Got Traditions?

Today we put up our Christmas stuff. Ethan and Lizzie have been so excited and it was the first thing out of their mouths once they woke up today- "Is it time to put up the Christmas stuff?". As we were putting decorations up they kept saying "Look at all this Christmas joy!" Which got me thinking of Christmas traditions. Here is a sampling of ours..... Would anyone like to share theirs?

• Putting up our Christmas stuff the Saturday after Thanksgiving


• Taking down our Christmas stuff as soon as Christmas is over. Well actually that is mine while Jim's is to leave it up as long as possible. I think he liked the fact that last year I was on bedrest after Christmas and couldn't touch anything. Jim's mom fulfilled my request when it was like January 7th or something.


• Jim and I losing our patience trying to get a family photo to send in the Christmas cards :)


• Jim and I give each of the kids a Caldecott book for Christmas. Our intention is once they are older and have a family of their own they will have a nice library of books.


• My dad always reading Twas the Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve. He has done this for as long as I can remember and now does it for our kids.

New for this year-

• Pajamas for the kids to open on Christmas Eve. I think we are the last to get on this bandwagon.


• Requesting for Santa to only bring 3 main presents for each of the kids. Hopefully it will help to symbolize the three presents Jesus received and makes things much simpler with four kids. Of course Santa still fills the stockings.

I am sure we have more but that is all I can think of for now. The pictures are of Afton (do you like that old man hair style she has :) by the tree and our attempt at getting a cute picture of our four kids. I think this one is hilarious. The final cut will be in mailboxes soon.

Ethical

How ethical is it to sell tickets someone gave you just for being nice :) About a month ago a friend from Jim's work said she would get us some U/ BYU game tickets. We didn't think much of it but were just excited for a date night. When we got the tickets they were great seats. Within the last month interest in this game has skyrocketed.
So today is the big game. This afternoon Jim and I will be heading up for the UofU/BYU game.

Our seats are the FIRST row at the 50 yard line. If Deron Williams didn't have a game tonight and decided to use his season tickets he would be sitting BEHIND US. Last I checked on KSL.com tickets in this general area (a few rows up) were sellling for between $1,000 and 2,000 A PIECE. Yest that is enough to fly our whole family to Disneyland, everything paid with money left over.

But alas Jim and I will be enjoying a very spectactular evening together. Don't get me wrong if these were our tickets I would totally be selling them :) But for now I am way excited to be in on the excitement and go up to the game. Thank you Lizzie for the tickets and the date night.

Oh and by the way - GO UTES!

Jim day

Today is Jim's Birthday. Although I think he is not too excited about his age- I will not reveal the true age but just say it is somewhere between 36 and 38 :) And although I know he very rarely checks our blog- I will still devote an entry just to him. Here are 37 ways why I think he is amazing.

1. He volunteers in Ethan's classroom. Not too many dads do that.

2. Went on a field trip with 25 first graders to Silver Lake

3. Takes Lizzie fishing just him and her.

4. Takes Ethan golfing with him and Uncle Tom

5. Was so patient and understanding during 15 weeks of bedrest

6. Brings me flowers after every priesthood session

7. Is one of the most unselfish people I know

8. Gives me backs tickles when I hardly give any in return

9. Gets so excited over shows like How It's Made and Dirtiest Jobs

10. Has such a strong love and testimony of the gospel

11. Loves nature!

12. Can fix just about anything

13. Invents new ways to fix just about anything :)

14. Is an amazing father to his 4 kids

15. Makes really good homemade Macaroni and Cheese

16. Makes cookies for his family almost every Sunday

17. Was so supportive of me when I was training for a half marathon

18. It brave enough to take 4 kids to the DI and a myriad of other places that I would not take all four.

19. Always makes time for me when I need to go have a girls night out with friends

20. Forgives me of all of my shortcomings

21. Still laughs at the word fart.

22. Has taught the kids to giggle at the word fart :)

23. He has a doctorate.

24. Doesn't complain too much about our usually messy house

25. Gets excited about something (composter, snow blower) and that is all he talks about and researches until he gets it.

26. Is not afraid to try new opportunities (is starting his own business)

27. Is so patient.

28. Is the medicine man for the kids when they are sick

29. Absolutely loves to take care of his garden

30. Respects his family

31. Asked me to marry him

32. Encouraged me to finish my schooling and would even have dinner ready for me to eat in the car while he drove me to ASU for my bachelors.

33. Babysat our new baby Ethan every Monday and Wednesday night when I was getting my Masters.

34. Knows medical terms when things come

up with our kids.

35. Goes to work every day to help support our family

36. Actually misses us when he is at work.

37. Actually takes pictures of himself with a big rooster on a merry go round :)