Christmas '06

So, I think I've started a habit of apologizing at the beginning of each post for my long absences...so here it goes again: I'm sorry I haven't blogged in so long, but life really does get busy and sometimes computer time is the last thing on my "to do" list, so I never get around to blogging. Anyway, that's a lame excuse, but I kind of think not many people really read my blog anyways, so no one really cares all that much.

Anyway, we made it through Christmas!! That's all I have to say!

Ok, you want details?? I'll give 'em to ya. We went to Claresholm for a little get together on Saturday (the 23rd) with Bens family and of course I forgot my camera. But really, who wants to see my pictures of the event when Rebecca's there snapping pics of everyone? No one. So I don't feel bad. We had fun, although I think we're in a bit of trouble for not following the "price limit" that no one told us about. I can't be blamed for something I didn't know about. Anyway, sometimes you've got to look forward to Christmas.

So on Sunday, Ben and I went to our own ward which was more than packed. Our chapel was full and the entire gym was crawling with people who couldn't find chairs to sit on. I tought my Valiant 9 class for the first time since being called, and let me tell you, they are very different from the 16/17 year old girls I'm used to teaching. It's an interesting calling and a lot of fun....and I suspect I'll spend a little less time talking about all the cute boys in the ward, which believe me I AM FINE WITH! Then after church we went to Nate and Tans for our Christmas celebration.
It started with food...lots of food:


We ate until our little (and large depending on which of my siblings you are talking to) stomachs couldn't handle anymore.

Then we had a little nativity:
I'm not sure why Ben and I were Mary and Joseph when baby Jesus wasn't even our kid...Oh well. I was Mary and it worked well enough. I don't think Ben was too excited about wearing a towel on his head, but he had no choice.

Then we went caroling to the neighbours and gave out things like Pass along cards and other good missionay tools. We had tons of fun watching Lucy dance like the little Star she is. And then we did a little Readers theatre thing which was also fun. Sorry I have no pics of these events.

We hung out for hours and hours and finally decided it was time for bed. We all got a good nights sleep thanks to the lack of kids old enough to understand the whole Santa/Christmas thing. When we woke up in the morning we opened our stocking and then ate breakfast and then opened our gifts...your basic Christmas. Let me tell you, we got S-P-O-I-L-E-D!!! I get spoiled every year so that was no surprise, but Josh (who usually gets forgotten at Christmas...and his Birthday which is only 3 weeks later) got pimped out! Literally. Among his many presents, he now has this total pimpn' suit and a ton of accesories to go with it. I have a feeling mom and dad are trying to get him married off. Speaking of which, did you know they are now in the singles ward with him? I guess he needed someone there give him a little push, or maybe it's to keep the slimey boys away from Sarah. Really, It could be both.

Ok, I'm totally off topic. Back to Christmas. So we had a fun Christmas day just hanging out, watching movies and playing games. We had an amazing Christmas dinner made by Nate and Tan (congrats on your first very succesful Turkey Dinner!!). It was seriously sooooo good, good enough that I now want to sign up for Tans stress free Christmas class. She had this whole dinner thing under complete control. Now, if you could have only been there to compare it to the Breakfast I was in charge of. I made bagel/cheese/bacon sandwhiches...which had me full on freaking out within half an hour. Tan mad a full Turkey dinner with the entire works and didn't have a single freak out moment. You should have seen her go!

Anyway, Marcus and Alexander got matching PJ's and were soooo cute all day long! Here's one of Ben playing with them...aren't they sweet??

And finally, here's a sure sign that your Husband had a good Christmas!! (also a sure sign your Husband is addicted to his tools...the new saw will stay in the living room until all of his friends have seen it which could be days or weeks or even months....please pray for me.)

Ben got so many tools he can hardly handle it! I htink he's most proud of this new saw...he got a free impact driver with it. Now let me explain Ben and his power tool obsession. He started out with a 14V drill, which wasn't enough, so he got this Rigid Combo Kit; which also wasn't enough so he needed to get this Bosch Saw . So for those of you that don't use tools and need some explanation as to why I think this is crazy, I'll explain. He has a 14V drill, an 18V drill; a 14V impact driver (just like a drill in my eyes) and a 12V impact driver, a reciprocating saw, a circular saw, and now a pimpin' mitre saw. This isn't even touching on the countless number of non power tools he has or even the ones he uses for his business. These are his personal tools. Does anyone really need this many tools?? I've been told many times that a man can never have too many tools, so to that I say:

A woman can never have too many shoes...or jeans...or shirts...or dresses...or diamonds.

With that, all I have left to say is I hope you had a Merry Christmas and hope you have a Happy New Year! I know I will.

It's almost Christmas!!!!

So it's taken us a few days, but Ben and I finally got the tree up and decorated. We have this great system...Ben puts the lights on (all 500 of them) and then I decorate all I want. I don't criticize his lights and he doesn't mock my decorations, well besides the bow on top. We just can't find something we like, so the bow will have to do for now!
We also have this great system where he puts up the outside lights (Ben has a thing for lights) and I watch...from inside that is. Although last night he had me climb the ladder to hold something for him...I was almost in tears b the end (not a fan of heights) so he eventually sent me inside to program the light timer.

Here are the pictures of the outside lights. Can I just say how hard it is to take a picture on the night setting when I'm shivering? That should explain the blurry picture.

Here's one with a flash and not on night setting...I think you get the idea.

So there's a story behind these lights. It all started the day Ben was born...he was born with some strange obsessions, one of them being the need to have everything be perfect. Our lights for example! He would not settle for the regular icicle lights, he needed the LED ones. And let me tell you, LED icicle lights are H-A-R-D to find!!! Last year we spent an entire week searching through every single Walmart trying to find enough lights to finish the house properly. And when I say searching I mean it, I was crawling on the floor looking under shelves, climbing on the shelves stealing lights from others carts and so one (keep in mind I was pregnant with twins at the time, so it was quite the site). Anyway, each Walmart had about one string and we needed EIGHT! So after coming home short handed every day, we finally decided to look online to see what other retailers carried these same lights. Well, to our surprise London Drugs had them too...and even more to our surprise, the were fully stocked!! When we walked in the store we found a million strings of the exact lights we needed within 5 minutes. Note to self...skip Walmart next time and go for London Drugs first, you can always count on them. So, that's the story, but what I think is the funniest part of all, is Ben is still bothered by the lights. Supposedly he thinks one of the strings is a different colour from the rest. Can you tell which one?? I can't, but once in a while I bring it up just to bug him...ahhh the joys of being married to a perfectionist.