Stinkin' Christmas Lights

The Ironroads had us over for the most amazing faijitas tonight! YUMMMMY! Thanks Matt. You are awesome! Then we decided to take a little rode trip to Lindenwood Park for their annual Holiday Light Display. We all piled in the Burb and headed out for a night of fun. Well, it was fun alright and STINKY! As we paid and pulled into the park- little Glory happened. LOL! We were on a very slow moving (the people 2 cars in front of us really wanted their moneys worth, I guess), stinky ride with no way to stop or turn around! We blasted the heat and rolled down the windows to enjoy the lights and the chill and not die! Too funny! When we'd made it through alive, Matt treated us to discounted donuts (love the end of the night deals) while Mom tried to remedy the stench situation. Unfortunately, we brought no wipes and the bathroom was out of paper towels. Ever try changing a poopy diaper with wet TP? Not fun! LOL! Oh the joys of little children. May we never forget them!

Long live the Stinkin' Holiday Lights!

Lovely Larsen Christmas

We joined the Larsen fam & friends for a Lovely Christmas dinner this afternoon. The food was absolutely AMAZING! Made with lots of time & love. We had Ryan's mom's Tavern Ham (cooked for 24 hours), Twiced baked potatoes (Brett's Christmas specialty), funeral potatoes, pecan sweet potatoes, pink salad, green marshmellow salad, Bobbi's potato roll thingies, [I know- technical terms are my specialty], rolls (anytime makes rolls from scratch that's some love!), egg nog, juice and caramel brownies. Sooo good! We got to spend the evening with the Larsens, the Clarks, the Potters and Elder Krupa & Elder Pape. What lovely people! ;) 

The Larsen girls got a car for Christmas. And they lovingly shared it with us. Ry & Kenzie cleared out there heated garage for the occasion. It was perfect. It was like a humungous party room for the kids. They ate out there, played out there, and even drove out there. They had a blast!

The Potters got a Wii which they also lovingly shared. We had a blast singing and dancing! SOOOO funny! Everyone got in on the action! Totally make me laugh! ....And no one needs the gym this week either! Wowzers! What a workout!

Both the Elders got to talk to their families. We also got to sing "Wish Wish you a Merry Christmas!" to Elder Krupa's family over Skype.  It was so great to spend Christmas with them especially with them so far away from their own fams. The Larsens have lovingly adopted them. And we had so much fun spoiling them this Christmas! 

What a lovely Christmas Day!

Christmas Morn

The kids slept in until 8:45 am or so. Merry Christmas to Mom & Dad, I guess! We actually had to wake Justice up at 9. Our sweet little sleepyheads! LOL! Too funny!

A couple of years ago, we started a tradition of snuggling in Mom & Dad's bed until everyone is awake. It's fun to chat and love on the kids. Then, we start our morning by kneeling in our bed and saying a family prayer. I love that it brings a special Spirit to our Christmas morn.

We also have to have a Cinnamon Roll Wreath for breakfast. This year, I forgot to get the Pillsbury Rolls in the can (never said I was a cook ;). But we couldn't fail on the tradition so I had to thaw some sweet dough and make my own. It turned out way cute but it definitely wasn't devoured like the other years. So next year.... back to simple! LOL! After the Opening Extravaganza, we just enjoyed all the gifts and each other! Lots of fun!

It was a fantastic Christmas morning! The kids got tons of fun stuff. They were very happy! HIGHTLIGHTS of the major gifts AND the annual Home-made ones --Dad got a Hunting game for the TV, a movie AND a roll-up wrench holder. Mom got new black boots, the Mega Twilight Board game pack AND a DVD of our family's 2010 year. Liberty got her American Girl doll Josefina with some outfits & the books AND a Piano bag. Justice got Pokeman cards AND Transformer pillowcases. Victoria got a Leapster AND a new quilt for her bed. Glory got everything Dora (She's in 7th heaven) AND a new quilt for her bed, too. We also got really spoiled by all our friends and family! Thanks so much for thinking of us. We love you!

Merry Christmas to one and all!

Christmas Letter 2010- A Year of PRESENTs

We must be having some FUN here cuz' time is flying! With another year come and gone, we have the chance to contemplate all the gifts we have been blessed with. WOW! Is that ever overwhelming!? We could never express how grateful we are to have a loving Heavenly Father that is mindful of us every second of every day. What a fabulous time of year to take a moment to really let the gift of His Only Begotten Son sink into our hearts!!!! What a perfect plan He has created to allow us to come to the Earth, experience life- learn, grow, love, follow Him- and return to Him as an Eternal family. At this Christmastime, can we add a few items to your list of things to do? LOL! May we all (1) take a moment to let the Gift of the Season sink in, (2) hug & kiss those we love and (3) show an extra bit of Gratitude to our Father above. “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a Present and not giving it." –Thomas S. Monson

And while ya’ll are doing that list, let me share a bit of what gifts our Frozen fam :o) has been blessed with this year…
Gifts the Big Papa received-
A beautiful, talented, loving wife that always makes me look better than I am, fantastic kids that follow the Savior and love to have fun, a great job that still gives me time to spend with my family, health, the Savior, great parents, Temples, great sisters/bro-in-laws, enjoyment with projects (even if it takes a while to finish a few of them, sorry Shay), a warm house (especially here in Fargo), cars to drive, more than 17 lbs. of belongings in a handcart, and great friends.
The Big Momma’s list of gifts-
An AMMMMMAZING best friend & Hubby, the most patient kids ever while I learn to not be such a mean Mom ;), my health, a great metabolism (knock on wood), a chance to stretch out of my comfort zone and teach the Gospel in its simplest form (Gospel Essential Teacher for the Church), the bestest friends anyone could ask for, a beautiful home, my Testimony of the Savior and His restored Church, family & friends across the country, being able to visit the whole spectrum of hair color in one year, learning new craft skills like button-making & glass etching, technology that allows me to keep an extensive journal online to share with loved ones and of course- being able to print that into an amazing Family History book. I have been so blessed with gifts that overflow my ability to contain them.
Gifts of "B", Berty, Sissy, Bonita-
a great 4th grade teacher, a fabulous love of reading, the opportunity to read all 7 books of Harry Potter, overcoming a bad habit and getting ears pierced, making it to Level 2 in Piano, having so many great friends, my leadership skills on Student Council, chances to share the Gospel with my friends, cell phones (texting) {Mom, how old do I gotta be to have a cell phone?} & computers to stay in touch with my family & friends, and spending time with my loved ones.
Presents to Brother, Rock, Buddy, Guapo-
my parents, my sisters, going hunting for the 1st time with Dad, finishing Super Mario Bros on the Wii, becoming an awesome speller & reader, being an amazing breakfast maker (eggs are my specialty), earning the $4,000,000,000 limit on Stars Wars and having every possible thing you can own on the game, being great at Defense in football, my contagious laughter, the opportunity to CTR, for God’s plan and being with my family forever.
Gifts given to Toria, Sis, Linda, Gigi/Sunshine-
having a stay-at-home-Mom, helping my family every day, my Artistic ability (does paper grow on trees?), attending my Co-op Preschool so I can learn & play with friends, being the best cleaner in the house, developing my babysitting skills, getting my hair cut like my sister, my sunshine-eyed smile, learning to not be a plumber (pull those pants up, kid!), living somewhere cold enough to play outside in the snow 7 months of the year and celebrating Christmas so we can get and give presents.
Baby, GloryLori, Bella, Gracie Lou’s gifts this year-
being stinkin’ cute, being a part of a loving family, having Dora the Explorer as my best friend, discovering I can talk A LOT!, playing with Baby Sophie, learning to cut my own bangs so Justice wouldn’t be the only one with really short hair ;), that God created puppies just for me, my silly-ness, my brother & sisters that take care of me, being able to pray every day to my Heavenly Father. Jesus Christ. Amen.

We’ll leave you with a quote from one of our favorite movies that has been on my mind lately (This month always seems to get way crazy, busy--- or is it just me????) which just seemed appropriate for this Season of gifts, boxes, bows and wrapping paper.

"Yesterday is history....
tomorrow is mystery....
but today.... is a gift....
that is why it's called PRESENT"- master oogway

At this CHRISTmas Season and during the New Year- may you always have a Present to unwrap!

Merry Christmas 2010!

Love, The Seamons Fam
Brett, Sheleray, Liberty, Justice, Victoria & Glory

Countdown's over- Merry CHRISTmas!

Wishing you all a very

May we all put CHRIST back into CHRISTmas!

XOXO!

Have a fabulous day!

The Nativity and "Breath of Heaven"

Here's the Luke 2 Video from
The Church with the song in the background!

May you feel the Spirit of it as we do!

Happy Birthday Jesus!

We, 4 Kings.....

After the festivities at the Brothersons, we headed home for some family fun!

Each year, the Wise Men make a stop at our home on Christmas Eve. There are the greatest Wisemen ever! They all bring us gifts of gold! (A modification from when I grew up and got PJs every Christmas Eve from Santa! After we open our gifts, we all get dressed in our new PJs. Well-- Dad always gets socks so he doesn't usually participate but this year he even put them on. Yeah!

During our own little Christmas Eve Celebration, we try to help the kids focus on the Savior. We always read the Christmas Story from the book Shauna made us. I LOVE the book and it's a perfect way to read the Story. It has the Luke 2 Scripture Story, pictures of the Nativity and several Christmas carols to sing after each section of the story. In the Seamons' home, it is quite a production of reading skills, beautiful music (HaHa) and dance moves like you've never seen before. This year, Liberty actually played a couple of the songs on the piano while we sang. She's getting really good! Thanks, Sis! The kids have a blast and we get some great giggles. Not exactly sure but I think Jesus would love the way we celebrate His Bday! The Story ends with us singing Silent Night. A perfect way to remember the true meaning of Christmas. At the end, Shauna also included a Christmas ABC section. The kids love to try and guess what could start with each letter. It's fun what they come up with!

Then, we always watch The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints version of the Luke 2 Nativity. It's so simple but really powerful. I will include it HERE if you'd like to watch it or you can also find it on youtube. (This one has the Breath of Heaven song dubbed over it. It's really pretty!

Hope your Christmas Eve was memorable!

Christmas Couch

AKA Brotherson's Christmas Eve Partay
For several years now, we have joined the Brotherson family in a Christmas Eve Celebration. This year, everyone brought either a soup or some pie. It was all sooooo good! We ate like pigs! I love food around the Holidays! Yummy!

They had tons of people over this year. We thought it would be WAY squishy but it was just perfect! It was really laid back and relaxing! The kids scattered all over the house- playing with toys & friends, games on the XBox, and playing the Piano while being accompanied by an ANGEL singing (aka Elder Krupa) LOL! The adults just enjoyed eating and eating and eating and visiting. What an awesome evening! Thanks KBro & Sean. We love you guys!

 Here's some of the fun:

It has been a tradition for several years now that a Family picture be taken on the Christmas Couch! It has been some of my very favorite pictures of my little fam & the Brothersons. I LOVE it! Thanks for the memories, Christmas Couch!

Happy Christmas Eve!

Chillin' with the Cooks

We LOVE being invited to the Cook's around Christmas! There's always vast amounts of delicious food and fabulous people to be with! Thanks for having us out guys! Merry Christmas!

Oh and it was "Chillin' with the Cooks" because most of the kids and the guys went out back to try out the Zipline in the snow! I didn't brave the many FEET of snow so I didn't get any pictures but they loved it! They came in soaked and frozen but who needs feeling in their limbs, right? Thanks for the fun memories!

Jolly Ornaments

While the men folk were out on a Man-Date to watch the Boise State Game at Buffalo Wild Wings- Haylie came over for some Holiday Cheer! We watched "Once Upon a Christmas" and made some Stained Glass Ornaments out of Jolly Ranchers! We need a little practice but they are pretty neat!

Have a holly, JOLLY Christmas!