Christmas 2010

All December I have been denying that Christmas time was here. November was crazy with my Dad's wedding, Thanksgiving, and wonderful snow days. This set us back in anticipation of the Christmas spirit. We put up our Christmas tree and Katelyn decorated the house with the Christmas decorations while she was home sick from church. The kids enjoyed the tree and the lights. The 17th started our school break this year because of budget cuts. Shawn and I's anniversary was also the 17th. We have been married 16 years. We decided to go away for the night to Utah. I thought for sure I would get my shopping done. The roads were nasty on the way down. We enjoyed being together. We went shopping Saturday, but I did not have the shopping mojo. We came away with a calendar and book. I felt awful about not getting any shopping done but my wise husband said," We are not here to go shopping, we are here to enjoy each other." We enjoyed driving around looking for things until it was time to come home to the kids Saturday night. Monday morning I went to the dentist and went shopping most of the day. We went up to Rock Creek to see the lights and feed the camel. Tuesday was cooking day. We made apple pies, sugar cookies, chex mix, and dipped pretzels. The rest of the week we hung out with each other and with friends. Thursday night, Shawn and I went back out looking but came away empty handed again for my birthday present. Christmas Eve we went to my brother's Blake for a wonderful night of soup and sparkling cider. We read the Navity Scene and knew we need to get on the road for Santa would soon be there, but just enjoyed visiting it was hard to leave.
With the kids off to bed, Mom and Dad finished setting out our presents and were about to go to bed when my three sisters called at midnight to wish me Happy Birthday. That was so sweet and made me feel very special. We talked to long, but needed to hurry because who know who was coming soon. We had moved the kid's present opening time to 6:30 this year and they were ready on the nose. Has always the present opening time goes to quick for the time put in to prepare. The kids enjoyed playing and looking at their new toys. The girls had gotten new Wii games from Santa so they went right to town playing them all morning. Brady loved coloring in his new coloring book and Garret watched some new Pokemon movies Santa brought him. Later that afternoon we headed to Grandma Peterson's to enjoy a wonderful Christmas dinner. I love spending time with our families. It was nice to realize that we got a whole another week off of school. We relaxed and played with our Christmas toys. I got Brady his quilt top made.
New Year's Eve we hung out with the Bronsons. We ate Chinese food and pizza. The kids played Wii games and the adults played Wackee Six(which I brought for our New Year's Eve game) Fun Game- once I remembered how to play. We went home way too late and slept in a little. Shawn was going to go riding motorcycles all day, but the weather prevented him from doing so. We enjoyed our traditional breakfast at the Stokers.
I can't believe another year has come and gone. I know I wish sometimes time would speed up and other times I want it to slow down, but it seems to be moving quickier than ever. Hopefully in 2011, we can try harder to be kinder and more loving to everyone around us(brothers and sisters included. We love you all and hope your Christmas season was spent together.

Seven years old

Garret turned seven on December 7th. I took him to the store the Friday night before his birthday so he could show me what he wanted for his birthday. Needless to say he wanted everything would be an understatement. Last year he was into Pokemon for about 6 months and then that phase was gone. I was happy that it only lasted 6 months. Well, it's back! He wanted Pokemon games and cards. He wanted to take mini cupcakes to class. He wanted hamburgers sliders and french fries for birthday dinner. I always give my kids breakfast in bed, but I had forgotten to ask Garret what he wanted for breakfast. After we sang to him, he stayed in bed and stayed in bed. I finally asked him what he was doing and he said,"I am waiting for breakfast." Oops! So I quickly grabbed cereal and gave him breakfast in bed. He had a wonderful day at school. We came home and got dinner ready. Grandpa Manwaring and Grandma Ginnie came for dinner. We had hamburgers and french fries. He opened his presents on Pokemon Soul Silver and more Pokemon cards. Next year Garret turns 8 years old. Time flys when you are having fun. I enjoy Garret very much. He is an enjoyable child to have around. He is very active and quite athletic. He loves his brother and sisters.(most of the time) He can be dramatic(thanks to older sister). We will continue to work hard to teach you what is right and to let you know everyday we love you. We hope that you will listen and know what we teach you to be true. Happy Birthday Garret!

New additions for the Manwaring Family

Well, we knew that this time would come when my Dad would find someone to remarry. He found a wonderful lady named Virginia who he knew years ago in Canada. She had recently returned from a mission in Africa when he made contact. They agreed to meet in Vancouver, Canada and over a week's time visited and enjoyed each other's company. He then annouced that they were getting married two weeks later. So on November 20th they were married in the Twin Falls temple. It is quite a surreal time I am sure for everyone. She has two daughters Lisa and Lynn. We enjoyed meeting them and hope to know them better in the near future. We will be able to spend Thanksgiving with my Dad and Virginia getting to know her better. I am glad that my Dad has found someone to be happy with.

Calling the Tooth Fairy

That long awaited day in a child's life when they finally lose their first tooth as arrived for Garret. He finally had a loose tooth and he wiggled it and wiggled it. We were reading together one night 2 weeks ago and he said, "Wiggle my tooth after each page that I read." So I did. We worked it over pretty well. He was afraid that he would lose it during P.E. the next day, but he came home with it still in his mouth. I had to leave to help out at my Dad's for the night and so I asked if he wanted me to try one pull. So out came the toilet paper and out came the tooth. He was very excited for the tooth fairy to come. I asked,"How much do you think the tooth is worth?" Garret replied,"I think 12 dollars." He finally settled on 4 dollars. How much did the tooth fairy give him you ask? 1 dollar. That is the standard protocol for the tooth fairy, I say. (Notice Katelyn is the background. She also lost a tooth the week before.)

That's a boy for you!

It's a good thing girls dig scars on boys, because our boys will have plenty. Garret had a hard couple of weeks with getting banged up. He scalped part of his forehead at Uncle Blake's house swinging. Then a week later, while I was at mutual the boys took a ride on the four-wheeler with Dad. Which is always a wild ride!( I took the boys for a ride and they informed me that I am a stinky driver and they wanted their dad back.I guess I am not wild enough.)I got home from mutual with Shawn telling me they had a small accident. Garret had let go of the handle bars and hit his head on the key. I tried to wake Garret up and check his head but he would not budge. He kept fighting me when I tried to take off his band-aid. So I decided to wait until morning to look at it. When he woke up and I checked it out, I decided that he probably would have benefited from stitches. One call later to sister-in-law Josie informing me stitches were probably too late, I butterflied it together and off we went to school. It satyed together pretty well, but a scar will be the result of too much rough riding with Dad.

Family Pictures 2010

We had our family pictures taken by a friend in our ward Melanie Nebeker who is trying to get her photography business up and running. We were in a rush to get them done before she started harvest, so we picked to go after school one evening in September. We had them taken down at the local park. Everyone decided they would cooperate except for Brady. He smiled for maybe one picture out of the whole thing. Our family is always working on something. Oh well! The kids all wanted their own photo taken, so Melanie ended up taking alot of pictures of the kids.

Halloween 2010

Halloween was a four day event around here. I wanted to have a family Halloween party and invite a few friends over. So the Friday before Halloween we planned to have the party, but in the middle of the night Brady woke up sick and ruined everything.(The kids were upset) We quickly rescheulded for Saturday night. We enjoyed spaghetti,bone breadsticks, green leafy things, mummy dogs, and dirt pudding. We played games like eating donuts off a string, pass the pumpkin, freeze dance, and Halloween pictionary.
Blakely had her school Halloween party and dance on Wednesday. She dressed up as batwoman. She recycled Garret's batman costume which he had wore into holes. Which was made for cousin Josh by Aunt Beth. She enjoyed the dance and was excited to hang out with friends.
Thursday was our school's Halloween parade and party. Katelyn was going to be Kit, American girl, but decided to be a prom queen. Even though I stayed up late finishing a skirt for her. She decided to wear this costume to our ward's Halloween party Firday night. Garret decide to be a black ninja which I recycled his Darth Vadar costume to make. He just looked like a boy dressed up in a black costume. Brady was dressed as Woody. He had party at Christy's house. He trick or treated and made a pumpkin head. Friday night we had our ward carnival and trunk or treat. The kids played games, ate soup and cinnamon rolls, and got lots of candy. Katelyn did finally dress up as Kit. Blakely decided with friends to be a painter,a painting, and the rich lady who buys the painting. Interesting! They came home and traded candy. I always ask myself the question do I ration the candy or just get it gone. becky-.it was a fun halloween like all of them. i love tootsie rolls.- katelyn