More Merry Christmas

Christmas morning at our house! We always leave a PEPSI out for Santa because it just happens to be Santa's drink of choice! He must have really enjoyed his "PEP" this year because Santa and his elves unwrapped all the goods the kids got Christmas Eve. He even dressed the build-a-bears in their new outfits from Grandma Kris.
Another view of all the goodies Santa left for the kiddies!
Dustin helping Paige with her new BABY ALIVE! He was thrilled to have another mouth to feed and diaper to change, he just can't get enough, I guess.
Paige was so happy to get the doll she wanted, a doll that POOPS!!! YEAH!!!!
After crying for awhile Scott decided to wipe away the tears and give Santa a chance. I guess he only likes church Santas.
Some of the gifts Santa set up from Grandma and Grandpa Great....SCORE!!!!

Out tree with a last minute note from Karley, pleading for gifts and apologizing for any mistakes this past year! That girl thinks of everything and I guess it worked!
The stockings were hung on the staircase with care...
Thank goodness for that since we don't even have a fireplace!

Scott realizing it wasn't THAT BAD!!! The actual photo we got is of him crying his head off.

Merry Christmas Eve

Here we all are Christmas Eve at the Darringtons'. Such a fun night!

Just a little taste of our tote! Check it out! I mean seriously, does it get any better?!! I should have taken a before and after picture of my pantry just so you could all see how greatly appreciated this gift is!
Dustin's favorite tote gift, he immediately digs to find his jelly bellies every year and then hides them from the kids. This is the first year they even know we have jelly bellies! YUM YUM!
" Can't we just go play with our new toys?"- Poor Bradley looks like he's HAD IT and Scotty is trying his hardest to escape "picture torture"

The older kids all know the drill... you try and smile your best so the grown-ups can hurry up with the picture taking. The young ones don't quite get it yet, they aren't nearly as tolerant!

Grandpa flew home that night cause all that red bull gave him some serious "wiiings". Competition for the nectar of the Gods???HMMM
Dustin "gettin' down" with Kiersten, ALL up in her jazz. He's a sucker for babies, that's for sure!
Kris looking ever so delighted with all of her new Christmas treasures!
The mayhem, the madness, THE MEMORIES!


Another look at the gift that keeps on giving and let me just tell you, that tooth paste was exactly what we needed...Or else there wouldn't be any Mommy kissing Santa Claus(if you know what I mean!?)

Madison with her new pillow from Grandma and Grandpa Great.. what a hit!
Scotty in his new hoodie from the Farinas, seriously stylin'!
Scotty LOVES trucks, actually anything with wheels, he couldn't hardly wait to rip it out of the package.
Paige checking out her gifts and pausing for a brief moment so Mom could "click a few"
Pleased as Punch or Pop Tarts( however that old saying goes)

As you can see we had an amazing Christmas Eve. Thank you to all for your thoughtful gifts and the love you show to our family! We hope every one had a joyous holiday!!!

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things....

Paige at the Ward Christmas party with Santa. She was about to bolt as I took this picture and I love how you can barely even see Santa's face.
Dustin and I placed bets on whether or not Scott would get freaked out by Santa cause he seems to get scared easily by loud noises or strange people. We both agreed that he would HATE Santa and we were both surprised that he actually sat on his lap AND seemed to enjoy himself! Who'd a thunk it?!? He and Scott are pretty much BFF.
Do I even dare go to the mall, stand in a huge, long line and pay a ton of money for one crappy, low quality picture with Santa?! HMMM, Maybe, Maybe not!

Karley actually did sit on his knee and recited her huge laundry list that includes a dirt bike, nintendo DS, a skateboard, a bunch of other expensive and unrealistic gift ideas( she gets that from Dustin and oh, how I love my dreamers) and even a pet monkey! Say WHAT!!! Not in this lifetime...sorry Karley! I told her we already have 4 monkeys! I don't think she was buying that!

I was having a hard time getting into the Holiday Spirit this year and just kinda feeling... BLAH! I've since decorated my house and attended a couple of holiday parties, and on Monday I even started shopping, finally and while I was out running errands earlier this week I started to think about ALL of the things that I DO love about Christmas. Here are a few of my favorite things:

1. Receiving Christmas cards and hearing about what every one has been up to during the last year. I love getting the pictures also, that is the BEST part. I love going to the mail-box and getting a new card and hanging it up so that I can see it every time I walk by. It reminds me how blessed we are to have such a wonderful group of friends and family that care about us!

2. Continuous Christmas music! I NEED Christmas music, I CRAVE Christmas music and I drive Dustin crazy because I can seriously listen to it ALL MONTH LONG! While I'm making dinner, while I'm in the car (It is only 1 month) Christmas music reminds me of the Savior and puts things into perspective for me and I find myself getting all teared up when I hear a particular song that I love! My favorite song is sung by Harry Belafonte( I only love his version) and I didn't even know the name of it until this year, it is called Mary's Boy Child. They rarely play his version on the radio so when I hear it it is very special and I always pause to listen! I like the fun songs also but mostly the ones that make me feel nostalgic and think of Christmas' passed.

3. Yummy dinner with as many friends in my house that can fit!The more, the merrier! I love having people over! This is something that I learned about myself. I'm the home-body and Dustin is more social and I really love that Dustin has brought that out in me because I love all the relationships we've developed with people over the years. I really enjoy cooking for friends and family and Dustin is always saying we should have people over and if it were up to him we would have a different family over every night of the week. I love it! Getting together AND eating!!! What could be better? I'm still a home-body but I do love a house-full of people, especially around the holidays.

4. Buying presents! I LOVE getting gifts for people and if I had a bucket full of money....

I really do believe that it is better to give than to receive. Don't get me wrong, I love gifts as much as the next person but the thrill comes from finding the perfect gift for someone that you love. I also love wrapping presents...I never get tired of it! I try to spread it out, in fact, so that I can wrap a few presents each day! Love it... and it's all about the paper! Something about unwrapping a gift rather than pulling it from a bag( I know the bags have their place too!) but it is so much fun!

5. SANTA! I BELIEVE! I BELIEVE! I BELIEVE! And I always will! Santa makes Christmas MAGICAL and without him, well, it just wouldn't be the same. I love hearing the poem 'Twas the night before Christmas. I love hanging our"magic key" on the door so that Santa can get in since we don't have a "chimbly"( that's what Paige calls it). I love the mystery and the anticipation. I feel sorry for those children whose parents tell them there is no Santa once they reach a certain age. Childhood is fleeting and we are too often bombarded with the harsh realities of life(even as children) so what's wrong with hanging on to "believing in Santa!" NOTHING!!! I love seeing the look on my children's faces on Christmas morning when they see what Santa has brought for them...priceless, and I would NEVER take that away from them! So, YES! I DO believe in Santa!!!

6. Traditions, The traditions Dustin and I brought from our own families and the traditions we've started together! I love having Christmas Eve with the Darringtons. I love making dinner for every one( and I love that Frankie loves my green-bean casserole even though I got the recipe from a can, it makes me feel good) before we head over to Grandma and Grandpa's to open gifts. I love exchanging gifts with every one. I love the tote we get each year filled with goodies that replenish our depleted pantry. I love the Christmas party we have with my family each year. The white elephant gift exchange and the delicious overabundance of goodies and treats to share. I love that my family gathers around a piano to sing carols and although some of us(me) weren't blessed with the musical talents that my parents possess, we sound DANG good! (If I may say so myself!) I love watching movies and playing fun games and eating melt-away mints and beef-stick from Hickory Farms! I love it when my kids crawl into bed with us on Christmas morning and we wait until we are all together before we go downstairs to see what Santa has brought! I love making Christmas morning breakfast!!! Delicious!

7. I love secret acts of service. Last year we received a mystery package in the mail and once we opened it we discovered it was the little people nativity. It was for my kids but c' mon, I LOVE little people. I love that we got a package one year from some one that had all sorts of fixin's for a delicious holiday meal, including Pepsi (so they must love Dustin) That helped us out sooo much that year and we never did figure that one out! I love my snowman collection that was given to us one year by a special little elf! That will always be one of my favorite Christmas memories. I love thoughtful people who GIVE so much! We are the recipients of many secret acts of service so THANK YOU!

8. I love that people try a little harder at this time of year to be more kind. To forgive one another and try to be more charitable. I love that people are a little friendlier than usual. I love making resolutions and that we have a chance as the new year approaches to make changes and try to better ourselves. I love new beginnings.

9. I love our Savior and the gospel and the peace those things bring to our lives. I love the story of Christ's birth. I love setting up my nativity every year before anything else. I am thankful we are able to attend the live nativity pageant almost every year even though it's a challenge to get us all there. I am thankful for my testimony which has grown this past year. I know Heavenly Father knows me and loves me and is aware of just how much I can handle! I hope you all feel His love also.

10. My FAMILY! ALL of it and EVERY ONE that is a part of it! I have the BEST FAMILY! I am so thankful for Dustin and our children! I am thankful for the sacrifices that Dustin makes for our little family! Dustin is the BEST thing that has ever happened to me! I am thankful that he loves me 'cause gosh darn it, some one has to. He is the hardest worker I know and I'm thankful that I have the luxury of being with our children during the day...without question! I am thankful for Madison and I do believe without her we wouldn't be where we are or who we are. She is an angel and a good example to us and has so much compassion and is so wise beyond her years. She is beautiful inside and out. She is my right hand girl and we are so lucky to have her! I am thankful for Karley, who is pure sunshine! She is so funny and keeps us on our toes. Karley is one of the most talented little people I know. She can do anything. She has a natural ability when it comes to babies and has the most caring heart! She is just like Dustin and I love that! I am thankful for Paige who reminds us to be grateful for each other. She has so much spirit. She is so wonderful and snuggly and when I look at her I am reminded to just slow down and enjoy. Paige is so cute, it's scary sometimes. We absolutely love her and her personality. I am thankful for Scotty who is, without a doubt, the icing on the cake! I never thought I could LOVE this big! He IS joy! He loves every one and I just enjoy watching him play. I am sad when he sleeps cause I could just stare at him all day long. Every day is a new adventure with Scott and he makes me thankful to be a Mom! What a reward! I am so thankful for my family near and far!

We have so many blessings in our lives and I am grateful for this time of year that we can reflect on all of these blessings. We LOVE you all and hope you have a Merry Christmas!

why do we even bother?

I'm not saying they are ALL bad pictures or anything but seriously, what a headache! Is it too much to ask for to have ALL our kids cooperate? just once for one picture!?! I know I'm gonna just look back at this and laugh...someday, I'm not there yet!

Our Little Elves

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1240554418
My Mom showed me this site a while ago and then Kris e-mailed me some elves! It is so cute so I figured it was time to turn our little ones into elves! Go ELF yourself!http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1240952901

O'er The Fields We Go...

Getting ready for the PAR-TAY!!!Kristi watching Doug try to get into his white elephant treasure. Doug is so hilarious and I just really enjoy seeing them both.
Tyler opening his gift as Darin looks on with great anticipation. And Rick, I love how you handle that kiss! ha ha
Surprise!!!!Who knew a ream of green paper and a power strip would cause this reaction! Dang I could've used that paper we should have stole on it!
Erin with Leah showing off her fine gift... candles which totally got ganked!!! I guess that how the game goes!
Nate getting his grenade on! Frankie found this grenade that shocks you at a convenience store and it has brought hours and hours of entertainment!




...Laughing ALL THE WAY! HA! HA! HA!

And you seriously do laugh the WHOLE time you're at the annual cousin's Christmas party. Last night we headed to Kourtney and Frankie's home for the "party of the year" since it was their turn to host. They did such a great job and their house was decorated beautifully for the holidays! Delicious food, fun games, great company, white elephant, hand grenades... I mean, what more could you ask for?!? Dustin even won us our beautiful cherry pie plate that we had given as a white elephant gift many, many years ago! Thanks Jerolyn, that was so funny!!! And who knows I might just hang on to it and it may resurface for white elephant in a couple of years or so cause WE STILL DON'T WANT IT!!! ha ha. I gave Frankie a hard time about throwing our name out there for hosting next year( I'm just joking I know you weren't the only one who said we hadn't hosted yet, just givin' you a hard time, please don't cap me!) and I know IT IS our turn and I'm actually really excited to be planning the BIG EVENT! I've already started to formulate my plan (MU HAHAHA!!!) I've got some big ideas and it will give us just that much more incentive to get our house in shape! We will gladly host in '08! whoo whoo!! It is always so much fun to get together with cousins, aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters, friends. We had a great time! Thanks again to Kourtney and Frankie for having us over and I can't wait to see every ones pictures from the party.

The Great Santa Run

Fueling up the "Big Green Sleigh" so we could make it to the race.

We HAD to get a picture with these two "hotties"!

And there OFF... just slightly though.

Who's Who??? Can you guess!?

Mr. and Mrs. Claus

Fremont Street Experience. Check out the guy in back of us, Kris! Remember what I told you about the seeing those numbers!!! Crazy

Grandma Kris, the one who started it all!

BRRRR... gettin' our snuggle on! Baby, it's cold outside!!

Check out this cute dog with it's elf costume on. Kris took this picture and there were a ton of doggies there all dressed up. Kris was in heaven.

Dustin showing off his legs, Jealous!!??!!

Santa's as far as the eye could see it was so cool!!!

This is just the beginning...

Dustin and I getting cozy before the race

Here comes Santa Claus, Here comes Santa Claus! Right down Las Vegas Blvd.

Me and Kris Kringle waiting for the race to start.

Picking up my goody bag

Me and Dustin after the race!

Dustin, Kris and I ran in the GREAT SANTA RUN, a charity 5k, today to support opportunity village! My first 5k,(Dustin ran his first race last year with Rick and Kris). I wasn't even planning on doing it but Dustin and Kris both convinced me. I trained a whole 10 days. This was probably the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. I know all you runners out there may be reading this and thinking "a 5k??? No big deal" but let me just tell you for a girl who has barely done any real exercise except for a week here or a couple days there at the gym this was a HUGE accomplishment for me!! I did run track in high school but that was over 13 years ago. My original goal was to keep up with my amazing mother-in-law but I realized I'd be grateful to at least run the race without stopping or walking. This was a "fun run" so they don't time you(probably a good thing since there were people cutting through alleys to get ahead...CHEATERS!) Dustin had his cool running watch thingy so he took me and Kris' times as well as his own. Dustin kicked butt at 22:53, Kris came in at 28:57, and I finished at 35:37. I had the greatest time ever! AND... I ran the whole time! Thank you to Dustin and Kris for encouraging me along with all my family. I'm really glad that I did it I had so much fun and it was a great experience. Now I know why Dustin is always on every ones case to try it. Such a thrill!! If I can do it any one can, I really believe that!