January 2008

Happy New Year Everyone!

We had a wonderful holiday season. We enjoyed a wonderful week for Christmas in St. George with grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles. The kids of course were spoiled with a visit from santa, with presents, and with way too much totally delicous food. We enjoyed every second of it. Thanks everyone for making everything so absolutely perfect and wonderful.

After returning home, we frantically put away Christmas decorations, all the new toys and Christmas presents, and did laundry, as we tried to resume back to normal life. We did enjoy a week of relaxing around the house (not being in such a hurry) as school did not start back up until Jan. 7th. New Years Eve we shared milkshakes with our neighbors and fireworks at 10pm (so the little ones could go to bed) and then we played games till about 1 am. The boys stayed at home and watched tv till midnight and then went to bed. New Years day was a work day for us. We got many big jobs done after which we went to see and enjoyed the new movie 'Waterhorse'. Jessika was also very excited and devistated due to her dad pulling out her 1st loose tooth. Jan 2 we fondued to carry on the tradition of the Nichols family (but the 1st just came to soon). The kids enjoyed playing with friends everyday the rest of the week.

Jan. 7th the kids returned to school and we were completely shocked by a routine back in our lives. But it was a good thing. We are now well into the schedule and are enjoying each day. Anthony turned 11 on the 10th and we celebrated it for 3 days in a row. On Thurs. I took him to lunch (free for birthdays at Joe's), made stroganoff for dinner (one of his favorite meals), and then we had Wade & Ronnijean's family, Mark, and our neighbors family (Bill & Sherry) over for carmel brownies, ice cream, and presents. We enjoyed visiting, celebrating, and dancing with the DDR. Anthony got many fun things for his birthday and really is enjoying all his presents. Fri. after school, we had 5 of his friends from school over. They played a little football and then we had cake, ice cream, and presents. After that we took them to the recreation center where they all enjoyed climbing the rock wall, playing basketball and wall ball (in the raquetball courts), and just being boys. We got pizza and went back to our house to eat it. Then it took me about an hour to actually get them in the car, but after susceeding we took all the boys home. I really believe everyone had a fantastic time and the best part it was super simple for me. Sat. night Anthony wanted us to take him to dinner (just mom and dad) so we went to his choice Macaroni Grill where he enjoyed shrimp scampi linguine. Benjamin got to babysit and he was pleased to do so. (ofcourse only if we pay him)

Okay, so as if I didn't have enough to do already, I decided to spice up my life and start teaching a song/dance group called sunshine generation. So after taking a week to revamp our schedule and figure out dates, my piano lessons, the boys piano lessons, scouts, etc... I figured I could teach on Wednesdays. I have been frantically trying to learn the dances (2 per age group and 2 for the total group for a grand total of 8 dances to songs I've never really heard of before) I did this to make my life easier (haha) so I wouldn't have to drive to Chandler on Wed and Queen Creek on Tues. Now I just go to south Gilbert on Wed afterschool till 6:30 to teach three classes. Logically it is helping me out, but am I insane or what! WHAT! (Yes, I still teach 5 piano lessons each week)

The 25th Jeremy & I took some of the young men in our suburban and drove to Pinetop for the youth snow trip. We left the girls at our neighbors house and took the boys to Wade & Ronniejean's house. They all had an absolutely wonderful time and we were grateful to know they were in good hands and not to worry about them. We went first to Claysprings to our Stake Presidents Cabin where we had a nice fireside ( a dating panel which Jeremy and I were on) and enjoyed cookies. Then we went to Monica's house where we were welcomed so warmly about 12 am. We enjoyed sleeping at the Horne's and enjoyed a great breakfast thanks to Monica & Adam. They were very wonderful to let us stay and eat. We had the deacons with us and they were pretty well behaved, except I'm not sure if I need more than one hand to count the hours of sleep they got. Sat. morning we took them to the old ski run and met the rest of the youth to enjoy a few hours of sledding. It was fun and there was no major injuries. Thank Goodness! Except...

Well before going into that we returned to the Horne's because we wanted to take Braydon and Jocelyn home with us for the week, only problem Braydon didn't want to come. That's okay--Jocelyn was so excited to come and we were so excited to have her.

Well, Sunday morning Jeremy woke me and said he wanted me to take him to the ER. He had been complaining that his eye was hurting (like there was something in it, but it had been this way since Sat. morning) So we got the kids ready for church and went to the ER. We called the children when it was time and sent them to go to Primary and Class. They were very responsible and got themselves there and home. Meanwhile, Jeremy was told he had a small abrasion at the 6 o'clock position where the white meets black in his eye. He was given a prescription drop and pain killer and told to see an eye doc on Mon. So we left got the med's and went home. We then enjoyed a somewhat quiet lazy Sunday afternoon.

Mon. he went to the doctor and was told that it was worse than a small abrasion and given another medication. Then he returned on Wed. to find out that so far it was healing, but the swelling wasn't going down. He returned again on Thurs. the doc said things were looking good and now he is doing pretty well.

Meanwhile, the week has been going pretty well. Jocelyn has enjoyed her stay here and was even hesitant to speak to her parents on the phone because she didn't want to go home. Tues. Chelsey, Jocelyn, and I went to a field trip to Bashas grocery store. We had to wear hair nets. It was a lot of fun. We saw a pizza made, cake decorated, meat sliced, went into the fridgerator, felt the freezer, tasted oranges and a brand new kind of apple called a jazz apple (a cross between two current apples), then they got to enjoy the pizza and a cookie. It was fun. Chelsey and Jocelyn have played non stop. Infact, I could pretty much do whatever and they are always entertained, but like Monica said it is almost more work to actually figure out what to accomplish when you are used to accomplishing little to nothing extra.

Thurs. we drove to Pinetop about 8:30 at night by the time I finally got everything ready. Fri. the 1st (I will cheat and tell a little of Feb.) We went skiing. I took the boys and Adam took Braydon. Monica watched the girls. The boys did a great job and picked up skiing on their first run. I was way more than impressed. They are almost pros after only one day. We even went to the top and skiied a blue square. We had good weather so everything was great. Sat. we took the kids sledding on the golf course. They all had a wonderful time. We watched the funeral on t.v. Monica & Adam fixed a wonderful steak lunch. We had a great time visiting them. Thanks again Monica & Adam. Next time, I will let the boys ski together and I will attempt to teach the girls. Hopefully in another week or two.

We hope you all are doing good. We miss all of you and look forward to summer and reunions when we can come visit people. We are excited for Julie, Mom, & Dad to come visit. Have a wonderful Month everyone!

Love,

The Holts