Christmas time

Christmas morning exploring our Christmas Stocking treasures
Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve at Grandpa Robert and Grandma Nancy's. It just wouldn't be Christmas without Grandpa reading 'Twas the Night before Christmas and the Christmas story from the bible.

Luke and Cousin Avery are a very cute pair.

Just because Moms only get to play dress up with their boys for a little while. I have to say, Luke makes one handsome Santa.

Christmas Eve at Grandpa Reed and Grandma Paula's home

Sick, Sick, Sick

Our whole family got the stomach flu the week before Christmas. Sam started us off, then Luke, me, and Dave finished it off. We were all supposed to go down to St. George for the weekend, and then Dave and I were going to go see BYU play in the Las Vegas Bowl with my family. I was way too sick on Friday when we were supposed to drive down. So Dave drove down with Margie and Brady on Saturday morning and I stayed home with the boys. We were dissappointed to miss the party, but it is always best to snuggle in at home when you are sick. Liz came over to watch Mama Mia with us Saturday night. Sam loved the music, but he was just too tired to make it through the whole thing. He never looks very comfortable when he sleeps, but that's the way he likes it.

Dave had fun at the Las Vegas bowl, even though BYU lost. He was lucky to feel good during the trip until about the last half hour of the drive home Sunday when his stomach started complaining. He ended up spending the rest of the day Sunday home sick too. We had to miss Aunt Valene's Christmas party and Santa Clause too. It was a pretty miserable weekend, but at least we got over it all before Christmas.

Luke never really threw up, but he looked terrible. He was very pale and looked exhausted. He didn't want to eat anything of course, but he loved chewing on orange peels. I think they felt good on his gums that were so sore from teething. Luke is always so happy and smiley, it was really sad to see him look so pathetic. He also did a lot of cussing and swearing about how he felt. I think he really surprised Lizzy by what a vocabulary of cuss words he has. I think it is probably a good thing we can't really understand what he says yet.

Always tell the truth

I have been a little bit worried to put gifts under the tree this year, for fear Sam will get a little too excited and start opening early. I have everything wrapped, but I have kept it down in the basement. I had a few presents to wrap for some neighbors, so Sam and I went downstairs to get the wrapping paper. Here is our conversation:

Sam: Are all those presents for me?
Kate: No, most of them are for all of our other family members, but some of them are for you. We can take them all up and put them under the tree if you can promise not to open them. You have to leave them under the tree, and not haul them away in your dump truck, hide them, or open them. Do you think you can promise not to mess with the presents if we take them upstairs?
Sam: (pause). I'm going to have to say no.
Kate: Ok, then we can't take any of the presents upstairs.
Sam: OK

I'm glad Sam is honest and knows his own limits on temptation.