After Boden's birthday, it was "Bring on Christmas!!" at the Grundy house. Having four kids under the age of 9 makes for a very busy and exciting holiday season. There was gingerbread houses, Christmas parties, stories every night. Christmas movies all day long, and let's not forget the long list of countdown methods we use in anticipation for the big day.
We had our Grundy Christmas get together at our house this year, and we decided to make it a pajama party. We had a great time! This is definitely a new tradition.
Christmas Eve was spent at Grandma and Grandpa's house, as usual. Fondue and stories, and very anxious kids!
Christmas morning was kind of a blur. With this many kids, I am not sure who to take pictures of and who is talking to me and where to go really. This year, we tried to slow down the present opening just so we could absorb the whole thing, but in the end, it was just a big bundle of excitement.
Really, at the end of the morning, it was pure joy on their faces, which is contagious. We had a great day, and even made it to church on time (pretty much).
We also made it over to Grandma's, where the fun just continued. We had an awesome holiday season, and we were sad to see it end. I love everything about the traditions, the family time, the charity and kindness to others, as we remember the birth of Christ and look within our own lives to what really matters.
A new year brings 2012! Wow, that seems too weird to think of. Kaitlyn and Ethan were here for the week, so we spent the night at Grandma's partying it up (well, as much as we know how).
This is our first time going skiing!!! Well, it is my first time, and Abby and Carson's first time. Chad used to go when he was a kid. One of his friends from work had some free lift tickets, so we all went and had a blast! The kids were amazing! They were naturals, and way too daring if you ask me. I had a lot of fun too. I picked it up pretty quick and I was doing great with the skiing, it's just the stopping part that is hard. I figured it out, and now the kids want to go back as soon as possible.
With the new year, we decided that since the kids are getting older, we needed to start having a family "theme" each year. Chad and I really thought about what we wanted to focus on, and we came up with "Today is Your Day". It came from a song by Shania Twain, and it says some great things about getting back up when you are down and knowing that nothing will get in your way. We had a family home evening about it, and had the kids paint wood blocks with the theme to put in each of their rooms. It has been fun to see the kids repeat it back to us when we need a "pick me up".
On to basketball season. Carson was excited to start playing basketball this year. He likes it much more, now that he is growing a little closer to the basket. He had fun playing with some of his friends, and after about mid -season, you would never see him on the court (or anywhere for that matter) without this arm bands. They were a permanent thing for him, and there was no talking him into pulling them down to his forearms. He liked them tight on his biceps where they belonged.
Abby also played basketball. This was her first year and I think she was a little nervous, but she did awesome. Her dad was her coach and half of the girls were from the neighborhood and the other half was from her Bullets team, so that made for a fun group for Abby. She did great and just got more confident each day, even scoring a basket at her last game
Bo is mobile! He started walking right about at his first birthday. Then, he was off and going. He is into everything, and has the cutest dang face ever! So, there is no way I'm getting mad at him. He seems to be a little more into things then my other boys, and I can't tell if that is because I am so much more distracted or if he is more mischievous . I guess time will tell.
Big news for Carson! he came home from school and handed me a paper that said he didn't pass the school eye exam. Which struck a cord because he had been telling me that he could see sometimes, but honestly I thought he was just messing with me and being silly because he wanted cool glasses. I guess I should have listen to him sooner, because I took him into the doctor and he definitely needed glasses. (I felt really bad!) Now he has the same prescription as his dad. It was all a little overwhelming to me, but he took it like a champ! We tried to list all of the awesome people we could think of that wear glasses (Dad was at the top of the list) and I think that helped.
Cooper is so cute. He just wants to be like his big brother, so he wore his sunglasses all week. So CUTE!! Umm... Notice the arm bands in that picture. Seriously, they never come off, even for morning cartoons.
On to Carson's birthday! I can't believe that he is 7. He has a resent obsession with the University of Utah, so we decorated his presents with Ute stuff.
Grandma stole the show, giving him a drum set, which turned him into a super cool dude instantly (along with the arm bands of course). Thanks Grandma?
We took a crazy bunch of his friends to Jump and Bounce for his birthday party. He had a great time. No glasses needed on the bounce houses.
We always have a fun time watching the super bowl, but the older the kids get, them more excited they are to watch it (or have a party for it) Abby really likes to watch it now that she spent a season watching her uncle Brady play quarterback for Bingham. We explained it all to her and now she is hooked. (She has been wearing her jersey to school at least once a week).
Two cute boys who just happened to have NY giants shirts. (and who happened to be playing in the superbowl this year)
Valentines was fun this year. We had our family dinner, and Abby, Carson, and Cooper had fun making valentines for the kids in their class, and going to class parties. Cooper kept saying "Happy I Love You Day!" and Grandma brought them over a cute gift.
