More Christmas

On the 26th Russ and his girlfriend Megan were able to make it up from OKC to have Christmas at moms. They brought Russ's new puppy, Berlin, and CJ was in HEAVEN all day. Not so sure how Berlin felt about the whole day though!



Mom got a pink Kitchen Aid mixer from us and Jene. We think she liked it, but due to an untimely comment about not giving kitchen appliances as Christmas gifts, we still have our doubts! :)



Russ got a million and one tools to work on his bikes! He was thrilled and couldn't wait to open each individual tool from the plastic packaging!



Papa Jene got a wedding proposal! Yep, Mom asked him if he would marry her all over again. She bought him a new wedding ring and he said the funniest thing when he opened it...

"She went to Jarod!" {said in high pitched female voice!}

There was much laughter, but we are pretty sure he said YES!



Papa also got a marshmallow gun, but I think the kids had more fun with it. I am sure that Sophie will reap many benefits from this little contraption! I am also quite confident that we will find marshmallows around the house for the rest of our lives!!



Cambree unloaded Westynn's gift and I laughed so hard at her that I about wet myself. She kept holding on to things as she got them out and at one point she said, "How much stuff do I have to hold?" Said with exasperation!



Cambree got a HUGE bottle of ranch dressing, along with some pink Chuck Taylors, lots of craft supplies, a cute skirt and sweater, and some day of the week socks! She loved it all!



Preston got football shoes and I don't think he has taken them off since that day! He can now officially play football and he even went out and tested them out...they do indeed make him faster! He also got some army guns and some nunchucks for the Wii! He was also a happy camper!

There are no pictures of J and I opening our gifts, but we got some good stuff too! Jeremy got a gift card to Cabelas and a multi-tool. Both of which he loves. And we both got new pillows.

I got lots of good stuff and I plan to blog about {most} of them individually, but here's the lowdown...Flip camera from Russ {see previous post}, green chuck taylors, a HUGE canister, cupcake measuring spoons, potholders, cupcake liners, sprinkles, 3 gigantic decorating tips, red fiesta bowls, chapstick, kitchen scrubbers, christmas dishtowel and spatula, microfiber cloth, bath scrubber, bubble bath, pink broom and dustpan, cute rubber gloves. I apologize mom if I missed something, but that canister was so full of stuff I can't remember it all. I LOVE everything and I have already worn my shoes, used my camera, ate chili in my bowls, baked cupcakes with new liners and decorated them with my new tips, added some sprinkles. Used my christmas spatula to scrape the mixing bowl. Used the bath scrubber in the shower. Applied chapstick to my dry lips. Swept my kitchen floor several times with the broom. Slept on my new pillow. Washed dishes with my new gloves.

Megan got a lot of kitchen type stuff too...I was too busy opening mine to keep track of what all she got! We gave her an apron and an apothecary jar full of her favorite candies. That's one thing we have in common, a love of candy! She fits right in with our family...we sure hope she gets to stay.

Tomorrow we are celebrating with Jeremy's family, so there are sure to be more gifts to report and probably a funny story or two as well!

Redneck floor mop!

VID00008, originally uploaded by SaraStapleton.

Thanks to Russ you are all going to get live action shots of our family! I got a FlipVideo camera for Christmas and I am LOVING it!

So, enjoy a little slice of our life...this is the sort of thing that happens after dinner around here!

Christmas Review

Christmas morning came early and was over fast for us here at the Stapleton house!



Here's Preston and Cambree opening the gift that Santa left for our family! As Preston peeled back the wrapping paper, he kept saying, 'wii, wii, wii!" He was really excited and Cambree was excited because Preston was!



Cambree was excited that Santa brought here a new pink backpack...a real one, just like Preston's! And it even had homework in it for her to do!



Santa brought Preston an Adrian Peterson Vikings Jersey! I am sure this is going to get lots of wear, and maybe even some blood, sweat and tears too!



After a Happy Birthday Jesus toast, we busted out the Wii and had some friendly, family competition!



Westynn just sort of hung out and wondered what in the world we were doing!



Then after dinner, we got the grandparents involved in a little Wii action as well!





Cambree was our bowling queen of the day! I think it must be the foot!



It was a great day!

Merry Christmas To All!

Wii had a great Christmas!  Hope you did as well!  I can't wait to blog about our day, but for now it's off to bed to get some rest for another round tomorrow....and I AM SO EXCITED!

Dec 24 - Christmas Eve Traditions

Write about your Christmas Eve traditions.

Christmas Eve Service at church!



Carols, the Christmas Story, Candlelight...Magical, Emotional, Special, LOVE IT!

"Even as an adult I find it difficult to sleep on Christmas Eve.

Yuletide excitement is a potent caffeine, no matter your age."

- Carrie Latet

Dec 22 - Childhood rituals

"What specific recollections do you have about your childhood rituals that stand out in your mind?"

Okay I am starting to feel really bad here. And old!  Either we didn't have too many "rituals" and just did things however they came about from year to year, I have blocked it all from my mind, or I am getting old and can't remember.  Which of these is the case, I'm not entirely sure.  Maybe a little of all three!

So, instead I will talk about some rituals that I want/have started with my kids.

Last year, since they were both too little to write a letter to Santa, I thought it would be fun if he wrote letters to them.  I actually got the idea from a website and blogged about it here last year!  I plan to do the same thing again this year and each year from here on out!  They loved it and thought it was very special.

We are also making more of our focus on the birth of our Savior than on the presents that we get!  This year on Christmas Eve we will be opening a book called God Gave Us Christmas and reading it before bed.  I would really like to have 24 Christmas books, so that we could read one each night as we wait on Christmas day to get here!  Hey, if I buy one book a year, we will be there in 24 years! Ha.  Maybe I can catch a good after Christmas sale or garage sale them this year!  Anyways, just random thoughts there...

Cookies and milk and carrots for reindeer! Of course!

Happy Birthday Jesus Cupcakes!

Sparkling Grape Juice!

Christmas morning at our house...no exceptions!

Having the kids place the ornaments on the tree!

Sugar cookie baking and decorating!

Choosing a child from the Christmas Angel Tree, shopping for them and wrapping up their gifts!

WOW!  That seems like a lot of rituals and expectations, but really when it is spread out over the course of a few weeks, it's not that bad!  And I just LOVE experiencing it all through their eyes and sharing the joy they have!

"Christmas day in the company of children is one of the few

occasions one which men become entirely alive."

- Robert Lynd

Dec 21 - Update

I am at home with a sick boy today.  I had to go Protection and pick Preston up about 11.  He was up during the night with a headache, but said he felt fine this morning.  Guess the Tylenol just hadn't worn off yet.  Hopefully it doesn't last long and we are better before Christmas!!

So in light of a sick kid, I don't feel like doing any "deep" thinking and I am going to give you all a little update about what has been going on around here.

Last Friday we met John, Kara and Jaris in Woodward for our annual Christmas dinner and gift exchange! It is always nice to spend time with our friends and see how the kids have changed and grown over the course of a year. It really seems like we just got together in 2008 and here it is 2009! Jaris is growing and getting big and LOUD! He has definitely found his voice and uses it well! He's a crack-up and he and Cambree needed to be in the confines of a home as they were trying to wrestle in the booth!



Jaris was also interested in Westynn and it was funny because he kept trying to take Kara's hands off of Westynn!



Westynn thought he was pretty funny as well!



And Kara got my mother's bracelet all finished up for me. She had to add Westynn's name to it. I am so happy to have it back and complete now and I have been wearing it every day!

On Saturday afternoon we went to our local theater to watch a free Christmas movie, with pop & popcorn. We watched Santa Buddies...cute kids Christmas movie. After the movie, Santa & Mrs Claus came into the theater and handed out bags of candy to the kiddos.



Then my kids fought over the apples in the bags!


{I would like to know who considers a bag with an apples, an orange, ONE peanut cluster, TWO candy canes and TWO orange slices, and 4 million shelled peanuts a bag of CANDY! It used to be soooo much better than that when I was little!}

Preston is the luckiest kid in the county and always manages to win something! Today he won a sports bag and a basketball! SCORE!



Cambree kept asking me when they were going to draw her name...it was cute and heart-breaking at the same time!

Anyways, once we got home from downtown Preston immediately set to getting his bag ready for the big game! The only thing missing was football shoes, which he has asked for...if he gets them, he will be all set for games.

Helmet. Check.
Jersey. Check.
Pants. Check.
Pads. Check.
Bag. Check.
Shoes. NEED!

Back inside to have our picture taken with Santa!



Notice Westynn threw a sock! Cambree isn't touching anyone and Mrs Claus forgot we were taking pictures!!

All in all it was a fun and magical day for the kids! A little stressful for me, but I have issues. {Un-organized events make me bonkers!}

The following day we did our Church program, but I am late getting this post up, so that will come in it's own time!

"Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days;

that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth;

that can transport the sailor and the traveller, thousands of miles

away, back to his own fire-side and his quiet home!"

- Charles Dickens

Dec 20 - Blessings

Write about something your feel incredibly blessed or grateful for.

If you're a parent, how have the holidays changed since you've

had children?  Do you celebrate differently now?

The thing I feel the most blessed to have is my family!  I cherish my children, each of them brings something very different and special to my life.  I cherish my husband, Jeremy is a great man and a super dad.  He does a ton around here to help out and the kids just adore him...what more could a woman ask for?

I feel blessed to have my parents live so close.  I feel blessed to have my in-laws live so close.  I feel blessed to own my own home.  I feel blessed to be part of a church family that I love.  I feel blessed to not have to worry about having presents under our tree. 

I feel blessed to live in a community where I can take my kids to a free afternoon movie and to see Santa Claus.  I feel blessed to be able to the have the chance to win Chamber Bucks {I HOPE I DO!}.  We are headed out in about an hour to watch "Santa Buddies" at the Chief Theater and then to have Santa bring us candy, to sit and tell him what we would like and to wait and see if your name gets drawn out of the box for the Chamber prizes. 

It promises to be a entertaining afternoon!

"Christmas is the gentlest, loveliest festival of the revolving year - and yet,

for all that, when it speaks, its voice has strong authority."

- W.J. Cameron

Dec 19 - Inherited Item

Write about an object or holiday item that you inherited.

Technically I don't have any gifts that have been inherited.  I do have one Christmas decoration that was given to my by my Grandma Betty, and I know it was hers first, but that is as much of the story as I know.  {guess I need to find out more about this!}

I know that part of the reason she gave it to  me is because this Santa is musical and she gave me music boxes each birthday and Christmas while I was growing up.

It's cute and I like it!

There are some little elves at  mom's house that I have laid claim to.  Maybe I will get around to writing about them this year...if I can remember to take a picture!

"Christmas gift suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness.

To an opponent, tolerance.  To a friend, your heart.

To a customer, service.  To all, charity.  To every

child, a good example.  To yourself, respect."

- Oren Arnold

Dec 18 - Spirit of the Holidays

Recall a time when you felt what you'd call "the spirit of the holidays."

A specific moment isn't coming to mind.  I guess the "spritit of the holidays" is showing forgivness, compassion, open arms, a kind heart, a gentle hand to those around us.  To not only our family and friends, but to everyone.  A stranger we meet in a crowded shopping center, our neighbors, the person who has hurt us some way, the people we have hurt during the year.  In the spirit of the holidays, we need to move past all the things that are holding us back and move forward.

"I heard the bells on Christmas Day.  Their old, familiar carols play. 

And wild and sweet the words repeat of peace on Earth, good-will to men."

-Longfellow

Dec 17 - Santa

Recall preparations you made for Santa.

COOKIES & MILK!

AND CARROTS {for the reindeer}!!!

It is amazing that Santa is able to eat sooo many cookies and drink so much milk on Christmas Eve! 

Sidenote: {I have never really thought about it until now, but do you suppose Santa makes a pit stop at random peoples houses?  I mean, why wouldn't he need to use the restroom periodically after drinking all that milk?  Just a thought.  Maybe this year I will leave a note with directions to the bathroom and make sure to have it CLEAN!}

In an effort not to weigh Santa down for the sleigh - ride, we typically leave only one cookie and a small glass of milk.  For the reindeer, we leave a small handful of carrots {should probably leave more since there are 8 reindeer...}.

I saw a cookie for santa plate and a glass that looked like a milk carton and I am having some buyers remorse now that I didn't purchase that set.  It would be fun to have special plate and cup that we use every year that is "just" for Santa and the reindeer!  Note to self:  Order it next year if you see one!

Another fun thing I have heard of doing, but have yet to do it is to sprinkle baking soda in the shape of footprints to look like Santa had tracked in snow the night before.  There are a couple of reasons I haven't done this...

1} white powder on everyone on Christmas morning doesn't sound like a ton of fun to me!

2} one more mess to have to clean up Christmas morning!

and

3} I think my kids are smart enough to know that snow melts and with my luck they would probably test it out with their tongues and the secret would be out!

"Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.  He exists a certainly as love

and generosity and devotion exists, and you know that they

abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy."

- Charles Dana, editorial in the NY Sun, 1897, to a letter

Dec 16 - Gifts

What are you most excited to give this year?

Oh! How I wish I could tell what I am most excited to give, but the person receving it is probably reading this blog...and I don't want to spoil the suprise!

I really hope this person likes it though!  I believe they will because it is something I have heard this person mention often and I know will put to good use.  My only concern is that I chose the right "style."  It can be hard when there is more than one option, you know what I mean!

What runs a very close second is the gift I think Santa will be bringing our whole family!  It should be a ton of fun!  I can't wait!  If I ever had a minute alone I would be tempted to pull it out of the box and try it myself!

In the spirit of Christmas, here is a gift idea I read that I thought was pretty cute and useful.

Batteries with a tag that says "Hope you have the energy to make it throught the holidays!"

Who can't use batteries?  Plus they are calorie free!

"Blessed is the season which enagages the whole world

in a conspiracy of love."

- Hamilton Wright Mabie

Dear Santa

Dear Santa,

I have been a nice girl this year.  Please bring me this

Love Bug Quilt Kit for Christmas.  If you need to know where to get it, I'm sure the gals over at Fat Quarter Shop wouldn't mind adding one to your sleigh full of goodies!  Wouldn't you just love to show up at our house on Christmas Eve next year and see our little ones huddled up under this adorable quilt, just waiting for you?

Love,
Sara

Dec 15 - Hope

Has your idea of the the promise of hope at the Christmas changed since you became an adult?

Write about the idea of "hope" as it relates to Christmas.

Another tough question to answer.  I guess I have never really equated "HOPE" with the holidays...don't know why.  Maybe it is because I have never been asked :)!

It sure seems to me these days that HOPE is that last thing people are thinking about or looking for during Christmas.  Anymore it has become so commercialized.  Do you ever wonder if some of the people you are elbow to elbow with in the stores even really know what it is we are celebrating?  Do they know that is the most important birthday EVER?  Or is this just a chance to spoil those we love and try and "out-do" ourselves and/or each other?  Maybe these people are just "HOPING" for the best deals, the shortest lines and the best gifts.

So, what is it that I HOPE for during Christmas?  What does it mean to me?  I would have to say that HOPE for me is a new chance, a do-over, a mulligan.  Because of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, we have the HOPE of eternity!  We have the HOPE of seeing our loved ones faces again!  We have the HOPE of walking streets of gold one day!  Because of a birth, in a humble stable, long ago we have been given the gift of forgiveness.  We get to have the HOPE of a new start each day and the HOPE for a life overflowing with blessings!

This year, my HOPE for Christmas is that you, my family and friends, find the HOPE of Joy Everlasting and that the Savior finds a place in your hearts and homes!

"What is Christmas?  It is tenderness

for the past, courage for the present,

hope for the future."

 - Agnes M. Pharo

Dec 14 - People

Who do you usually celebrate the holidays with?

FAMILY!

Christmas is always celebrated with LOTS of family! 

"The best gift of all gifts around any Christmas tree:

the presence of a happy family all wrapped up

in each other."

- Burton Hillils

Dec 13 - Tree

Do you have rituals or traditions relating to your holiday tree?

We don't really have any rituals or traditions as it relates to the tree.  I guess the closest thing we have would be letting the kids put the ornamnets on themselves, but that has only been for the past several years.

During our first Christmas, Jeremy and I had a Charlie Brown type tree.  It wasn't even an entire tree...it was the top portion of a tree my Mom used to use at her dress shop.  But she was generous enough to give it to us, because otherwise we would have been sans tree that year {and for the next 5 years}.

Finally, in 2004, after 5 years of marriage and the addition of our first child, I splurged and bought our own tree.  At the time, we lived in a house that had a rather large living area and vaulted ceilings {can you see where this is going?}  So, I used a coupon at Hobby Lobby and bought a 7.5 foot, pre-lit tree.  It was a traditional looking tree and was perfect for us!  We filled it with the ornaments my grandma had given us as well as the few ornaments Jeremy and I had collected throughout our childhoods.

Well, we moved to our current house and the 7.5 ft tree was just GIGANTIC in this room.  Last year we resorted to the little "half" tree again and it was okay, but I missed having something bigger.  We needed to find a happy medium. 

It was then that I decided I would search for a tree during the after-Christmas sales.  Reading through my stacks of home decorating magazines and blogs I saw lots of white trees.  Something about them spoke to me.  The seem a little bit retro, a little non-traditional and somewhat Funky!  That sealed the deal, I would be searching for a medium sized {WHITE} tree!

And I was absolutely ecstatic to find our current tree.  A pre-lit, approx. 6 ft tree.  At the bargain price of $35!!! It stayed nice and wrapped up in the box for the previous 11 months, but I couldn't wait to pull it out and put it up!  The only problem was that our furniture was going to need a major re-arrangement!  It involved taking the legs off the loveseat and moving it to Cambree's room temporarily and moving the other furniture around in the living room.  I really wanted to have the tree in front of our window, so I put it in place first and placed the furniture around it!

I figured Jeremy would throw a fit about a white tree, but so far he hasn't said anything.  Either I was wrong and he doesn't care or he is wise enough to keep his opinion to himself!

Pleased.  That's what I am with our new tree.  I wasn't sure how I would feel about the colored lights, but I like them.  Normally I am a white light type of girl, but I like the retro-modern vibe of the colored lights.  They are pink, green, yellow, blue and red.  I love the way they play off the ornaments and I enjoy driving home at night and seeing the glow from the window!  I only hope those driving by get as much enjoyment out of it as we do!

How about your tree? Is it real? Fake? Green? White? Colored lights? White lights?  Themed? Random?

"Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree.

In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall."

- Larry Wilde

Dec 12 - Movies or Shows

Did your family have any must-watch shows as you were growing up?

Write about your favorite holiday movies or shows.

I LOVE this movie.  Elf.  Have you seen it?  If not, you should!!!  HIL.A.RIOUS!!! 

"Why you smilin' like that?"

"I like smiling.  Smiling's my favorite!"

"SSSSSSAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTAAAAAAAAA!!!"

OMG, Santa here?

I know him.

I know him!"

Go, watch this movie and have a good laugh!

"Strange, isn't it?

Each man's life touches so many other lives.

When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole,

doesn't he?"

- Clarence from It's a Wondeful Life

Dec 11 - Parties!

Do you have a plan for a holiday party this year? Write about it.

Recall a holiday party from the past.

No plans for a party, but having family at my house this year feels like a party!

In previous years I have had Christmas Lunches for my girlfriends and they have been so much fun.  I love the planning and preparations for them and then I get so excited to have most of my friends together at the same time to enjoy good food, laughter, and for them to get to know each other better.

I regret that for the past two years this little event has gotten put at the bottom of the To-Do list.  Each December comes and I regret that I haven't carved out a little bit of time to do this.  So, all of my friends, we are going to do this again next year!  Call me, text me, email me....ask me about it!  Don't let me get away with NOT doing it again!  And just to make up for lost years, why don't we do it in the spring...just because we can!  Get out your calendars...mark it down...April 10th...my house, be there!

Now a favor from those of you who have attended these little girly get-togethers.  Let me know what you think of them...what do you take away from the experience.  I never get to hear these things, so if you would please share with me and all my readers {haha} I would be extremely grateful!

"When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things

- not the great occasions -

give off the greatest glow of happiness."

- Bob Hope

Wednesday with Westynn {a day late}

Hello my peeps!



Sorry to keep you waiting a day, but we just had a lot going on yesterday.

Momma was here by herself with all three of us kiddos at bathtime and sister got mad because I wouldn't let her hold me in the bathtub. By the time we all got out Cambree and I were having a contest as to who could have the whiniest, loudest cry...I think she won, but only because she is bigger, not because I didn't try my hardest.

Anyways, after books and putting the big kids to bed, Momma said that I was to go to bed too and the writing could just wait!



Well let me tell you that the weather has turned COLD!! here. I am not a big fan of it because Momma makes me wear this stocking cap and I don't like it on my head. She was making me wear this other one that buckled under my chin, but alas I have grown out of it already {darn!}. On top of the hat, I have to get all bundled up when it is time to get in my carseat and I don't like this much either...to confining!

In other, more exciting news, I have started eating cereal. No, not getting Lucky Charms or anything yet, but some very bland rice cereal! I don't really know for sure how I feel about the whole situation. I eat it part of the time because it makes Momma so happy and then other times I just spit it out {partially because I like to see her squirm while it is running all down my chin!! hehe!!}. I am doing pretty good with the spoon though and Momma said that if she were to put some sweet potatoes or something on there, she bets I would just gobble it right up! Hope she tries it soon!



Well I am off to visit with some family. Unfortunately, we had a death in our extended family this week, but we do at least get to see everyone that we missed at Thanksgiving. Have a great weekend and talk at ya next week!

Westynn

Dec 10 - Holiday Sights

Write about your favorite holiday sights.

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS!

I just love christmas lights and if it were up to me, we would have the Griswald light display each year.  Unfortunately, my husband doesn't share the same great love of lights that I do and he isn't big on decorating.

So, I have to settle for a simple strand of rope lights that was on our house when we bought it...and I have to hope that he feels like plugging them in!

I love to drive around of an evening and look at all the efforts other people have put forth to light their homes. 

Someday I will have this...

"It comes every year and will go on forever.

And along with Christmas belong the keepsakes and the customs.

Those humble, everyday things a mother clings to,

and ponders, like Mary in the secret spaces of her heart."

- Marjorie Holmes

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Dec 9 - Christmas Books

What is your favorite Christmas book.

Twas the Night Before Christmas.

I don't remember if Mom made this book for Preston's first Christmas or his second {which was more like the first since he was 14 months old instead of 2 months old}.  Anyways, she sewed it right up for him...and for all my subsequent children.



The first couple of years we had it I would pack it up with the Christmas decorations and we would only enjoy it once a  year.  But, one year while packing, I decided we might as well leave this book out and enjoy it all year long.  It is a cloth book, so there is no worries about it getting torn up before the next year.

This is the very traditional version of the book,
"More rapid thane agles his ocrsers they came,
And he whistled and shouted and called them by name.
'Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall,
Now,dash away, dash away, dash away, all!'
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle mount to the sky,
So up tot he housetop the coursers they flew,
With a sleigh full of toys - and St. Nicholas, too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof."

This is just a great story for kids too!  I can remember in second grade at Coldwater Grade School that Mrs. Booth made us memorize this ENTIRE story.  To me it just seems like such a large task for a second grader, but I don't remember exactly how I felt about it at the time.  However, I do remember standing up in front of the class and reciting it for the class.  Strange how vivid some memories can be....

I remember the locations of Mrs. Booth's desk, the arrangement of the students desks, the back of the room...all of it!  I wonder if Mrs. Booth knew how much of an impact memorizing this single Christmas story would have on me all these years later?

I bought a new book for my kids this year, that I hope becomes a Christmas favorite, but of course I can't write about it now....too many little eyes watching!  Maybe I will write about it after the holidays...or after Christmas Eve, which is when I plan to give it to them and read it together!

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

"I will honor Christmas in my heart,

and try to keep it all the year."

- Charles Dickens, Ebeneezer Scrooge, A Christmas Carol