if you have a person in your party with a wheelchair of any kind you could get to the front of every line? Who knew? HE HE. Let's just say this was a VERY productive visit to Disneyland.
My mom was merciless on the Roger Rabbit ride. I thought my grandma was going to lose her teeth more than once. She says she had a wonderful time even though we made her go on all the rides with us. She was nervous but I am pretty sure she had the time of her life.

The Nightmare Before Christmas theme was in full swing and I love it. Its nice to mix things up a little here and there.

We caught Goofy for a quick photo shoot in California Adventure. I am pretty sure he goosed me after this picture but there is no evidence...or maybe it was Eric. Hmmm.

Grandma on her HOT ROD with her sexy shades. Watch out!

Yes, just believe it. We stood on line for about an hour to see the Princesses. I hear that is short in comparison. I am pretty sure the boys were hoping that Ariel was in her seashells but no such luck.


A highlight of my trip, as I mentioned above was that I got to see Madonna in the flesh. No that is not Madonna in the pic. The is my good friend Brenda that used to live here in Utah but moved to California to be with the cool people. So she came to the Madonna Concert with me, my mom, and Jenice. I will soon dedicate an entire post to the Madonna concert. I really can't do the experience justice without adding some video. Stay tuned!

Ben and Jenice on the Matterhorn.


Us at the Mexican restaurant in Downtown Disney.

Ben and my other brother from another mother Johnny being the children they are.

I promise the next time we go to D-Land we will take our kids, ok? I will not be selfish and hog all the fantasy filled fun. Don't quote me on that.

And Now what you all have been waiting for...

November 1st was a gorgeous day. We were preparing for the worst weather and hoping for the best and it was perfect.

Waiting for the New Couple...

The Bride and Groom

The Family

The Reception at Noahs