God Bless Us, Everyone!

We've been a bunch of partying fools since last I posted. I hope you ate before you started reading, because this could take a while.

Tuesday, December 23rd we partied at my Uncle Mark and Aunt Julie's house. I remember going to their house for a Christmas party every year when I was a kid. They were incredibly kind to let us all into their home. Mom helped the grandkids decorate cookies.

P.S. Aunt Julie's hand-dipped chocolates are the best thing to happen to Christmas since silver bells.

Wednesday we partied with the Peterson's. Jeff's Mom's family always makes pizza on Christmas Eve. It was quite the setup. I believe we made a total of ten pizzas. We also went caroling and after dinner we played a joyous round of "Steal Presents From Other People and Make Sure Everyone Goes Home Disappointed" (or something like that). Halfway through the game, Harrison started sobbing and cried, "This is the worst game in my life!" Jeff's cousins took pity on Harrison and the boy went home happy.




Christmas morning the kids woke up to find that Santa had brought them exactly what they asked for: A baby doll for Chloe and a bathrobe and backpack for Harrison.


After breakfast, we had a family conference call with Jeff's family, including his missionary brother Brian. It was like we were all sitting around the table chatting. Good times.
Immediately after we hung up with Brian, we drove up to Idaho in a snowstorm. It was scary, but we made it safely there and didn't have to resort to cannibalism. Go team!

Friday everyone went sledding near my parent's house. Except Chloe. She cried.

Later in the day, we all went to the ISU Institute Building and played games with my Grandpa Curtis and some of my cousins. Dad showed no mercy (even on the elderly).

Saturday (the piece de resistance) we had breakfast at the Golden Corral before heading back to Utah. Harrison finished his food early, and in order to keep him busy I handed him the camera and told him to take a picture of every single person in our group. The results were delightful.

Fishies, Haircuts, Deck them Halls, and all that.

Just a little update before Christmas craziness begins. Jeff helped a friend move last weekend and was given the friend's fish as a reward. The kids were thrilled about their early Christmas present. We asked Harrison what we should name the fish and he said, "Gulpy. . . . No, Carlos!" So now we have a fish named Carlos.


Chloe got her first real haircut. We went to a cute place where they let the kids watch a movie and sit in a car while they get their haircut. She looks a bit older now.


We didn't do Christmas cards this year because it just wasn't in the budget. Thank you to those of you who sent us cards. We loved getting them! I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!

Next week I'll have an ultrasound to find out what flavor my baby is. Take the poll and let me know if you think it will be a little Paul Newman Maxwell or a Jeanne Kelly Maxwell. :D

Off the Chain

My absolute favorite Christmas tradition is our countdown to Christmas chain. Every December I plan out activities for the kids to do and write each one down on a link in a countdown chain. Sometimes it's as simple as watching a Christmas movie and other times we get to go out and do something fun. Yesterday our activity was going sledding. It turned out to be the worst thing ever to happen to Chloe and the best thing ever to happen to Harrison. Every time he got to the bottom of the hill, he'd yell, "THIS IS AWESOME!"

Memories Light the Corners of My Mind

When I found out we were moving to Utah I was so excited about reliving some of my childhood memories and sharing them with my family. As it turns out, most of my nostalgic feelings are centered around food. (Such as: fry sauce, Pace's popsicles, See's candies, sasparilla, scones, penny candy from the Apple Store, homemade root beer, etc.)

I was pleased to discover I had a memory to share with my family that didn't involve food--the Christmas lights at Temple Square. Every December, Temple Square is filled with bazillions of beautiful lights and people come from all over just to walk around and look at them. Tuesday night we froze our kiesters off while we walked around the square. Ah! Memories . . .

Ode to Joy and Kidney Stones

Thursday night Harrison had his first piano recital. Though he was unpleasantly surprised to find out that he had to wear church clothes to the event, I was able to talk him down from that ledge and convince him to go anyway. Look how proud he is!

Thanks to Aunt Nicole for teaching him so well!

Nicole even let me sing a Christmas song for the crowd. Halfway through my number, Chloe came up to tell me what a great job I was doing. Thanks, kid.
Later that night, I spent a few hours in the ER passing a kidney stone. So . . . you know . . . big night.

"Lene"-ing One Way or Another

Yesterday I harrassed an old lady at church about a musical number I'm in charge of next week. Her name is Merlene and I was reminding her that we had a conversation about the music a month ago. She denied it. I kept insisting I had talked to her. She asked if I had talked to "Marlene." I hadn't. She asked if I meant "Mardene," but I so didn't. Nor did I mean her neighbor, Arlene. It turns out I had the wrong old lady and I had actually spoken to Sherleen. Shirleen directed me to Julene, who had some expertise with the violin. Julene said that if she couldn't do it, I should ask Darlene. (No, not that Darlene, the other one.)

And, congratulations to my friend Kristi who just had a baby girl named Kylene!