December 19, 2014
I flew into Dallas at 3:45pm and
the kids came to the airport at 9:15pm for our 11:05 flight. After playing UNO
and ward fish for a while and not boarding our plane, I checked on the status
of the plane and it was delayed for an hour and 15 minutes.
Quote of the Day – Lizi: “We’re
waiting here for hours and months!”
We finally made it home about
5:00am and crawled into our beds. On the way to their rooms, the kids saw the
Christmas Tree and presents under it and their faces lit up. After just a
couple of hours of sleep, Shelby and Lizi were up playing polly pockets with
Jenna, and Trey was in his room looking through his baseball cards. I took the
kids into St George to do some Christmas shopping at Wal-mart, have lunch at
McDonalds, and I took them to the Pickleball Store.
We left the pickleball store to
go to the pickleball courts to play an actual game. The kids loved it! It got
cold fast, so we came back home, had baths, ate mac and cheese for dinner, and
watched Home Alone before doing our bedtime routine of scriptures, prayers,
karate chop, and sumo!
Quote of the Day – as Shelby and
I were walking through the airport:
Shelby: “Are we going on an
epidomus later?”Me: “A what?”
Shelby: “You know, the thing that goes up and down?”
Me: “Oh! An escalator?”
Shelby: “Yeah!”
After lunch, we drove to
Toquerville at I15 to take some family pictures at a cement amphitheater. After
about an hour, we drove back so the kids could webchat with their mom. The kids colored during the webchat and when
they were finished, we went outside to play kickball. After a few games of
kickball, the kids wanted to ride bikes so we headed out front and rode for a
little while. Lizi decided that she wanted to learn to ride her big bike so she
could ride bikes to check the mail with us. So I practiced with her for a bit.
We then came back inside, wrapped presents, ate dinner, and watched Earnest
Saves Christmas.
After the movie, Trey was playing
with the basketball hoop in his room, Lizi was cleaning the room, and Shelby
was playing with cars. After a short time, we did our bedtime routine and went
to bed.
Quote of the Day – Trey,
excitedly while riding our bikes in our cul-de-sac: “I rode through the pile of
leaves! It was pretty fun. It went pshhhhh pshhhhhh.”
Alley and Jenna wanted to come
with us and we parked at a different trailhead than normal and also took a
different way down to the river. At first the object seemed to be to try to
boulder hop across the river without getting our feet wet. Soon, though, the
kids abandoned the “without getting feet wet” part and were full-fledged plowing up the middle of the stream, me along
with them. We had so much fun.
After a couple of hours, we
headed back and had baths to warm up and clean up. After baths we had some
lunch and then went to play some pickleball. Trey wanted to play on Jenna’s
team so Shelby and I took them on. Lizi wanted to play a little too and was
actually really good at it! We came home and played basketball and rode bikes
before deciding to play some kickball in the back yard. By this time, it was
starting to get cold outside so we came in and Shelby played princesses and
Trey played basketball in his room. We then ate some dinner and made our
gingerbread houses. After making gingerbread houses, we watched Home Alone 2 –
one of the kids most quoted movies now – and started our bed time routine.
While we were reading scriptures,
Shelby asked me if there really was a Santa Clause so after I tucked the other
kids in bed, I had the Santa conversation to Shelby. Her question was, “Are
parents really Santa Clause?” And I responded, “Well you know the most
important thing about Christmas is Jesus’ birth, right? That’s why we celebrate
it.” I asked why she thought parents were Santa and she said because it didn’t
make since that Santa could be all over the world. I asked if her friends had
told her something about Santa and she said they hadn’t. So finally I said, “Yes,
the parents are really Santa.” She seemed like she was trying to hold back a
little disappointment but also with a smidge of “I knew it” contentment on her
face.
Quote of the Day – During
kickball after I had tried to get a few people out by throwing the ball at them
and missing, Trey said: “Daddy!...I’m not saying you’re bad at this…but
everytime you throw the ball at someone, you miss.” 
When I got home, we ate dinner and then wrapped some presents. With Christmas only 2 days away, I decided that we better watch a couple of Christmas shows so we watched Small One and Mickey’s Christmas Carol before doing our bedtime routine and heading to bed.
Quote of the Day – Trey: “I’m
kind of shivering right now. Not because I’m scared or cold – I do that just
because.”
Once they got home, Trey played
with his legos, Shelby played the piano, and Lizi played polly pockets. When I
got home from work, I played foosball with Trey, Shelby, and Jenna while Lizi
kept playing with the polly pockets and doll house.
We then had dinner and watched
Luke 2 about the birth of Jesus. I explained the meaning of Christmas and what
happened that night. We then watched Disney cartoons and opened the Christmas
Pajamas. Then we all slept out in the living room, ready for Christmas in the
morning!
Christmas Morning! I slept on the
couch in the living room, Shelby on another couch, Alley brought her mattress
into the livingroom, and Trey, Lizi, and Jenna slept on the floor, right in
front of the tree. Late the previous night, I took care of Green Beard, our
tradition of hiding the stockings and leaving clues around the house that will
eventually lead them to their stockings – a treasure hunt of sorts.
I had been waking up periodically
through the night to see if any of the kids were up yet. I was surprised that
when 7:00 came and went they were all still asleep. I finally got out of bed at
about 7:30 to use the restroom and when I got back, Trey and Alley were awake
which meant soon everybody else was as well! I can’t remember who it was
exactly, but it was noticed that the stockings were gone and the Greenbeard
hunt got underway with Alley reaching up and grabbing the first clue. The clues
took them into Lindsay’s room first, then Trey, Lizi, and Judi’s room, then the
living room and finally to where their stockings were – in Trey’s bed. It was
so fun to hear Trey scream excitedly as everyone was checking their beds –
“Guys I found them! They are in my bed!” Trey handed everybody their stockings
and then we all headed out into the living room to open presents. If I had to
guess at everybody’s favorite presents, I would say Shelby’s was the Tangled
Tower, Trey’s was his lightsaber, pirates of the Caribbean sword, or star wars
legos, and Lizi’s was her Disneyland castle.
After opening presents, we had
breakfast and then went back to the living room to play with our toys. About
this time, it started to lightly snow outside so we ran outside to watch the
snow. We came back in before we froze and played with the news toys some more
before it was lunch time. After lunch, Trey, Shelby, and Jenna put together a
marble track made with a water noodle that we sliced down the middle. They had
a loop and jumps and it was fun watching them try to make repairs to the track
if the marble didn’t make it all the way. Lizi was playing with her princesses
during the marble madness. Shelby then went to play princesses with Lizi and
Trey and I tried out his rocket launcher outside.
The kids then had a webchat with
their mom and then we had dinner. After dinner, Trey and I put together some
legos while Shelby and Lizi played princesses. Actually, Shelby and Lizi helped
organize the legos in their “store” so they were easier for Trey and I to find.
After playing, we made sugar cookies and watched Home Alone 3 before starting
our bedtime routine. 
We woke up a little earlier than
everyone would have liked because Lizi and I were getting sealed in the temple
to Liz’s kids. We ate breakfast, got dressed in our church clothes, and headed to the temple. When we got there the
kids went into a little play area and had fun coloring and playing with other
toys while Liz and I got ready. After the ordinance, we took pictures at the
temple and headed home.
Once home, Shelby watched alley
on the computer and then we all went outside to play kickball. After a few
games, Jenna, Shelby, Trey, Lizi and I went to the pickleball courts to play
pickleball. First Trey and Jenna took on Shelby and Lizi so I could take some
pictures of them. I then came in for Lizi and she played with some of the toys
she brought while Shelby and I played Jenna and Trey. After a while Shelby and
Trey switched and we tried new teams. We played quite a few games and the kids
were all sad when I decided that it was getting too cold to stay any longer.
The kids all loved pickleball!
Once we got home, the kids wanted
to ride bikes. Jenna came out and rode her new electric scooter with them. Lizi
decided that she wanted to practice more on her bike so she could ride to check
the mail with us. She had one spill in the cul-de-sac which brought tears and a
swift kick to her bike. I felt bad for her fall, but the little kick she gave
her bike was priceless! She got back up and kept going, even going over her
favorite “bump” which was a sewage cover in the street.
We came back in and got some hot
chocolate to warm up and then all the kids suddenly decided to pounce Jenna who
was just relaxing on the couch. It was fun to see them all laughing and playing
together. We put on Home Alone 4 and after the movie, did our bedtime routine
and went to bed.
Quote of the Day – Conversation between Lizi and I:
Lizi: “I’ve got to throw this
candy cane in the trash.”Me: “Why?”
Lizi: “Because it broke.”
We woke up early, ate breakfast
and got ready for church. After church,
Trey, Lizi, and I went outside to practice kickball. Shelby stayed inside to
watch Alley play the sims on the computer. We came in to have lunch and then
Trey and Lizi went right back outside to play kickball and with other outside
toys. Shelby and Jenna gave Chewy a much needed bath. After she was done giving
Chewy a bath, Shelby came outside and she and Lizi played in the sandbox while
Trey took the kickball outside and started practicing by himself until I came
out to practice with him. Trey and I came in to watch a little football and the
girls stayed outside in the sandbox. Trey wanted to play some kickball so he
lobbied Alley and Jenna to play and once he got them, we all went outside and
played a few games.
After kickball, we came back
inside and Trey and I watched some more football while Shelby and Lizi made a
candy store out of Tinkerbell’s Kitchen. They then had a 24 minute webchat with
their mom before taking baths. After baths, Shelby, Trey, and Lizi all played
with the candy store, selling candy they picked off of their ginger bread
houses to each other, me, and Liz. We then ate some dinner and cleaned up all
the toys so we could do summer-saults. The kids couldn’t believe that I could
do one. We then rounded up Alley, Jenna, and Liz and played War. Lizi
disappeared to her room while we were playing and when we went to check on her,
she was asleep in her bed. I guess I’m wearing the kids out! After War, we
decided that we better all go to sleep, so we did our bedtime routine and went
to bed.
Quote of the Day – While playing
with the candy store, someone bumped into it while they were giving me a hug:
Me: “There was an earthquake at
the candy store!”Shelby: “Yeah, more like a hug-quake!”
I had to work even though I was
starting to feel the effects of the flu. While I was gone the kids woke up and
started watching Robinhood. Work sent me home early so I came home and ate
breakfast with the kids. I then played a little foosball with Trey and Shelby and
Lizi did puzzles. Once Trey and I were done with our game, Trey started helping
with the puzzles. By this time I was really feeling worn out and Lizi was
coming down with the flu, so Lizi and I cuddled on the couch and took a nap
while Shelby and Trey played in the living room. The kids then ate lunch. After
lunch, we watched Fantasia 2000 and did Star Wars legos. Shelby and I then went
to play foosball while Trey continued playing with legos and Lizi layed back
down on the couch to rest. Trey, Jenna, and Lizi got the checkers out and
played a few games while I hopped back up to the “sick couch.” Lizi came to
join me on the sick couch and we all watched Return of Jafar. After the movie,
we had dinner and did our bedtime routine. Shelby slept in Lindsay’s room with
Alley, Jenna, Liz, and Judi. They were crowded on the bed!
Quote of the Day – Lizi, while we
were laying on the sick couch: “Daddy, are you going to die?”
Lizi and I slept in my room since
we were both really sick – we didn’t want to get everyone else sick.
I drove into work and again was
sent home shortly after arriving because I was getting even more sick than I
was the day before. I got home and laid on the sick couch with Lizi while Alley,
Jenna, Shelby, and Trey played Scene it. After Scene it, Lizi and I took a nap
while Shelby and Trey played Fireboy/watergirl on the computer. We then watched
Fox and the Hound and had dinner. After dinner, we started our New Year’s Eve
tradition of having a Star Wars marathon. So we put in Episode 4 first and
watch 5 and 6 also. I actually didn’t quite make it through Episode 6 because I
wasn’t feeling too hot. So Liz turned off the TV and got the kids to bed.
Quote of the Day – After getting
some egg nog for the kids:
Lizi: “Why is it called egg nog?”Trey: “Cuz it’s made out of eggs and you knock on it. Egg knock. Get it?”
Lizi slept with me again and when
we woke up we played “go fish.” Trey was up in his room and playing with his
Star Wars legos. By the time Lizi and I were done, Jenna and Shelby were up and
came to play with us. Trey played as well. Cedar City got a lot of snow over
the week so all the kids wanted to go sledding. Lizi and I didn’t feel well
enough to go so we stayed home and took naps while the others went. While they
were gone, I got a phone call from someone saying they wanted to buy a
pickleball net and since the store was closed and Liz was up in Cedar City,
Lizi and I loaded up and went to the store to help him. It was a chore to just
drive to St George, we felt so bad! Shelby, Trey, Alley, Jenna, Liz, and Judi
had a great time sledding! I wish so much I could have gone with them to see
the smiles and excitement! When they got home, Trey played with his legos some
more, Shelby played with her princesses, and Lizi and I rested. Shelby then got
on the computer for a little while and then we all watched Cool Runnings. In
the middle of the movie, dinner was ready so we paused it, ate dinner, and then
finished it. After the movie we did our bedtime routine and went to bed.
Quote of the Day – Trey, during
our family night prayer: “Bless our plane that it will be late and that we’ll
have to wait till Tuesday.” (Note: Their flight did end up getting cancelled but they were able to fly out on Sunday)
I had to work but while I was at
work the kids woke up and had breakfast. After they ate, Trey played with his
Star Wars legos and Shelby and Lizi played with big lego blocks. They then all
loaded up to come to St George to see me and go to Jumping Jacks. They first
stopped by my work and ran in and gave me hugs. Then they putted on the putting
green for a little while. I also showed them how I receive merchandise by
opening the boxes, taking the golf stuff out of them and throwing the boxes
into a container outside. I had them throw a few boxes into the container too,
which I could tell they enjoyed. After coming to see me, they went to Jumping
Jacks and had a lot of fun. Alley and Jenna went too and they all said that
Trey was super excited to be there and running like crazy from place to place!
They then came back to see me at work before heading to Wal-Mart where Trey
bought a skateboard with his own money, and home. Once home, they took baths
and had a webchat with their mom, followed by dinner. Trey and Shelby then
played with the skateboard, which is what they were doing in the hallway when I
came home from work. Lizi was helping Liz pack. I got some food and then sat
down and watched Lady and the Tramp 2 with the kids since I was still worn out
from being sick. After the movie, we played Scene It, read scriptures and said
prayers. Normally I would them tuck them into bed but instead I decided to read
them “The Giving Tree,” a story I remember my mom reading to me when I was
really young. I implored them to be like the giving tree when they were in
Texas, thinking about other people’s needs. I then tucked them in and they went
to bed.
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