Christmas 2008 part ii . . . .

Caution . . .

only proceed reading this post if you want to read about our most amazing December happenings mingled with a bunch of photos. Ok, really this super long post is for posterity reasons and it really will be very long and somewhat like every other blog post you've read about Christmas and December 'cept with our lovely faces in the pictures. Ready?

Our Christmas traditions always start off with the making of a gingerbread house. No, I do not home make it....it takes all I have to just get the kit together with a smile on my face.

and if you are wondering where the picture is of the finished product, well, um . . . I forgot to take one.

Later in the month, an absolutely amazing program was put on by Nicole's 3rd grade class. Christmas Around the World was the theme and they practiced for weeks. It was perfect in every way. The pictures however . . . could someone please teach me how to take a decent picture under those fluorescent lights?! Seriously. ugh.


Next were family Christmas parties and celebrations which included lots of singing, new push bells, Nicole wanting to be a lamb for the Nativity, good food, a new couch for my mom and dad, etc. etc.



Christmas morning was splendid and as you can see, I got the before shots... just not the after. We got a ton of video footage though, so all hope is not lost and if you really want to see us all sleepy eyed and smiley we'll invite you over for some good ol' family home videos. I'll even pop some popcorn.

On Nicole's, Kaydee's, and Natalie's list were things like a Nintendo D.S., Ipods, cupcake maker, Tumbles (the dog), a real dog, a train etc. which I talked Santa out of giving to them. The children had a great Christmas though and didn't even miss the above list, mostly. From Santa they each received a scooter and a movie plus Nicole a didj, Kaydee-ponyville, and Nanners-pollypockets. Splendid.

Christmas break was spent with family and friends-- and Greg working ridiculous hours (18-20 hour days...even on Christmas eve) and getting so little sleep that he is still catching up from it all.

Highlights from the break that I didn't take a picture of:

• Game night with our great friends, the Norton's on Christmas Day night. I seriously think we should make it a new tradition.
  
• watching old classic movies while wrapping presents
• Wii night with the Clegg's... six hours of screaming, dancing, and rocking out. Fabulous.
• Gaining a bagillion pounds from all of the delicious food I devoured.
• Snow fort making and hot cocoa.
• Last minute Brunch with good friends.
• Learning the game "oh Heck!"--my new love
• Relaxing.

New Year's Eve was spent at my Sista's. Family, food, games, wii... doesn't get much better than that. and What's New Year's without truely getting into the true spirit of it?... Nothing I tell ya, so we celebrated which in our case apparently means dressing up in our best attire and make a TON of noise. Love it.

So that pretty much wraps up our December.

Whew...

That was a long post....

Thanks for being a trooper and reading every last word that I had to say about our totally terrific December happenings. Even if you didn't.

Christmas 2008 part 1. . .

Kids and Christmas just go together, especially in my house. I guess I shouldn't say especially... I'm sure anyone with kids could claim that their home holds the title of loving Christmas the most.

But secretly, just between you and I.... the Debra Lea household is the one that REALLY loves Christmas time the mostest. ;)

Here are a few glimpses of my favorite sights around our home this Christmas time complete with an advent calendar from Greg's childhood. (His mom even made all of the little ornaments that go with it, I know, she's amazing.)

But my ABSOLUTE favorite thing about this Christmas season. was this:

This little nativity was set up on our entry table and many a time I would walk by it to find the members of the set in a different arrangement. Who, might you ask, would be so precious as to line up the nativity attendees to meet the Christ child? Or encircle them around Him, as in awe? Why my dear Kaydee of course. This sight pulled at my heartstrings I tell ya. Oh I love how her mind works.

And I love how children can remind me about the most important part of Christmas. See, kids and Christmas just go together.

The red coats are coming . . .

The red coats are coming, or at least they were. My girls all have the cutest red puffer coats, yes all three of them. And all though I already have a red peacoat, I really wanted a red puffer coat. That's right. I'm one of those matchy matchy types.

So can you imagine the excitement that I had when I found this little number on GAP's website >>>>>
and for only $49.99! (which is half off)
Believe me, there was a bunch of whooyahs and jumping ups and downs. I put it in my cart, got distracted with the "free shipping if you add something from Piperlime to your order" and by the time I got back to checking out to the adored object>>>>>>

OUT OF STOCK!

and since I am neither a XS or an XXL, I am extra out of luck. UGH.

Stinks doesn't it?

So if you are reading this and you were one of the lucky ones to get my dream coat in my favorite color, I would be more than happy to take it off your hands. I need it in a Medium.

Welcome to the World of Webkinz . . . .

I don't know what hold Costco has on me, but its an extreme one. If they carry something, I figure it must be something that I need and so I get it. Well this time it was all about the Webkinz. Costco had the webkinz packaged by the twos and were selling them at a heck of a good deal. So what do I do? I lead my kids down the aisle and let them show me which ones they can't live without. Bad idea.

Remember the part about Costco packaging the webkinz in bundles of two? They're brilliant. Out of the, oh I don't know--hundreds of packages that we looked through, not one of the packages contained a webkinz duo that was wanted by more than one of my daughters. The result of course was me buying three bundles. Bright side? Birthday presents bought and paid for.

Without further ado, please welcome the newest members of our family:

I must admit that I am lovin' the webkinz thing for many reasons. My kids are no longer begging for a dog is among the top of the list. And I can use precious Webkinz play time as ultimate bribing power to get chores done, I seriously got my girls to clean up all of the toys in the basement for 20 minutes each of playtime. To learn more, click here

Now for the confession....
I think I am addicted to Webkinz. There has got to be a help group for moms like me who innocently start helping their kids out on Webkinz web sight and then find themselves playing the games, or decorating their kid's pet's room and find themselves, hours later, still playing. Both Nicole and Kaydee have caught me TWICE playing on their webkinz without asking. Embarrassing, I know.

oh and hun, my birthday is coming up in just a few short months . . . . that Panda sure is cute . . .

More teeth . . .

We are losing teeth left and right in the Debra Lea household. It must be something in the water.

Nicole just lost one of her not so smallish teeth which means she is closer to growing up than I previously suspected AND she did not want the tooth fairy to wait until the 24th of Dec. (a.k.a. Christmas Eve) to bring her the long awaited crisp dollar bill that she worked so hard on earning.

Oh the differences of kids. One wants to lose her tooth the minute it becomes loose, the other wants it to take a month. One wants the tooth fairy to come right away, the other wants her to take her time. One is begging me to take her to the store right now . . . .

Gloria's Little Italy revisited . . .

Remember this post? It was just me raving about my favorite little Italian restaurant in Provo that serves the post amazing food known to man.

Well, drum roll please....

Its opening its new doors at it's NEW location on MONDAY December 15th.


What is the new location you ask? I'm happy to oblige:
its right on the
corner of Center and University Avenue in Provo.
North East side.

anyone need a night out?

update . . .

This just in . . .

The Tooth Fairy did indeed come last night, but she didn't take the tooth. She left a shiny quarter which we think means that our plan worked.

She'll be back for Christmas Eve!!