Happy Birthday Eli!!

So... I started writing this post shortly afterEli's Birthday, which was December 14th! But we were in Logan busy preparing for the holidays and having to use my parents dial up for internet... which is sooooo slow... and then the holiday rush hit and it has just been one thing after the other and I have not posted or written or checked my favorite people's blogs!! I haven't even uploaded my photos other than these few brithday moments... but hopefully it won't take to long and I can back track a little and let you know what we've been up to! anyway- more to come shortly (I hope!)

It's so hard to believe that Eli is SIX years old already! He had a marathon Birthday where we celebrated for several days!! His birthday was Friday the 14th- the day that we were traveling to Logan for a wedding and then for Christmas- So... we celebrated on all of the surrounding days!! For months Eli has been talking about Chuck E. Cheese! Every time he sees a commercial for the place- he quickly tries to get everyone's attention and then explains "that's the place I wanna go for my Birthday!" So on Thursday we headed to the much anticipated Chuck E. Cheese!! For any of you who have not experienced Chuck E. Cheese; to a kid it's a pretty great place for pizza, soda, salad bar, balloons, giant singing puppets, arcade games, tokens, tickets, prizes, not to mention Chuck himself who walks around posing for pictures and giving high fives!! For an adult (excluding Glen...) It's not only comparable to the county fair but is also a breeding ground for millions of germs that I don't even want to think about!! Oh well, all that really mattered is that Eli felt like he was pretty special to be The Birthday Boy at Chuck E. Cheese!!

Friday morning Eli woke up to lots of decorations around the house and his favorote jelly filled powdered donuts and chocolate milk for breakfast!! Glen came home for lunch and surprised the Bithday Boy with a Mcdonalds happy meal! At school, Eli's cute teacher made sure all the kids knew it was his Birthday! Glen went into the classroom and read Eli's favorite book to the class and took a treat to celebrate!! He then checked the boys out a little early from school for the day and we headed to Logan for the holidays... Here are just a few of the reasons that

we love Elijah...

E is for Energy... Eli is a little ball of energy! He loves to climb and jump and try new things. Heis brave and doesn't give up! He loves to run and hike and skateboard and is just a total boy always looking for an adventure!

L is for love... Eli loves everyone! Especially kids who are younger than him! He likes to help them and make them smile! He has always been our cuddley kid- he loves to give hugs and takes a minute everyday to sit on my lap for a squeeze. He is sweet and just a little bundle of love!

I is for Incredible... Eli is one incredible kid... He does so well in school he is at the top of his class. He has an incredilbe imagintion! an incredible sense of humor! And he has this incredible way of knowing how to get out of trouble!

J is for joy...Eli is such a happy little boy he is full of joy and he brings so much joy to our family! He loves to make people laugh by talking with silly voices, telling jokes, and doing crazy acrobats!

A is for Angelic... you might think that's a a stretch for a six year old little boy but it's really true...especially when he's sleeping!!!! but seriously, Eli is still in the innocent phase of life where he is trying so hard to be a big boy but is still little and...my angel baby! He has an angelic little face and his heart is giant!

H is for Helpful... Eli is my big helper! With Evan at school all day Eli is the little man of the house. He is my shopping buddy, He is the best babysitter and playmate to Gabriel! He is always willings to do little errands and favors throughout the day for me! Eli likes to help others too. He often does little nice things for Evan without being asked... like hanging up his backpack for him after school, helping him finish his chores, and getting his shoes as he is grabbing his own! He is thoughtful!

p.s. a few other things... Eli has thee most amazing eyelashes...like a giraffe...If you've ever looked closely at a giraffe, you know the kind I'm talking about- they make a shadow on his face they are soooo long, dark and curl on the ends...accompanied by his beautiful green eyes... he is a handsome boy!! and Eli LOVES candy and treats-seriously ANY kind!! He asks for them constantly and comes running at the sound of a wrapper opening or the smell of anything sweet! Evan saves candy when he gets it and slowly eats it, he'll even turn it down sometimes...not Eli -he eats packages in minutes and even finds old pieces between the cushions on the couch and doesn't care if it's been sucked on before- now THATS a serious sugar freak!! gotta love him... and we sure do!!

Happy Birthday

Elijah Paul!!

Temple Square!

For Family Home Evening we decided it would be fun to go to Temple Square to see the Christmas lights and the nativity. We called Grandma and Grandpa Huber and they said they'd join us. They suggested that we ride the trax into the city together. Evan and Eli were so excited! Aunt Sarah met us all there and we had a great time together. The temple is absolutely beautiful and is especially breathtaking surrounded by millions of multi colored Christmas lights! We went in most of the buildings and visitor's center to try to warm up. It was such a cold night!! The boys especially loved the life size nativity scene as we stopped to hear the narration of the Christmas story. I love Temple square during the holiday's! There is such a peaceful, magical spirit there. It is a great reminder of our Savior's birth and that He is the reason that we celebrate Chritmastime!

brothers...playin' around

With Evan gone to school all day, Eli and Gabe are quite the little buddies! Eli loves babies and is having so much fun now that Gabe is a little bigger and is able to play. Gabe greeets Eli each morning with a huge grin and gets really excited when he can hear his voice! Gabe especially loves it when Eli carries him around and plays on the floor with him! Gabe is trying to keep up with his brothers and has decided he's too big for toys! He likes to play with anything that is NOT a toy... cups, toothpaste tubes, medicine dispensers, books, curly ribbon... etc. He gets especially excited over paper?? Anyway one afternoon after putting up all the Christmas decorations Eli found an empty box. He and Gabe were playing drums on the box and then Eli decided to put Gabe inside and then he pushed the box all around the house- giving Gabe a ride!! I don't know what we're going to do next year when Eli is in first grade and gone all day! I am sure going to miss having my Eli around and so will Gabe!

A few things about me & Christmas time

I was replying to an email that I recieved from a friend and thought I'd paste it onto my blog and count it as a post too! So here's a little bit about me and Chritmas...

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I love to wrap with Christmas paper-and do fancy matching bows, gift bags are for birthdays!
2. Real tree or artificial? Artificial. We bought one the first year we were married at Shopko- it's barely 5 feet and pretty sparse- $15.00!! Every year I say we are going to "invest" in a beautiful tree and every year I have others things that must come first- It will make a great porch decoration one day- Maybe next year!
3. When do you put up the tree? the week before Thanksgiving- we usually travel for Thanksgiving and when we come home- it's fun to be ready for Christmas!
4. When do you take the tree down? Usually the middle of January- I love the lights- they feel so magical and warm when it's cold outside

5. Do you like eggnog? I love eggnog- Egg nog creamies are the BEST, Meadow gold light is my faovrite to drink. It's yummy mixed with a littel sprite!
6. Favorite gift received as a child? a real working cash register that even printed reciepts!!! and a set of press on nails. I recieved them together- I loved watching the ladies with long nails typing on the cash registers at the stores- That is what I wanted to be when I grew up! I was a little disappointed when the press on fingernails snapped off each time I hit a key - but it was still fun to pretend!
7. Do you have a nativity scene? I have a few that are missing lots of pieces-my kids love to play with them so I bought a Fisher Price one that is kid friendly and darling! I have a set picked out...maybe after I get my beautiful tree!
8. Hardest person to buy for? everyone! I am not good at making decisions and I worry too much

9. Easiest person to buy for? I guess my boys- they usually have a long list!

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I really can't think of one...
11. Mail or email Christmas cards? mail (but I like the idea of e-mail, hmmmm)
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? hands down- White Christmas... a close second - Miracle on 34th street (the old version)

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? the day after Thanksgiving!!! I try to get it all done in one day- It hasn't happened yet...but I got pretty close this year!

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? What do you mean?????? (hee hee)

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Cheese balls with crackers and salted peanuts in a shell.
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? clear on our family tree but my boys have a tree in their room with colored lights

17. Favorite Christmas song? I LOVE Christmas music- the old classics- Bing Crosby, Burl Ives...I love Amy Grant and my favorte right now is Celine Dion's Christmas album ...oh and Martina Mcbride's too!
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? go home... to Mom and Dad's (their place will always be "home!")
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? YES!! I've had them engrained in my brain since Evan was about 15 months old - we sang them over and over till he could sing them all perfect!! (Ah, the first born!!)
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? nothing- I told you it was scrawney!I don't think the branch could hold anything up!!
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? It's our tradition to open new Christmas Jammies on Christmas Eve. Everything else waits until the official day

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Forgetting what it really is all about & letting myself get sucked into the craziness!
23. What I love most about Christmas? I love Christmastime--the actual day is over so fast--but I love everything leading up to Christmas--the decorating, the lights, the snow, the fireplace- the feeling!
24. Do you buy gifts for your pets? after Hammy escaped I couldn't sleep for months and made Glen use towels to barricade the bottoms of my bedroom doors-so Hammy couldn't come crawl on me in the middle of the night!!--we don't do pets-!! I guess if you had pets you'd probably like them enough to buy gifts for them- I can't really imagine it...
25. Have you ever been Christmas caroling? yes I love it! There is nothing like bundling up being with friends, singing Christmas songs and warming up after with Hot chocolate!

26. Hot chocolate or hot apple cider? there is something weird to me about drinking warm apple juice!?? I like Stephens Hot chocolate- My friend Sunny introduced me to peppermint flavor this year- SO Yummy!

I've never done one of those tag games-so here goes... I am tagging my baby sister Julie, Jennie, Sunny, Tif, Debbie, and Jana Brewer. So if you see your name here copy these questions onto your blog, delete my answers and fill in yours!! or something like that??

I am Still Alive!

One of my friends just used this same title for a post...I am still alive just haven't had time to update! I think it is just that time of year...everyone is BUSY!! It's a good busy though- I love this time of year with all the bustling around. I love bundling up, hot chocolate, candy canes, Christmas lights, and snow! I am working on Christmas cards, Christmas, decorations, Christmas shopping, Christmas Enrichment, Evan's upcoming baptism, Elijah's upcoming Birhtday... and trying to keep the Christmas spirit bright by doing our family Christmas traditions each night!! So.... I am busy...but also anxious to write it all down! Once I get a few of these things checked off I will take a minute to let you know the details....