Fun with Family

The first few days in January my sister Sara and her family (who were in town for the baptism) came and stayed with us before flying back to California. Our kids are the best of friends, our husbands too, which makes for lots of great times together and leaves us always anticipating the NEXT time when we'll be together!! Below are some pictures and descriptions of some of the things we did before they left and before the boys Winter Break from School ended...

Krispy Kreme Donuts

We surprised the kids just as they were waking up one morning, by telling them we'd be having donuts for breakfast!! They were so excited! We headed to "Krispy Kreme" donut shop and made it just in time to see the donut making process... The kids pressed their noses against the glass window as they watched, fascinated! I must admit, it was very educational and fun to see the donuts moving along, flipping over from side to side and my personal favorite... watching them go through the frosting waterfall!! It took everyone quite awhile to pick their "perfect" donut. The kids all had flavors and sprinkles added. But for me, plain old glazed and still warm from the oil... was the BEST...mmmm....I love Krispy Kreme donuts they melt in your mouth!

the kids...taking it all in!!

Sara's baby Miles thought he was pretty "neat stuff" with his own Krispy Kreme hat!

Could there be any more sprinkles on that donut??

Breakfast...can't beat donuts with chocolate milk!

cute kids!

Playing in the snow!!

The kids played out in the back yard for a long time. It's nice to have so many sledding hills just out the back door. they warmed up after sipping hot chocolate while watching a movie!

The Dinosaur Museum!!

Glen offered to give me and Sara some much needed "sister time" Isn't he the greatest?... He really is!! We put the babies down for naps and hung out while Glen took the four older kids to Thanksgiving Point Dinosaur museum for a few hours. They had a blast learning about dinosaurs, making their own dinosaur land in the water/sand tables, and digging for dinosaur bones using brushes and tools!

We did some other fun things in those two days that they were here also... can't get better than a late night Taget run with my sister! a crepe smorgasbord, adult game night, and being treated to a girls outing for pedicures! The two days that they were here went by too fast, we had so much fun but we were excited knowing that we'd see them again in just two weeks, when they would return for a ski trip with their friends in Deer Valley. They planned on having my mom babysit Miles while staying at my house since it was closer than Logan! At this time we didn't know that my little sister Julie would end up joining us from Wisconsin too... I'll save that story for another post...stay tuned... I'm almost caught up!!

Happy New Year!!

2008

We rang in the new year with almost all of the Huber family at Glen's parents condo in South Jordan. There were six of Glen's eight siblings and their families there plus his parents!! Because there were so many of us it worked out great to use the "clubhouse" in the gated condo development where they live. It has a pool, exercise room, a great room and a kitchen! We did lots of swimming, playing games, eating, and catching up on the latest family news. We played family bingo and Grandma gave out some pretty neat prizes. We had a pre- new year party for the littlest kids at 8:00 which included a count down, streamers, and lots of noise. We tucked them into bed and that of course is when the party really started!! Evan and Eli were both excited to try to stay up until midnight with their BIG cousins playing games! The adults hung out and played games also and when midnight struck we blew into our noise makers, threw serpentine streamers, yelled "Happy New Year!" and of course exchanged a kiss with our spouses- the first kiss of the year!! I love New Years and the feeling of turning a new chapter in life! On the way home Glen and I reminisced about last year and all the changes and blessings that happened in our lives... We talked about and tried to make predictions for the year ahead... It's now February and I've stuck to a... few of my goals... hmmm...writing this post has been a good reminder and I am now rededicating myself! Happy New Year everybody!!!

Catching up!

So... I'm not even going to tell you what time it is! Just know that it is very late- actually very early... It has been driving me crazy to be so far behind on my posts... I am embarrassed that it is February and I'm just putting my Christmas pictures on. So, bear with me as I catch up! You might want to scroll way down and start back at my newest posts starting with the one titled Away in a manger- and read up from there!! I'm on a roll, just need two to three more DAYS filled completely with blogging and I might get up to real time!! a bit of advice.... Don't get behind, it's not very fun to catch up!!

It's Great to be Eight!!!

Evan had been anticipating his eighth birthday for a long time!! He was so excited to be baptized and we had lots of fun as a family helping him to prepare for this special and important step in his life!! Evan turned eight back in September and decided to wait to be baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints until December so that more of our family could be here and more importantly by that time his cousin Claire who lives in California would be eight years old also and here for the holidays which meant

that they could share their baptism day... Saturday December 29th!!

For several months leading up to the baptism Evan and Claire spent lots of time on the phone making plans for the big day! It was fun to see their exitement and love for each other! My sister Sara (Claire's mom) and I decide it would be neat to put together a keep sake for the kids from all of the people who love them. We asked our family members to send us stories of times in their lives when they had felt the influence of the Holy Ghost, or to share their testimony of a gospel principle, or the memories of their baptism day. We got more and more excited about it as the stories started coming in- we realized this would be a great way to help build Evan and Claire's budding testimonies. So neat to have a collection of real stories and thoughts from their extended family! We compiled the stories into a book and presented them to Evan and Claire at the baptism. The kids decide that they wanted to speak before the baptism... we weren't too sure about that but then realized that they would probably learn more from preparing a talk than from listening to someone else speak. So Evan gave a great talk about the Holy Ghost followed by all the children there singing a few primary songs. Then Claire spoke about Baptism and then the two of them sang "When I am baptized."

We dismissed for the baptisms after a few comments from Sara and I. It was so wonderful to watch these two special kids be baptized by their Dads. Evan was glowing and had the sweetest grin on his face that just melted my heart as he emerged from the water. later he told me that the water was very cold but inside he felt warm all over! As the kids were drying off and getting dressed after the ordinance we all watched a DVD that my sister Julie (who was unable to be there) put together of pictures of Claire and Evan from newborn babies to 8 years old! It had background music of primary songs. It made me cry! It was the cutest thing and brought back so many memories of Evan's little life. My first baby is eight!!! Then they each were confirmed and given the gift of the Holy Ghost by their dads. Glen gave Evan such a sincere and heartfelt blessing! It was such a perfect day, one of those days that is a milestone not only for Evan but for me... the emotions I felt throughout the day were amazing and overwhelming...shock that Evan is an eight year old, love for such supportive family, those who attended and those who were thinking of us from far away, pride for the innocense and faith so apparent in my little boy! Happiness for the blessing of the gospel and the peace it brings. The spirit was strong all day- it was perfect- My heart was so full!! and I know that Evan felt the importance of the covenants he was making. After the ordinances we gathered in the cultural hall at the church for lunch. We had rainbow colored balloons tied to scriptures on the center of each table since the kids Favorite baptism primary song is about rainbows. (it's the one that they sang together at the meeting) . We also had framed pictures of Claire and Evan on the tables along with packs of rainbow skittles for everyone to take home. Attatched to the skittles were the words to the song. We had deli meat sandwiches, chips, salads, fruit etc... for lunch. When everyone was finished eating we set up an ice cream sundae bar -Evan and Clarie's choice!!We had every topping you can imagine spread out in glass candy jars with long handle spoons for serving yourself- It was every kids dream come true! Like I said before... A Perfect day!!

Evan with great grandma Evans

We had lots of our family there for this special occasion...many of them traveled through a blizzard in Sardine Canyon to be there! Thank you for your love and support!

Our 8 year old!!

We love you Evan!!!

Skiing the Beav!!

For Christmas Glen gave the boys some ski passes to Beaver Mountain up Logan canyon... My favorite place to ski!! with my sister Sara's husband Jason in town it was the perfect time to hit the slopes.!! The guys got some quality skiing in while the kids were with their instuctors! then they all showed off their skills as they skiied together afternoon. It was Eli 's and Grant's first time. They both had private lessons and they really paid off! Grant and Eli graduated the bunny hill and were both able to make a perfect "pizza" and cruise down the mountain. Mathew proved to be a skilled snowboarder! As for Evan and Claire, they took a refresher course and it all came back in minutes... no more "pizza" for them, oh no... They're all about the "French Fry" they even challenged each other to a few bumps and jumps, and powder!! They were on their own (that's dads for you) for awhile and said they only got their ski's tangled once while exiting the lift... causing a bit of a calamity!!! They both got the giggles through it all, making matters worse... for the poor guy running the lift... that is! We were just glad to get them all back in one piece!!

Claire cutting it up!!

Eli... or should we say Evil Kenival





Here's Evan who learned he has a need for speed!







Grant and Evan taking a break for some lunch with the whole group...

Back out on the Slopes!!

Nothing better than cousins!!

My sister Sara and her family came to Logan on the 27th of December. They only stayed a week but we squeezed a lot of fun into that week!! staying at grandma's house is pretty great... It gets even better when cousins are there too! This was the first Christmas without seeing our Julie and her cute family... It was tough...we missed them more than most normal people miss their family during holidays... and that's cause we're not normal...we're a little extreme when it comes to the bond that we have as sisters!!!

I love moments like this...so tender...too bad just minutes later they were tickling, goofing and giggling... that's what cousins do though, right?

This was the night before Evan and Claire were baptized we gave them a few gifts. My sister Sara had these towels embroiderd with their names. They were both so excited to have a special towel to wrap up in after their baptism. My sister is the greatest! It was so special to have her family come all the way from California so that our kids could share in each other's baptism day together!! I am so glad that we had these cute kids the same year and not only do they get to grow up together... but so do their moms!

Merry Christmas! (I know its February... sorry)

The boys woke up Christmas morning around 7:30! We were all so excited to go upstairs to see what Santa brought and to exchange gifts! Some of the highlights were the boys running through the house trying to solve Santa's clue...looking for whatever it was that went along with some hockey pucks?? Eli jumping up and down so excited that Santa didn't forget that he wanted a punching bag!! Evan singing along with his mp3 player securely tucked into the pocket of his new bathrobe! And Gabe just taking it all in! After all the excitement of presents we headed to my brother Steve and his wife Edie's home for Christmas brunch! Edie made a delicious dish of fresh blueberry french toast casserole, we had sausage, bacon, quiche, orange juice...It was delicious and Edie's home was very festive and cozy... The boys (they have 3, we have 3) had such a great time being together almost all day. We had soup back at mom's house later that evening and just enjoyed being together, watching movies, playing games, reading, relaxing! It was a perfect Christmas Day!

Christmas Eve Included...

1. A Delicious Dinner of french dip sandwiches, augratin potatoes, garden corn, romaine lettuce salad with poppyseed dressing , fruit salad including asian pears, pomegranates, apples, pineapple, and grapes, fluffy pink fruit dip all served on mom's beautiful blue china....mmmmm... It was delicious. My mom is the best hostess ever and has just the right touch... making everything she does perfect!



2. gathering around the tree to tell the story of Christ's birth and to sing Christmas carols



3. Our tradition of opening one gift on Christmas Eve... It's always Christmas Jammies!!


4. Reindeer Oats... 3 scoops of oatmeal. A dash of glitter and a pinch of sparkles. Mix ingredients together and sprinkle ouside on the snow. The oatmeal is for the reindeer of course and the glitter and sparkles will glisten in the moonlight, lighting the way for Santa's sleigh on Christmas Eve...

5. Cookies and milk for Santa (also included this year was a note from Evan requesting Santa's Signature...hmmmm???)

6. Ready for bed.... YEAH RIGHT!!!

7. Just after tucking the boys into bed... loud sleigh bells were heard right outside the window accompanied with a jolly "HO HO HO...Merry Christmas!" we "figured"Santa must have been flying over Logan ready to deliver his gifts to the boys and girls who were sleeping....

I love Chritmas Eve... with three little boys around the excitement in the air is magical!!

Away in a Manger...

Just before Christmas we gathered with my mom's family at her house to take part in the annual Christmas Nativity reinactment. There were several costume changes... more out of want than need. My mom's sister and sister in law (my aunts) have acquired and collected some really neat and realistic costumes and nativity props. Each year there seems to be a new piece added, which makes for a few really big boxes filled with dress -up's that even the little boys are interested in. I have to admit, I have always wanted to have one of my babies play the part of the baby Jesus. It's kind of a big deal...right? You know babies...they are so tender and sweet and seeing babies at Christmas time just reminds everyone of the baby born in a manger so many years ago- His life, all a gift to us!! So to represent Him is pretty special... If you ask me! Anyway I was pretty excited that it worked out this year to have Gabe play the part! I undressed him down to his onesie... the closest thing to swaddling clothes that we had... Everyone was in costume and the narration of our nativity in Luke 2 began with breaks as scripted for the audience to sing hymns that go hand in hand with telling the story of that first Christmas night...

Evan... a very sweet shepherd boy



Gabriel in a manger, and not too sure about it....



he quickly decided he'd had enough!!

"Joseph" tried holding him...that worked until his arms got tired

...I know, give him the angel's star to hold that will surely help...

Nope, not even the beloved binki to suck on is going to make this ok!!!



He was definately the star DISTRACTION in the nativity this year, even after ALL THAT his mom and dad sure think he's the sweetest baby Jesus there ever was!!


There is a funny story about the picture below... Someone behind the scene's gave Evan this WOMEN' S purple velvet bathrobe to wear
obediently he put it on but then quickly found me and with a worried look on his face whispered in my ear "I think this is a girl's dress" I glance over it and sure enough there were flowers on the ribbon trim and it was purple VELVET with puffed sleeves! I told him no one would notice and that it was the perfect thing for a wise MAN. They love purple and especially flowers. He thought about it for a minute while I held my breath and then he
shrugged his shoulders and said "ok"
What a kid!





Wise man or snake charmer?.... my all time favorite hat in the costume box!!

Leave it to Dad to make everything better after all that torture!!

The Cast of cousins!!