Christmas 2010

Christmas was nice and very low key this year; just our little party of 4 and the dogs . . . together, happy, and healthy what more could we ask for.

Here are the kids sportin' their new Christmas Eve pajamas and ready to put out the reindeer food.


Christmas Morning . . . . .This face is priceless . . . .A NEW BOOK!


Here is Ellie and her train made extra special by GREAT-Grandpa Larson in Ed's Shed toyshop.







Especially for me from Ethan. Several weeks ago the school had a santa's secret shop where students could go in and shop for their families on their own. Ethan used his own money and bought each of us a gift. He seriously brought me to tears at how much thought he put into the gifts and his excitement to give them to us. He got the "last red one for" me because he knew I'd like red better than purple. He's asked me several times since if I like it and I love to see the pride in his eyes when he sees me wearing it. For dad he got basketball cards. He tried "to find Boise State but they didn't have any". Ellie received a cute little flower with a peekaboo panda bear in the middle. So much fun, I love you Ethan!

Brutis taking an afternoon Christmas nap.

Vegas Bowl

When you answer your husband's call and it turns out to be his boss on the other line it's either really bad news or really good news. Well it turned out to be pretty dang good news. Apparently (well this is what he told me)in celebration of Obama keeping G.W. Bush's tax cuts in place he was sending us down to the Vegas Bowl. About a week before he was giving me a hard time because you know . . . all teachers are Democrats. Whatever the reason it was okay with me to be invited to join the "boys club" and head to the game.

"De Lawyer" (that's what Ethan calls Dell Loy) hooked us up with a pretty sweet ride; no lines, no security check, down and back in less than a total of 10 hours.



Part of the "the club" and son. Yes true blue USU Aggies, but they supported the Broncos this evening.

Chrissy & Scott

We were hooked up with some pretty nice seats too; 2nd row near 40 yard line.


Despite missing most of the first quarter because of the lousy parking situation (which was okay considering how the quarter went) we had a great time! The down pour of rain that greeted our arrival even stopped. I'm sure if we hadn't brought all of the rain gear we came prepared with it wouldn't have. The only draw back; no time for a little Vegas FUN. . . Boys Club had to be back to work.

Christmas in the City

Recently we headed into the "city" where we found jolly ol' St. Nick. As you can see Ellie wasn't very smitten with the ol' fella so dad helped out (yes, that is daddy's lap she's sitting on). Ethan was a little hesitant also.





We found Santa at the Gateway and spent lots of time at the water feature; this is always a highlight of the mall for the E's even when it's cold out.





One of the main reasons we headed in to the "city" was to visit Temple Square. This is our 4th Christmas in Utah and this is the first time we made in to see the lights. When we left our house it had been snowing all morning and we had several new inches on top of what was already on the ground so we thought this would be a great backdrop to the lights at Temple Square. We also knew it was warmer than normal so when we got through the canyon and there was hardly a trace of snow we shouldn't have been surprise. Snow on the ground or not the lights at Temple Square were beautiful!

It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas

. . . eee-verrrry--where you go.

I love hearing Christmas music; in the stores, on the radio, but the best is hearing it coming from our sweet Ellie singing her two favorite Christmas carols "Jingle Bells" and "Santa Cwaus is Coming to tOWn". It's truly the cutest thing ever. The other night, probably about an hour after being put to bed, we began hearing a distinct two year-old voice singing "Jingle Bells" loud as can be, even changing her pitch accordingly. We lay there listening to her over and over and finally when we figured out we should get it on video, she stopped.



getting ready with mom's makeup



It really is the "most wonderful time of the year", especially with kids. They make everything 10 times as fun, decorating the house, putting up lights, the tree, and enjoying all of the festivities that come along with the season.



Every year we get a live tree and every year we complain when it dries out and sheds all of its needles, BUT we love the smell of a fresh cut Christmas tree which makes every needle vacuumed up worth it.


Ethan's class spent an afternoon making candy houses. It was fun to just be the mom and help out in his class again. He was sooooo excited and of course our little artist was one of the last to finish his master piece.




Simba and Brutis are excited for the holidays too. They're even sharing!

Thanksgiving

Once again we headed up to Idaho for the holiday. This year all of the Krohn members were able to make it to the same place at the same time; at least for a few hours. With all of us spread across the western states, it was great to see everyone and to give all of the little cousins time to play together. We are so grateful for family especially COUSINS!!




Over the long weekend we also braved a COLD morning and headed out to the annual Boise Holiday parade hoping to cheer up after the Bronco defeat. The falling snow made for a lovely backdrop to the festivities.

Ethan did his best to stay warm.


Ellie would not wear her gloves or snuggle in the blanket and was quite miserable when Santa finally arrived at the end of the parade.



We also enjoyed meeting up with my favorite little Godson and of course his mommy too.

Blizzard of 2010

Well, that's what the media called it. It wasn't worse than storms we've had previous years since living here (of course I wasn't out on the road where I guess it was pretty bad), but it did initiate an early school closure for all of the schools in the valley.

SiLLy fAcEs