Christmas 08

So this could be a long post because I have been so bad at posting this month. Life's been too crazy.

I guess I will start with Christmas Eve...Conwey's family has a tradition every Christmas Eve they have a big Mexican dinner...enchilada's are the favorite and Conwey's dad dresses up as Santa, he has all the kids come sit on his lap give a kiss, and get a present. It's such a cute tradition. My kids love it. We had it at our house this year...it's always pure chaos but lots of fun. Rach and Jimmy came too. We found out Conwey's sister Summer is going to have a baby and she is so sick she couldn't even make it. We missed you Summer! I always miss my family too. When I was growing up we would all sleep in the same room together on Christmas Eve in sleeping bags...it was so fun. 

First let me say that I got a phone call the night before, that one of my close friends father had been out shoveling snow the night before and fallen. Had to go to the hospital for stitches, when he got there they gave him a cat scan to check everything out and realized he had a tumor pushing on his eye (which may have been the reason for the fall) they then rushed him in for emergency surgery and he passed away. He went in for stitches and didn't come home.
My heart aces for my girlfriend. Her father was such a HUGE part of her life. They lived right down the street from him, he was always around and helping with the kids, she talked to him every day. She was actually watching Jackson when we found out about my mom passing away.
I just cried and cried because I know the pain she is going through right now.
Especially a few days before Christmas! Now every Christmas that is what they will all think about.
I couldn't help but think of Conwey's sweet dad. He is such a rock in their family. I just felt so blessed to still have him. Actually to have everyone in their family. The whole day I couldn't stop thinking about it so right before we ate dinner I had to tell everyone what I had been feeling. (you don't understand....I NEVER talk like that in front of such a large group) but I just felt so strongly that I needed to share what I was feeling.
There was a special feeling in the air that night. We got a knock on the door and the missionaries (about 20 of them were outside caroling....Conwey's mom was in tears...)
Then this year instead of exchanging gifts with each other we decided to donate to a charity...so each of the kids stood and read about what that donation would mean to the people we gave it to. Surprisingly I think they actually got it.

Then on with the Santa....



No one is too old to give Santa kisses....

Or too young.....

This is Santa's first Great Grand-baby!

The glisten in the kids eyes when they see Santa is always so sweet to me....this is Conwey's cousin Skye and her two sweet girls.

There were lots of cousins running around....Nicolas and Sienna

Noah and Sienna....

Conwey and Sienna

So on to Christmas morning.....

I always make a monkey bread (thanks Steph Wallin for the yummy recipe ) I make it every year....


Sienna came first...running in.....

Then Jackson...and Coop

And finally Hunter...

We had a nice Christmas morning...we didn't go overboard on the gifts and everyone was super happy with everything they got.


Sienna got a lot of pink and a lot of Polly Pockets (her favorite)

She even loved her pink soccer ball from her dad......

The boys got a ping pong table that goes over the pool table from Santa and have been playing it ever since....


So then we had our white elephant gift exchange with Conwey's family...it was fun although I thought a few fights were gonna break out over the rules of the trading game...who knew there would be such good white elephant gifts!!!

Can you say TIRED!!!!

Can you say CUTE!!!! (both Paige and baby Valentine)

Can you say Cousins.....typical cousins....

Handsome....


Proud new parents...Madie and Drew

Sisters Madie and Kirby

Then we were off to the Movies...we haven't ever gone to a movie before on Christmas day. It was a lot of fun (except for the rude lady sitting in front of us that I almost got into a fist fight with because she was so rude to my mother-in-law)
On the way in Sienna and Noah were holding hands...it was cute.


And pretty much held hands the whole rest of the way....

So on the way home we asked the kids what they thought about it this year...donating to a charity and doing white elephant, going to the movie, etc...they all said you know we liked it a lot. We are glad to give to the charity, and it was fun going to the movie, and we really didn't miss getting the presents we usually do from grandma and everyone....
Phew! We accomplished what we wanted to and I think ALL the mom's that do all the shopping agree (and the dad's who pay for it) I think we may be on to something!

And we actually did it! This year we made it out to see the Temple lights! It was really really crowded but we walked around and it was a great night to talk with the kids about the true meaning of Christmas.

Chevy Chase.....

Can you say Christmas Vacation House....



These pictures don't do this house justice. It is crazy. It's down the street and they have some serious Christmas spirit!
More to come on our Christmas soon........

Overwhelmed!

Okay I have been so bad at posting lately! I feel like I am drowning! There are not enough hours in the day to get it all done. How does everyone do it? 

Conwey had knee surgery the day after Thanksgiving and it has thrown us completely off. 

We still haven't even had time to get our Christmas Tree!!!! Christmas is next week!!!

We (as in all of Conwey's family) decided that this year we were going to try something new and instead of exchanging gifts with each other we were going to donate to a charity. Then for the hours and hours we usually spend opening gifts we would go do something super fun, all together as a family on Christmas day. I personally find Christmas day to be a bit boring so I thought it would be fun to do a movie, or go ice skating...something like that. 

Well let me just tell you how nice it has been to not have that hanging over my head. The Casillas Family really go all out on gifts for each other. They are super thoughtful and usually there are about 3 gifts rolled into one.

I don't think I am alone in saying how nice it's been to not have to stress, shop, wrap all those gifts!

So with that said you would think that I would be in good shape for Christmas....ummm no not even close....still don't even know what I am getting for my kids! Ahhhhh.......

Also my camera's (all three) are not working right now so I haven't been able to take any pictures for any blog posts. It is on my list of things to do to take them in and get looked at.

I hope everyone is having a lovely December and taking time to enjoy the small things and the excitement on all the kids faces....because that is really what it is all about.  

Ahhhh Christmas Cards!

Oh my gosh I do this to myself every year it seems. 

I keep putting off doing a family picture. We always try at the beach and we can NEVER get a good one. It's impossible! My sister keeps telling me she will come up and take a picture for us...there is NEVER a good time to do a picture is there....

Now it's already December 6th and I am going through my iphoto looking for anything I can possibly use of the kids.

Why do I do this? I started getting cards at the end of November from people. How do they do it?

So when you all get your cards this year please remember that I am a total slacker and I am using what ever I can find.

Next year...Next year... I will have a good picture! :)

Argggggg!!!!!

It's been a long haul!

Well we are done with Football....we have been doing football since August 1st! That is a long time!

Especially with practices every day in the summer and then going to 4 times a week in the school year....x that by 3 and that is a lot of back and forth to football!

The boys loved it though and both Coop and Jackson got to the Championship games. Sadly they did not win, but runner up is pretty good too....it was absolutely frigid outside for their games that we had back to back. Sienna and I ended up pulling the car up and watching from the car because we couldn't take it. Even Conwey was cold so it must have been cold because he is NEVER cold.

We worked on some signs for them one night....(yes I am still in my workout clothes in the picture...from the morning...life it too crazy to even get a shower some days...)

It was fun having it at the High School, with the announcer and they let the boys use the locker rooms....



Do you notice a theme with Jackson's hands...I don't get it......

I know they do look soooo cold though...


Cooper's teamWe have some great family members that came and suffered through the games...Conwey's sweet dad who was totally sick stood out there freezing watching like he has to ALL their games...such a great grandpa!!!
Rachel and Jimmy came and kept coming into the car to get warm then going back out....and Conwey's CRAZY brother Nico came in shorts...he said he didn't realize how cold it was....he is CRAZY. Thanks guys....it means a lot to the boys! Even though they don't always express it.

I have to say I am glad to move into basketball...I love basketball. It is action packed and 1 hour in and out! Not hot, not cold...just right.

Can I just outline for you my day on Saturday and then you might feel the pain with me.

8:30 have Jackson at the field warming up for his game (in the 28 degree windy weather)

10:00 Jackson's championship game (in the FREEZING COLD)

10:30 Cooper to warm-ups

11:00 Hunter to basketball practice

12:00 Cooper's championship game (Still FREEZING COLD)

2:00 Jackson has a basketball game

3:30 Jackson has a birthday party (outside at a park playing football in the FREEZING cold....WHAT???)

4:00 Cooper to basketball practice

5:00 Hunter to his football party dinner

Then Jessie collapses from the day! I need some Jessie time!!!

Sienna came downstairs looking like this...she says mom do I look pretty? Wow Sienna you sure do!! It gave us a good laugh.....

It's a good thing I think she is cute!!

Mom

Well today was a very rainy and gloomy day outside. It was the perfect way to describe how I woke up feeling.

4 years ago today was the day my mom passed away. It is weird how it all comes flooding back.

Even though it does get a bit easier everyday I don't think there is a day that goes by I don't think of my mom.

My mom and I...I know I have used this picture of us on the floor before but it just makes me happy.

I think as the years go by it really bothers me more and more that I feel I am forgetting little details. I haven't heard her laugh in 4 years.... I haven't heard her voice in 4 years...I haven't felt her hugs in 4 years....my kids are growing up and she doesn't get to see it. I could always count on her to laugh at my silly stories about them that no one else would think was funny.

I was talking to my friend today who also lost her mom and we were saying how it's weird how you sometimes forget or think...I have to call mom and tell her that or ask her this....

I see things in stores and pick it up and think to myself...oh mom would love this for her birthday.

Then you remember and that sad feeling comes right back.

My mom and I went through ALOT together. She was my best friend.


PLEASE don't laugh at the hair!!! Let's just pray these styles do not come back!!!

This was in Colorado at my brothers house (we went out to see his first new little daughter after she was born) my mom and sister Holly had been driving all night and my mom wasn't feeling well....she looks so pail in this picture.....Holly, Rach, mom, me, and Wade.

My mom and her brother Mark always celebrated their birthdays together. That is my sister Becca and my two cousins in the picture with them.


She was a really good healthy cook and even though I didn't love it as a child that is how I like to eat as an adult.

She really enjoyed the simple things in life. I hope I am like that too.

She loved her family! Her parents, her brothers, and her sister more than anything.

She loved her kids. She went through a lot for them, even though she had a tough time taking care of 6 kids on her own after her divorce she ALWAYS tried to make all of us happy however she could.

She was the hardest worker I knew.

She had her struggles in life but she always tried to see the bright side of things.

I really really miss my mom!
I was in Florida on vacation when I found out about it and I will never ever forget that moment.
Very surreal!

My siblings (minus Becca) at the funeral home at her viewing. We were very sad in this picture...

All 6 of us at the cemetery....Becca, me, Rachel, Jeremy, Holly, and Wade.

The program for her funeral....

I remember having a really hard time leaving her at the cemetery. It just felt so wrong that we were all going back to my Uncle's house for dinner and it was sooooo cold outside. I cried as I looked out the back window of the car looking at her little casket there... watching as we drove away.

I know she is in a better place and she is happy. I just miss her!

Maureen Milligan Hardie