Merry Christmas

Close your eyes (but just for a second because your going to have to keep reading this...) Now imagine opening your mailbox, pulling out the coveted Christmas card sent by the Huber Family from beautiful Cache Valley. Imagine ripping it open in anticipation, like you always do. Look down and smile as you read the creative explanation of what a perfect little family we have and what a wonderful year 2009 has been for us. Now gasp as you see the adorable picture collage of our four handsome boys...

Just humor me ok?

I already feel guilty enough as it is.

I'm sure that you've all been on pins and needles waiting for our Christmas greeting to arrive any day now in your mailbox. Well Sorry, imagining is as good as it gets this year...


but wait... no need to imagine the part about the adorable pictures of our four handsome boys


here they are.

Evan age 10

Gabriel age 2

Oliver 7 months

Elijah age 8

Merry Christmas!!
with lots of love... from all of us.

Growing up...

Yesterday Ollie started clapping his hands together. Cutest thing you've ever seen... it's a bit awkward and wobbly still. He holds one hand out in front as still as can be and then he brings the other one shakily to it until they meet and make a little clap... He surprises himself with this new found skill and jumps a bit with the sound of each clap. He gets a twinkle in his eye and a look of determination as we cheer him on. Last week his first tiny tooth started poking up. I love those first teeth, so cute! Oliver would win the contest for best baby maneuvering in a walker. I promise he can do a three point turn about if he gets into a tight spot. He knows how to back up and which leg to push off of to change directions. He chases Gabe around and around the island in the kitchen... he seriously runs. This week Oliver got up on his hands and knees and was doing belly plops to scoot himself forward. When I saw him do that I quickly snatched him up and held him. I can't let him get too much practice... he'll be crawling in no time and then... he will be a big boy and I still want a baby. he loves kisses on his soft rolly neck and always tilts his chin up for more. I absolutely love this age... Oliver is curious and always thinking, trying to take it all in. His eyes are so expressive, his smile... melts me.
We really like him.

Santa's lap

We finally took the boys to see Santa at the mall...

Eli swallowed and looked at us nervously when Santa asked him if he'd been a good boy...

Evan said that he was going to give Santa a hug, but changed his mind because Santa didn't seem very jolly... he also said that Santa had grey paint on his eyebrows and his beard was fake...

Evan was a little disappointed, and concluded that this was probably not the REAL Santa but simply one of his helpers who would later report to Santa and let him know what everyone was asking for. Last year we happened to be at the mall on the day that the real Santa was there... this year he must have been doing last minute Christmas preparation... or something?

and Gabe... I thought for sure he would chicken out. But no, he was so cute! While we were waiting for our turn he pushed his way to the front of the line to get a look at Santa. He came running back excitedly telling everyone that Santa had gloves and boots and a white beard. Then just before it was his turn he told Glen that he didn't want to talk to Santa anymore. I braced myself for disaster, Glen carried him then and as they got closer Gabe started laughing... hysterically, I thought for sure it would turn into crying but it didn't. He started waving frantically as he said "hi Santa" over and over and then he leaned right in and sat on his lap! Santa asked Gabe what he'd like for Christmas and Gabe told him that he wants a dog.

A dog????

That's what he's been telling us for weeks now...

at first we tried to change his mind, telling him about all kinds of OTHER things that Santa could bring, but he will not budge... he wants a dog! "a dog that can walk in our house and eat our food"

Well we do not do dogs... so I hope Christmas morning is not disappointing... maybe Santa has something up his sleeve ...like a fake dog??? and that will have to do.

HO.HO.HO

feeling the magic

I've had a bit of a hard time feeling the magic of Christmas this year. I really like the tingly feelings that Christmas brings. But we started off the month busy and it just hasn't been slowing down. We were in charge of our ward Christmas party... It was stressful to say the least, not many tingles there! I decided that I am too young to have this calling aren't I? Shouldn't the activities chair person be someone who has at least hosted a Thanksgiving dinner, baked (or maybe it's supposed to be roasted) a ham, made a real from scratch pie? you see, I've never done any of those things and yet I'm in charge of FEEDING and entertaining 350 people???? It was scary and hard and oh so much planning. I was physically ill (I am not exaggerating) for 3 days before the party... I know it sounds lame, but it's one of those things that everyone has an opinion about and they don't mind sharing what they didn't like about your planning and that scares me.... I want people to like me and my planning (is that bad?) Well the stress paid off because our ward party was really great! (I swear I am not bragging) We planned for 350 people and had about 200... so there was PLENTY of food. better to have too much than not enough if you ask me! We started the night with a sing a story of Christmas nativity program. a Narrator told the story of Christ's birth mixed with special musical numbers and singing from the congregation. We had the primary children play the parts, the senior primary sat as a choir and sang a few songs while the younger ones were in costume. the girls as angels, the boys as shepherds, a Mary and Joseph, and 3 wise men. It was short and cute and the perfect way to feel the spirit of Christmas. Singing carols, watching children all dressed up- There were so many things that could have gone wrong, but they didn't! It all came together and despite my nerves, I felt some tingling and I'm pretty sure everyone there did also. We ended with singing Silent Night and reminding everyone about the humble night our Savior was born and what Christmas is really about. For dinner we had french dip sandwiches, cheesy potatoes, salad and green beans. We asked everyone to bring a holiday dessert to share. You should have seen the spread, it was fancy and yummy! We decorated the tables with candy cane striped wrapping paper- it was very festive and classy. We had pine bows, ornaments and pine cones spread down the center of the tables, big wreaths hung on the walls and several trees placed around with white lights. The scenery for the nativity was adorable, made out of old barn wood...a giant star hung center stage. It was really cute. Towards the end of the night we heard some sleigh bells jingling and what do you know, Santa showed up to see all the kids and they were SO excited. I breathed a HUGE sigh of relief once the night was over, and decided that Glen was right, I probably could have relaxed a bit, now if I could just remember that for our next activity... :)


Ok so sorry if I lost you with all those details...

back to the feeling the magic... it's been stressful around here lately...
lots of little and big things too!

I cannot figure out FOUR kids. The older Oliver gets the harder IT gets. Last year I was all romantic doing special secrets for Glen every day leading up to Christmas. I had mini FHE lessons for the boys each night, focusing on the Savior and this year....I haven't been doing that. We've read books and laid by the tree singing Christmas songs a few nights but I have not done enough. I decided that the reason that I had not been feeling very tingly about Christmas is because I have not been doing enough for other people... that is what is magical about Christmas. Having secrets, being thoughtful, serving....

So with just a few weeks left to go- I decide that I had better get it together and I came up with a few last minute secrets. I have been trying to give more and am counting my day to day blessings more too. It has made all the difference! Posted below are some other activities that we've been up to the last few weeks to invite the magic of Christmas.

First Snow...

The first snow is always magical. It fell this year the middle of November. As we were leaving church Gabe grabbed several handfuls. He cried because his hands were so cold. I bribed him to get into the car by telling him he could put on his mittens and boots when we got home and go out in the snow. He was so excited when he saw his tracks in the snow and laughed while melting snowflakes on his tongue.

Live Nativity

We talked my parents into bundling up and braving the cold (7 degrees) to join us for a special evening at a live nativity. It was in Nibley (a little town nearby) in an old barn. The perfect setting. There were luminaries lighting the way to the barn and horse drawn wagons rides too. There was music playing and a recording of the story of Christ's birth.
It felt really special as we entered the barn.

There were sheep, donkeys, even a camel... a VERY friendly camel. He kept poking his head in through a hole in the barn. It made Gabriel nervous. He was very worried about the camel's yellow teeth that were protruding out from his mouth. And he mentioned several times that the camel's neck was too big. Evan and Eli were pretty excited about the camel though, I had to remind them to notice the baby Jesus.

Did I mention it was COLD? It was really cold! Outside the main barn there were a few other small buildings with animals to see. there were fires scattered about with people taking turns trying to warm up. The church group that organized the event was giving out hot chocolate... it was really nice and very well planned, a really special night!

We all loaded back into my mom and Dad's van, turned up the heater and sang some Christmas carols on the way to Mcdonalds for dinner

We had a great time it was totally worth braving the cold!
I hope that we get to do it again next year.

Ginger Bread Party

We invited our family over for dinner and gingerbread house decorating. Everyone brought parts of the dinner, delicious soups, breads, crackers and relish trays.

In years past I have put Glen in charge of making all the little houses out of graham crackers. I remember last year I even requested that he make chimney's for the roofs! Well the night before the party things were under control so I volunteered myself to do some of the building... After making just two houses in 45 minutes with all my fingers singed from the hot glue gun I could not believe it! I had no idea how hard the job was that I had been giving to Glen all these years! We continued to work together and finished all 18 houses by midnight. I really love this tradition and we both decided that in the end the building of the houses is worth it!

We had about every kind of candy you can imagine...

It is always fun to see each house come together, the kids have lots of fun being creative and tasting each treat.

Gabe was too little last year to really be excited about anything except eating candy but his year he loved his house and it was so fun to see him placing each piece and licking his little fingers in between. When I was younger I remember always feeling so proud of my house until I glanced over at my dad's creation... and then mine just didn't seem so great. My dad has an eye for art and is very creative. I was busy hosting and sort of forgot about Gabe and helping him. When I finally remembered him it was too late... Grandpa had already scooped him up onto his lap and was listening to all his bossing about which candy he wanted and where. It melts my heart every time I see my dad with my boys... he is so thoughtful and such a loving grandpa.

It ended up being such a fun night...Yes we will definitely keep this tradition going!

Oliver James

Oliver says "da-da." He squeels and growls and is very vocal about his feelings! He scoots on his back and rolls all over the place. He is finally starting to be more brave about eating. He likes oatmeal ceral, not rice. He likes oranges, but no bananas. He can see green beans coming from a a mile(I'm serious) and grunts in protest with his lips pursed. He has quite the personality and I think we might be in trouble with this guy. He finds tiny little things in the carpet, and is already a bit of a trouble maker. I find myself using his full name a lot which makes Gabe do the same thing. I hear Gabe through out the day saying "no, no Oliver James" He loves to boss him around and Oliver just squeals back at him. Ollie loves to go over by the Christmas tree and swat at it. He has a love hate relationship with the bristle of the pine bows. He loves to grab it but does a body shiver because of the texture. The other day I sat him up by the tree wondering if he'd try to put those pine bows in his mouth like he does EVERYTHING else. When I checked back on him he had instead grabbed all the toole out from underneath



humph.... this baby has me... completley in love with him

Christmas lights at Temple Square

On Sunday we took my parents down to the airport. They are in New York because my little sister Julie had her baby. Frances Susan Williams ( don't you just love that name... I LOVE it!) was born on Wednesday the 16th... she is beautiful and has red hair like her big sister Ruby Jane. They came home from the hospital today... so check Julie's blog for pictures and updates! I am so glad that my parents are there with Julie and her little family but we will miss them for Christmas and for the next FIVE weeks!! After dropping them off at the airport we went to see the lights at beautiful Temple square. It was a bit drizzly with a mix of rain and snow but the lights were beautiful as always.

Gabriel and Oliver stayed nice and warm all bundled up,
I wanted to crawl in and ride with them!

I can't get enough of these two....

Thanksgiving

These are Glen's sisters....

All five of them... they are gorgeous. beautiful eyes (it's a Huber thing) dark skin, flawless complexion... yeah I was totally intimidated when I first met them... how do you join a family filled with pretty girls?! I was hoping that looks were where the perfectness ended, but no, they are all beautiful on the inside too... sweet, talented, smart, you should hear them sing... watch them craft, raise families, and you can just see the love they have for each other and everyone around them ... seriously... these girls are amazing... the kind you wanna hate, (you know the kind?) but what's crazy is that -- these are girls you can't help but LOVE!! and you know what? I DO love them, I count them as sisters. I am so lucky that I married into such a great family. The longer I am married the more I realize the importance of family roots and how rare it is to have the kind of families that Glen and I both have.

I am Thankful for our Families and who we are because of them.

We were so excited this year when we received a home made, scrapbooked, fancy pants invitation to a Thanksgiving celebration in Missoula, Montana (I told you they are perfect)... from two of Glen's sister's- Holly and Carrie (they live there just a block away from each other) We couldn't pass up this opportunity to be together so we made the treck to Montana... and we had such a great time. All of Glen's sisters were there with their families and his parents too but we missed both of his brothers who were unable to make it.

Our Thanksgiving Day

Kent (Holly's husband) carving the turkey

waiting for dinner

The Thanksgiving spread

Holly's house was beautiful, warm and so inviting. It smelled fabulous, name cards were on the tables, lots of thought and work went into the day.

It was fun to have the missionaries there. They shared some family traditions with us and were good company for the older boys during dinner.

The girls... Charly, Layne, Avery, Maddie

Carrie and Holly made these "dinner conversation" jars for each table, it was so nice to visit and catch up with everyone and then to read and discuss, and laugh about some of the questions in the jars was fun too! After dinner they gave each family a jar to take home
(see... perfect, I am telling you)

later we played bingo with some pretty great prizes, the kids loved it! We relaxed, looked through the black Friday adds, and ate pie.
The perfect ending to a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!

Other Highlights from the weekend...

*Melinda's pies, Debbie's rolls, Carrie and Holly's hospitality
*We feasted.... the entire weekend
*We laughed and played games EVERY night together
*Glen and all the boys played a football turkey bowl
*I saw New Moon, finally
*black Friday shopping...Carrie army crawling along the floor at Walmart, working her way to the front of the line, sacrificing herself and coming out with her arms full of the coveted item, some for all of us! imagine sweet Carrie, seriously.... it was hilarious :)
*sleepovers with cousins, a never ending party
*shopping
*adults only date night, dinner out

Yes, it was a great weekend. Thank you to the Huber girls for making it all happen!
I really love the reminders this Holiday brings of our many blessings...

top on my list are
him...

and him...

them...

and him.

Our Family

Happy Thanksgiving 2009