Merry Christmas to all

We all felt better on Christmas, (or so we thought) so we got up enjoyed a yummy breakfast and then the presents that Santa brought us.

Tori got her own desk for her bedroom, and her favorite part of the whole thing is the pink chair, so figure...

Abby had asked for a guitar, although she doesn't seem so happy here, she really did love. We couldn't figure out at first how to keep in on her head, so we put a ball cap on her, which seemed to work. Once we figured out how it really worked, no ball cap needed (picture later on that).

As I said last night I wasn't feeling so good, so all the gifts had no ribbons or bows, and I even just wrote on the paper who it was for and from. Sad but this year it was all I could do.

Even the dog received a little something to chew on, which she quickly enjoyed on the new carpet (I had to move her to the kitchen so the red juice didn't get every where.

The girls love to cook with me and they are forever getting messy, so this year each of them got a couple of aprons so that they can keep clean as they help. The hat was a nice added surprise and works well to complete the look...

Later in the day we went to my parents house to exchange gifts with other family. Auntie Theresa gave each of the kids a shirt she made herself. I guess Ty dying is back in style now.

Tori got a Tinker Bell phone and book from her cousin, which she now can't part with.

More mayhem and Abby with her new shirt from her Aunt.

Abby was playing outside today and it was just to much for her. She was feeling pretty bad by the end of the day. She feel asleep with Grandma reading a story to her and using her Neb. You will notice that she has on some fine dradel PJ's. When I bought them I had no idea what these where, but they were really cheep so I got them knowing they would be warm. Well they were a hit today, because who would expect me to put dradel PJ's on my kids??

Poor Abby was so tired she just crashed when we got her home too.

Here is what it looks like when the guitar is hooked up correctly.

It was a fun day, but unfortunately we ended up sharing our bug with several in the family and sent it home with many family members, which is too bad. We would never have gone to visit the family it we had known that would be the result.

Christmas gifts for everyone

This year for Christmas Eve we celebrated by sharing the stomach flu with each other. Tori was throwing up on Monday followed by Abby on Tuesday and Chris and I followed on Thursday. We were supposed to have my parents and the missionaries over for dinner so I quickly made calls out and told them to stay away in hopes that we would keep this to just us. We spent the day resting, sleeping and watching movies.

I had to wrap presents so I was doing that with the little strength I had left at 9 tonight and just finished so I am headed off to bed. Santa has gotten here and left some presents and so we hope that tomorrow we all feel better.

Family Pictures and day after Thanksgiving shopping

Last year I thought as we got so close to Christmas that it was too late to go do family pictures and so I decided to wait until after the Holiday to get them done. This turned out to be a disaster as we found out the hard way. The Christmas decor was already down and so we had to live with a plain background and then there were the uncooperative children.

This year I vowed to earlier. So on the day after Thanksgiving I got up at about 3:30 to do some early Christmas shopping for those early door busters. I was at Kohls before their doors opened at 4AM and had a great time going from store to store. I went into several stores and didn't buy anything (Walmart and Toys R Us to name a few) because I couldn't bare to stand in those crazy lines. In addition to my own shopping I did some for family.

I even went to the consignment shop and found a few cute things for the girls. I got home at 11, ate lunch and we all got ready for picture time. When we got there for our 1PM appointment, we had to wait over an hour and after we got our pictures done it was about another 45 minutes to even look at the pictures.

Although we had to wait a long time it was worth it, because we got some good pictures of the kids. Here are a few of my favorites from the day.

Tori with her Jersey on

Abby in her Jersey

Both Girls
Our Family picture with everyone, except mom but I was told that will be corrected this year. I was going to wear Chris' Jersey, but when I put it on today it was like a moo moo so I opted to go with the Canada shirt instead.

Another Family picture.
This is one of my favorite. We got it in black and white to hang in our house.

We had promised the girls a treat if they were good so afterwards that is just what we did. Then we all went home for a nap.
Overall it was a fun, but long day.

Another extension??

Well since not everyone out there knows yet and maybe some are still wondering...are you still at your current job?? Let me give you the newest update.

Yes I am still working to help with the big conversion that was set to go in mid November but was pushed until January 2009. I am now extended into January sometime and we will see from there. Although it is certainly not the best time to be in the job market, I am hopeful that it will turn out okay as there was a lot of prayers involved in making that decision.

So it will be 2009 before there is a word of new employment opportunities.