Holiday cards

We have loved getting everyone's holiday cards and letters this year. We really look forward to hearing updates on you lives and seeing how your families have grown. We cherish this yearly correspondence from our family and friends, so we wanted to say thank you to all of you who sent us cards & letters. We are glad to hear that 2009 has been good to you and we pray that 2010 will be even better. We love you and to those of you who we don't see often: we miss you!

Christmas

We had the very best Christmas ever this year! I was a bit nervous about since I had decided that even though it should have been a "Smith Christmas", our family was not going to pack up and drive to Boise with them meaning we would be spending it alone. Well, not exactly alone, cause the Stuckis also live here in town, but more alone than ever before. I was comfortable with my decision, but felt bad about breaking tradition. My parents came over on Christmas Eve to open gifts together and say good-bye. Van got an awesome electric ride-on motorcycle with a sweet Harley Davidson outfit from them and a rocking horse that makes noise from my grandparents. Then we had our traditional Eve dinner at the Stucki's where everyone gets to pick their favorite appetizer to make and we just have a munchie smorgasbord all night. We had hummus, chicken nuggets,quiche, home-made ice cream, jalapeno poppers, home-made pizza, and tons of other fun junk-food! Christmas morning was low key and super fun. We slept in and came into the living room as a family to see what Santa brought. Then we had breakfast and opened our presents. We went back to the Stucki's house in the evening after we got everything cleaned up. That night Brittany and Jace come over with thier family to open presents. As always, we got spoiled by everyone! When all was said and done, we all agreed that this was the very best Christmas ever and we decided to stay at home from now on. We loved the slow pace and the intimacy of just having our small little family together on our Savior's birthday. We were able to enjoy each moment without having to rush or change gears before we were read to. It was everything that Christmas is supposed to be and I couldn't have had a more perfect holiday! We hope your was just as sweet!

Santa

Santa Clause came to the library for story time. He read the kids a story and they all got to sit on his lap & get a candy cane. We had seen a few Santas around town and Van was loved to say "Ho Ho Ho!" whenever he saw them. He was excited to sit with Santa, but got only the slightest bit nervous when he got on his lap. He told Santa he wanted a motorcycle. Van talked about seeing Santa Clause for the rest of the day.

My top mom moments of the week:

1. Van asked to poop on the toilet- and he did it!
2. Getting out of the shower to find him on the changing table covered in an entire JUMBO sized bottle of baby powder.
3. Watching Van say his own little prayer after we finished family prayers- arms folded, eyes closed and making up his own words to Heavenly Father.
4. Playing "Guitar Hero" with racquetball rackets while dancing and singing "do doo do doo".
5. Making a gingerbread house at the Library and later finding Van holding the whole thing up to his mouth so that he could suck all the candies off until only cracker was left.
6. Finding Van under the table at the scrapbook store- eating paint!

What a week... if only I had pictures...