Sledding

The day after Christmas we called the Adams and the Anderson's to go sledding. We found a hill in East Layton. "ITS ALL FUN AND GAMES UNTIL SOMEONE GETS HURT!" And of course, Stockton was the one who got hurt. He was playing on Brock's snowboard and went off a jump and landed funny on his knee (he already has osgood slaughter). I thought he needed to go to the doctor but I just took him home to get warm, then iced his knee, he is fine. But I left quickly. But before that we had fun. It was very cold but the kids don't seem to mind. As you will see Brad is not in any pictures, because he didn't go :(. He was at a scout overnighter at Crystal Hot Springs. What a good guy! So although we were cold for an hour and half, Brad was cold for a DAY AND A HALF!! I feel blessed to have fun people around, who also love to have fun with their kids!!!

Sledding

MORE PARTIES....Christmas Night

On Christmas night after all the hub bub. The Larsen family gets together, we exchange small gifts and eat and spend time visiting. Brian and Karen come to town so it is everyone together. This is the only time of the year we are ALL together. Bronson unfortunately left early for a tournament unexpectedly so Cathy was sad. It was a great evening. Thanks to Bracken and Cathy for a great dinner and evening. I love all those Larsen boys. The girls are the minority. Its good to get some pictures of them together.

Breakfast for Everyone!!

Here is the breakfast tradition. Everyone comes and we eat and this is when the kids open the presents from Grandma and Grandpa A.

Christmas Morning 2008

My sweet husband...he worked Christmas Eve night. He gets home at 6 AM, then he maybe sleeps for 1 hour then - the kids are up and opening their gifts. He gets up and we have Christmas, then my whole family comes over for breakfast. We love to have everyone over and we try to have a yummy breakfast. Brad helps cooks and never complains. He is a trooper. Just another reason to LOVE that man. He tries to take a small nap before the next party with his family. He gets NO sleep and never complains!! What a man!!!

When we got home from the Party....

After driving grandma home, we came home and made some preparations for our breakfast, then we sat down together and watched the Nativity and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. For scripture study for the month of December we have been reading Matthew. Usually we read from the Book of Mormon each night as a family. But during this month we have read about our Savior in the New Testament. We have loved to learn about the Savior and all that He did in His earthly mission. We read about His birth and many of the miracles that He performed. It has strengthened my testimony of my Savior and the good that He did while on the earth. Next December we will read Mark, hopefully we can learn more each year about our Savior and become closer to Him and we can become more like Him. As a family we discussed the gift of His life and that is the best gift that we have, and His gift to us was living and giving us a perfect example and then dying for our sins. I want my kids to know that it is better to give than to get. This is such a special time of the year and hopefully it makes a difference in their lives. I love my kids and family very much and I especially love my Savior.

Christmas Eve with Grandma and Grandpa

I know I said that Grandpa F is the best cook....sorry he still is. Each year we go and eat together and visit. It is fun, the Fickett girls are funny. They make you laugh, they make fun of each other (and anyone else) but we do have lots of laughs and then we all go downstairs and everyone opens their presents. The kids have so much fun and it really gets them excited for Santa. Here are some of the pictures of everyone. This year my Grandma came...she broke tradition, she usually goes with my uncle Ron and his family. She is having a harder time traveling and she doesn't like to be away from home either. So it was very special. I don't recall spending a Christmas Eve with her since I was very, VERY young and we went to her home. My kids have never been with her, so this was special. She came to our house at 3 and stayed with us until the big event at 6. I love my grandma, she is the only one that has been alive during my life (both my mom's parents died, her father died when she was 16 and her mother died when I was 6 months old, then Grandpa A died when I was very young too.) So this Grandma is the only one I have ever known, I love her, she is so special to me. I have wonderful memories of her throughout my life and I really appreciate her.

Pictures of all of Us

Opening Gifts - fun stuff!!

We all go to the basement. It is basically chaos for 20 minutes while 29 people are opening gifts and yelling with excitement. It is fun.

Christmas Eve Preparation

Well the family parties begin....Christmas Eve tradition is at Grandma and Grandpa Ficketts. Everyone comes and we eat, eat and EAT. Then we open our presents from them. We have lots of fun. This is our little family making our preparations, some dip, sweet potato casserole, rolls (for Bracken and Cathy's tomorrow) and of course COOKIES for SANTA. Check out my CUTE new apron I got for Christmas...love it!