Christmas . . . just a little late

Christmas is always a busy time for us. With all our family so close we feel like we are running around like crazy people(we pretty much are but . . . we love it). Christmas Eve started off with the Gray family Christmas party. We exchanged gifts and did a white elephant. I think we were all pretty safe this year. I'm a little worried about next year though. The kids had fun sledding in the fields and playing in the snow. After that ended we went up to my parents house for our traditional Christmas Eve movie. We used to go to a theater but with all the little kids it's been easier the last few years to have movie night in my dad's theater room. We watched the old 30 min. How the Grinch stole Christmas and then watched Alex's favorite movie. The Polar Express. The boys were so funny dancing around with the songs. I think we told them a hundred times to sit on their bums so everyone could see. All of my grandparents spent Christmas at my parents house so we had a full house. After the movie my dad read from the bible about Christ's birth and then we loaded up in the car and headed home. We let the boys open their Christmas pj's and sent them to bed. Christmas morning we had to WAKE UP OUR KIDS!!! I thought they'd be up early this year . . . but nope they were sleeping soundly. We even tried stomping around upstairs to see if that would wake them up. I think it woke up Keira. . . but it didn't even phase the boys. After we got them up we opened presents from each other. And the kids got to see what they got from santa. Alex has been asking for hungry, hungry hippo for a long time and I think that was the first thing he saw. The boys both got scooters as well. Austin's is a razor and Alex got a buzz lightyear one. He's starting to switch from mickey to buzz. Austin got dinosaur, transformers, and hot wheels stuff. Our little Keria bug got some new clothes and some toys to get those chubby legs of hers moving. So far she's just figured out to grab whatever is under the toys to bring it to her. We were hoping she would go to the toys. . . oh well. After they'd opened all their presents we had to point out that there was something over by Keira's stocking that she might need help with. Alex saw super mario brothers for the wii and he literally started yelling (for joy). We had to start packing stuff up and getting it into the car so they couldn't play yet. They were very very disappointed. We had to get to my parents house by 8:30 though because Kevin was calling. It was really fun to listen to Kevin and hear how well he's doing in Peru. I know he is a great missionary. After the phone call we went to Trav's parents house to have breakfast and exchange presents. The boys were really excited to get their nerf machine guns which they shoot across the hall at each other. We spent the morning at their house and then went back to my parents house for lunch. We had lunch and exchanged gifts there as well. The kids got spoiled as usual. The boys were really excited to get new blankets from grandma and the new armchairs that are perfect for watching movies and playing wii. Late afternoon we finally made it back to our house and the boys FINALLY got to play with their toys. They had fun playing wii, transformers, hungry hungry hippo . . . and everything else. Super Mario brothers was a hit and not just with the boys. We got addicted too. It's a lot of fun. We had a great Christmas and here's to a great new year!

Christmas pics

Thanksgiving

Holidays are always fun because we usually get to see both sides of our family. Travis started the morning out by playing in the Turkey Bowl at the church, while I went through the Black Friday ads. We started our Thanksgiving at my parents house. Everyone was there but Kevin. It was a lot of fun and good food. My Grandma and Grandpa Carpenter also had Thanksgiving with us. It's fun to have my grandparents around we always find out interesting things about them. So on Thanksgiving we found out that on one of the dates that my grandparents went on before they were married my grandma dumped her soda on my grandpa's head!! Austin then chimed in saying that, that was why Grandpa Great (I know it's reversed it's just what we say) didn't have any hair. Dinner was amazing with all the fixings you could want. I have to say that my raspberry cream pie was pretty much a hit. Thank you Lion House Pantry!! We finished up at my parents house and then it was off to Trav's parents, where we spent the rest of the day. We had some good pie, watched some football, and planned our Black Friday attack. We then came home and played a little guitar hero and went to bed. I had the alarm set for 12:30 am to get in line at Old Navy but when it went off I was dead tired and didn't know if I could get my shopping done and get home in time for Travis to make it to work. So . . . I went back to bed. All that planning for nothing! We have one thing for Keira and that is it. We need to do some major shopping. We have a list made, we just haven't had time to go out and get it. Now that Thanksgiving is past I can officially listen to Christmas music without Travis throwing a fit.
Here comes Santa Claus. . . . .

Church and FHE

Two weeks ago Travis and Austin went to Sacrament meeting without the rest of us. Keira and Alex were sick so Travis and I did the trade off thing. He and Austin went to Sacrament meeting then came home and Austin and I went to Primary. Well, it was fast Sunday and Travis asked Austin if he wanted to share his testimony. Austin looked at Travis and said "yes, but mom didn't give it to me." It was so cute, it made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. We decided though that the kids should start giving the lesson and sharing their testimonies during family home evening. Monday was Austin's turn for the lesson. He kept telling me that he knew what he was going to talk about. He didn't need any help. I finally convinced him to tell me his lesson just in case it wasn't long enough. He then told me the story of the three little pigs.
I told him he did a very good job but what lesson do we learn, or how could we make it more spiritual. He then told me that the big bad wolf is like satan and he tries to trick us, or gets us to make bad choices. Then I asked him about the brother that made his house out of bricks. He said that brother made a good choice and kept his family safe. He said the brother was like Heavenly Father and Jesus they help us make good choices, keep our families safe, and they scare the wolf away with a big pot of boiling water. He did such a good job for FHE and Alex listened the whole time and wants to do the lesson next week. I love my kids so much!! They learn so fast and bring so much joy into our lives.

Halloween

We had a very busy Halloween this year. The Monday before Halloween was Grandma Gray's party. The kids had to wrap Krissi and Heidi up like a mummy with toilet paper (the hit of the evening) and they had a doughnut eating contest. We hung them with string and looped them over a long rod and the kids had to kneel down with their hands behind their back and try and eat it all. It was hilarious!! Then we went trick-or-treating at the legacy center on Friday. We played games, watched the magic show and of course got candy. Saturday we started out at Grandma Carpenter's house. We went over there at 10:30 so the grandparents could see all the kids in their costumes. We got home and took a short nap then it was off to the ward trunk-or-treat. We came home for awhile and then took the kids out. We had a Batman, Buzz Lightyear, and Tinkerbell. I made Keira's costume with the help of my mom. She helped me form and sew the wings. I dyed the onsie, spray painted the wings and added sparkle, and made the tutu. I see many more tutus in Keira's future. They are so cute and fun to make. Oh Travis was a hunter ( a stretch I know) and I was Mulan as the kids said. My dad brought me that Komono from Japan. The kids had so much fun and got way too much candy. Alex was dragging his bucket on the way home because it was way to heavy. There is a family in our ward who does cookies and hot chocolate every year. So, that was our last stop before heading home. Something warm to put in their tummies. They came home looked through their loot and made Travis promise not to steal it (or eat it). Then off to bed they went. They are already talking about what they want to be next year. I'm sure it will change a hundred times between now and then though.

The Deer Hunt 2009

Travis was able to get Thursday, Friday, and Saturday off for the deer hunt this year. So up west canyon we went trailer in tow for our last camping trip of the year. The weather was so nice compared to years before. So the kids were able to play outside a lot. The bishop and his two girls came up Thursday and drove around with us trying to find a deer. Then the bishop came up Friday as well. He must be luck and I say luck because I'm not sure whether it's good or bad luck. Travis saw a buck and shot it. When he got up to it he found out it was a two by nothing! It only had one antler. He's probably going to kill me when he finds out that I posted about his "kill" like this, but he never reads my blog. . . so I'm probably safe :D. To save face, he says he was getting rid of the bad genes in that area. I think that's all that's there. His brother shot a three by none and a one by none the two years before. Aren't these supposed to be non-typical? I can't complain though, he got his deer the third day of the hunt and now we'll have jerky. It was a great camping trip with friends and family. It was a little weird not to be in oak grove but the kids had fun. They climbed up the hill, played in the trees, and got very VERY dirty. I guess it's not a camping trip unless the kids get dirty.

The MTC

My father in-law is in a branch presidency at the MTC. They go every Sunday and Tuesday and then sometimes Wed to meet the new missionaries. Because of this I got to have a very unique experience. The last Sunday that Kevin was in the Provo MTC my mother in-law got home from Hawaii and was so tired she needed a helper to get her to her meetings. The boys were sick so Travis stayed home with them and Keira and I went. We went and ate lunch and while we were eating Kevin walked in right by our table. He was so surprised!!!! My mother in-law and another sister missionary had to stop him from hugging me. He kept saying, "It's my sister, I can hug my sister". They had to explain to him that even though they knew it was ok everyone else didn't know I was his sister. They aren't even shaking hands because of H1N1. So we rocked it :). His companion is the one next to him on the left and these are some of the missionaries in branch. He went and grabbed his lunch and then came and sat down and had lunch with us. It was amazing to see how much he had already changed. I couldn't believe it. He said he had been playing Volleyball everyday because the only time he got to play was at the CFR. He asked how everyone was doing and I gave him the run down. I even tried calling my mom and dad but they were in a farewell for a relative in Wyoming. I wasn't trying to rub it in or anything. I just said I had run into someone at the MTC they might know. Before he left for his meetings he gave me a list of things he wanted before leaving for Peru. We finished our lunch and Carol was showing me around. We had Elders and Sisters coming up to us to see Keira. She was the hit of the day. One of the sisters thanked me for bringing a baby in, and one of the Elders got a little choked up because he had just left a little sister at home. It was so cute. The MTC was amazing, there are so many people there, and the spirit is so strong. It will be something I never forget.