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.

POLAR EXPRESS

Sam and I took Grandma Nancy, Grandpa Robert, and Liz along with us to ride the Polar Express this year. Dave sacrificed and stayed home with Luke. We went on the earlier train this year, and we loved watching the sun set over the mountains as we headed out to the North Pole. It was a beautiful clear night and the moon was spectacular reflected in Deer Creek. Sam remembered things from last year, so the anticipation definately added to the fun and excitement. He told Santa he wanted a train, so hopefully he is nice enough to make his Christmas wish come true (I am just thankful he didn't ask Santa for a gun like he has mentioned before. "You know, a gun to shoot animals with" I really don't know where he got that idea). Anyway we had a great time.

After the train ride, we decided to get some dinner in Heber. Grandpa wanted to go to a certain restaurant that his friend Patty told him they liked. We were driving very slowly down Main Street looking for it, when Grandpa said, " I should have asked Patty for the address." Sam pipes up from the backseat, "But Grandpa, Patty is a dog." Thanks Sam for reminding Grandpa that even he can't really talk to dogs.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

These are our new official Esplin Family Christmas stockings - thanks to Margie Dear's knitting skills. Mine is red (of course), Dave's is green, and Luke and Sam are an even mix. Just don't ask Sam, because of course he has claimed the green one, because green is his very FAVORITE. We'll see. I always love our fireplace, but I love it even more when it is decked in holiday decor. I love Christmas decoreations and the spirit they bring to our home.

It was actually a very nice, warm day when we went to pick out our tree this year. We were walking around trying to decide which tree was our favorite, and we had a helper telling us the prices on the various trees ($48, $58, $69, etc.). She asked Sam if he like a particular tree. He said, "No. Do you have and that are 3, because I am 3, and 3 is my favorite." We all would have been happy if we could have found a 3 tree.

Sam was a very good helper decorating the tree. When we finally got it all done I turned on the lights and he said, "It's a miracle!" I couldn't agree more.

We took advantage of the nice weather to get all our Christmas lights put up on the house. Of course Sam is on the ladder with Dave trying to help as much as possible. Luke and I just got to sit back and relax as we watched the real men do all the work. Sam picked out some new "twinkle-twinkle little star" snowflakes for our front porch. Once we finally got them untangled, they looked beautiful. I need to get a new picture of the lights on at night. I love them. I think the lights are my favorite part of Christmas. I always feel like everything is so dark in january when they all get turned off.

My boys

So, this is how Dave found Sam after he had been a little too quiet in his room one day.

I have to post this little blackmail picture of Sam in his undies. Yes, we all know they are on backwards. If anyone happens to point this out to Sam, he is quick to tell them, "but I like them that way." As always there is a very good reason. There is always a really cool picture on the back, and when the back is actually in front he can see the picture better. I'm just happy he is wearing them.

Here is Luke the monkey. He loves to hold toys with this feet which then leaves his hands free to play with them. This new ball is one of his favorites because he can actually pick it up with his toes. Dave calls Luke Curious George, which is a perfect description of his curious little personality and his exceptional foot work. I think he is sure to be a soccer player like him mama.

Sam LOVES swords. This sword is from his Halloween Peter Pan costume. He told me I needed to get the camera to take a picture of him because he looked so cool. He is also flexing his enormous muscles that he does with such flair. He puts his arms up slowly, then gives a little click of his tongue when he is fully flexed. Always such a performer.

Luke is just such a happy little guy!

Sam decided to join Luke in his basket and use the broom to row them in a boat. Nothing is cuter than my two boys in a "boat".

Sam got a little carried away washing his hands one night. He is going green and trying to conserve water by taking this mini sink tub. Doesn't look too comfy to me.

Luke loves to roll over to the wall and then push as hard as he can. He really loves to get his legs up on the wall and just kick as hard as he can. I have to check his heals for bruises, but I haven't found any yet. It looks like it would really hurt, but he just giggles and squeals and loves it.

Thanksgiving

I forgot to take my camara to our Thanksgiving parties, so unfortunately I have no pictures to share. We were extra blessed this year because we got to have 2 Thanksgiving dinners.

We started out celebrating with the Esplin family at Mel and Jesse's home. Paula cooked up a storm, and everyone brought their own contributions. I think we had enough food to feed 3 times as many people as we had. I think the hightlight of our party was having Will and Kellie and their 5 kids come down from Idaho. We are so happy to have them closer so they can visit more often. Sam had so much fun running around with Hunter, Tanner and Spencer. Luke kept Andrew and Addie company. They can't quite keep up with his rolling yet, but pretty soon they will all really be on the move I am sure. We missed having Aunt Dixie's family and Uncle Ken, but we still had quite a houseful.

We had to leave before the post-Thanksgiving craft to eat once again with the Frampton Family. We had all of the Frampton kids there plus cousin Richard and cousin Janet. I was in charge of the appetizers, and I think Grandma Frampton would have been proud. We have Roger to thank for our killer spinach artichoke dip recipe that has become a real favorite. Mary was in charge of the pies, and she made Grandma Grover proud. I think those are the best parts of Thanksgiving, the turkey dinner is just the filler in between. Before we ate, Grandpa Robert read this declaration from Abraham Lincoln officially making Thanksgiving a holiday. I had just heard this statement earlier this year for the first time. I was really touched to think that President Lincoln stopped to be thankful at a time when he was surrounded by war and devastation. I think we have so much more to be thankful for today, and yet I know we all take so much for granted. I want to post this quote here to help me remember that no matter how tough things may seem, there is always much to be thankful for.



"The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God . . . Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, (sic) have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. . . the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility (sic) and Union.”
-Abraham Lincoln.

I don't know where he comes up with it all

It seems like Sam has had a lot of funny things to say lately. Here are just a few of the funniest.

Last week Grandpa Robert had some dental work done. I asked him if the dentist gave him any laughing gas. Grandpa said no. Then Sam turned around and said, "I have a talking bottom." Sam may not have laughing gas to offer, but he was sure to show us all his "talking bottom".