Merry Christmas!

We had such a great Christmas! It was just us on Christmas Eve, and it really was a fun day together. Dustin only had to work for a few hours in the morning, and then we ran a few last minute errands and finished up some Christmas preparations. It was fun and so relaxing.

That afternoon the kids and I made sugar cookies for Santa, which we all LOVE making and eating. Kennedy especially loves to help, and wear her apron and taste everything. Hudson started out really excited to help and was being good and very cute, but he got bored quickly and soon was making messes and terrorizing the house.

Based on his behavior on Christmas Eve, it really is a wonder Santa brought him anything...he knocked down a few of the little trees a couple of times, tried to open some presents several times, and pretty much tried to ruin our traditional fancy Christmas Eve dinner of crab legs and cheddar garlic biscuits....ughh...two-year-olds. Whatcha gonna do??

Kennedy and I love to have fancy dinners and use the nice dishes, eat in the dining room, and light candles. Dustin is good to put up with it, and Hudson does his best to not cooperate at all...

That night the kids got to open thier new jammies and we read Christmas stories together before tucking them in. 

Kennedy was so excited, but still was asleep really quickly and didn't get up until almost 8 o'clock...I love that girl! We were so grateful for her not waking up at, like, 4 am like I always tried to...

Here is Hudson with his loot. You'd never know what a nightmare he is most of the time...apparently Santa is a sucker for that little smile, as well...

And here is Kennedy with her haul. She was such a good girl this year, and this proves it! She was so excited about her American Girl doll and the beautiful horse to go with it. She was so much fun for Christmas this year!

We had a great Christmas Day, we didn't get out of our jammies at all! We relaxed, watched some of our new movies, and drank hot chocolate and ate home-made cinnamon rolls, thank you Dustin. Dustin did go out to push snow in his new coveralls, that was it. It was awesome!

Since Dustin and I are going on a fun trip to Grenada and the Dominican Republic in February, we had decided on no presents for us. He broke his rule and got me amazing Ugg slippers and the cutest new swimming suit. He knew exactly what I wanted, thanks Dustin! Enjoy those new covies...I really don't know that they count for a present. I found his old pair today in the wash, and I'm pretty much ashamed at how hammered they got before he asked for a new pair. What a selfless guy.

More Partyin'...

Last weekend the kids and I went to Logan for Grandma Marcia's Christmas Craft Party. The kids had such a great time. They made cookies, crafts, and lots of noise! They loved running around the church gym, and enjoying their cousins.

Seth, Paige, Taft, Kennedy and Rhett making fun Christmas crafts!



Santa even came and had gifts for all of the kids. Kennedy was thrilled to see him (again) and was all smiles. Hudson was extremely nervous until he watched everyone else get a present from the bug guy, then the greed took over and he wanted in...little stinker...

All the Chambers Cousins!

Dustin's Grandpa Cooley and sweet Grandma Charlotte were there, and I was so glad to visit with them for a bit, and for my kids to see them. I didn't know any of my great-grandparents, and I love that Kennedy and Hudson have gotten to know quite a few of theirs....

Thanks for the fun party, Grandma Marcia!

We even got to see Grandpa Steve on Saturday, too. He gave the kids the cutest new pajamas. Hudson was so excited about his Lightning McQueen jammies he couldn't even wait to take his other clothes off, he had to put them on over his shirt! He is so obsessed with all things "Cars"...

Kennedy loves Grandpa Steve, and the feeling is mutual, he just can't ever stop talking long enough to get a picture with her... I have several that look just like this!

On Saturday night we stayed at Garret and Trulie's house and got to help Garret celebrate his 26th birthday. We were so happy to be there with them. Happy Birthday, little brother! Let me just say, Garret is definitely in my, like, top 3 favorite people. He was my very first best friend and has always been so funny, kind, smart and generous. He makes me so proud to be his big sister and has brought one of my newer best friends into our family (Trulie) and has given me the cutest, sweetest, fluffy little nephew. I love you Garret!

We also got to go visit Grandma Webb for a while on Sunday morning. We had such a great visit. I loved being able to spend a little time with my Grandma, gossiping, doing hair, looking at pictures. Sorry about my messy kids, Grandma!

There is never enough time to visit everyone that I want to when we come down for a weekend...sigh. I hate making the trip by myself, too. Dustin was on call over the weekend and had to stay home. We missed you like crazy, Dustin! I just wanted to say, a big THANK YOU to Wes and Garret for all of your help, you made the trip so much easier on me! I'm so lucky to be surrounded by such gentlemen! Also, thank you to Megan and Trulie for being the best hostesses, as always. You are the best!

Webb Party in Salt Lake City

We had the greatest time last weekend. My awesome parents sponsored the funnest party at the Hilton in SLC. All of us Webbs were there except for Jeff, Jill and Will, who were in Florida for some training for Jeff's job, and were very very missed! Pretty much gally-vanted and ate and laughed from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon...it was perfect. On Saturday, while the boys hit Crown Burger, my mom took all the girls to the Grand Christmas Tea Party at the Grand America (minus Preslie, she is way too destructive for that fancy place...). We went last year and it was such a hit, we did it again. It is just way too fun describe. We wear fancy clothes and drink fancy hot chocolate and fancy food at the fanciest place that we know of. It's so great! This year they had a story-teller there to entertain the little girls with Christmas stories while we lingered over our hot chocolate. They were enthralled! After that, they enjoyed twirling to the beautiful piano music in their fancy, matching dresses, courtesy of Grandma. So adorable.

Grandma and the pretty girls...

The dessert tray was gorgeous and loaded. It required much concentration to make our choices...yum!

After the tea party, we changed, and the girls hit the Gateway while the little girls and Jami made a Gingerbread house and the boys went to some surplus store for some very manly gally-vantin'. My mom even got matching shirts for the older girls to wear. Who cares if people thought we were in a singing group? It was fun!

Once it was dark, we headed over to Temple Square to see the lights.

It was so awesome. There really is nothing like Temple Square at Christmas-time.

It was snowy, so the idea was brought up to maybe skip it this year, but I fought, and it was worth it. I LOVE this tradition. Walking through the lights, seeing the nativity and the Christus, its just so inspiring. I remember being at the Tabernacle Choir Broadcast once when I was in High School, and there was a little girl there who had come to Temple Square at Christmas as her "Make A Wish." How can we not go every chance we get? We take all of our close temples, and just living here in "Zion" (Idaho counts!) for granted way too much!

Tayler, Huddy, and Kennedy Jae

After Temple Square, we went back to the Hotel to have a pizza party, talent show, do "Favorite Things" (tell about and give away an example of your favorite thing of 2008 - a treat, book, etc...can you tell mom loves Oprah? still, very fun) and exchange gifts.

Here are the highlights of our talent show:

Grandma accompanied Kennedy on Away in a Manger and Silent Night, and on very short notice. Nice Job!

Grandpa Jay gave the girls some artist lessons...

My mom will probably kill me for putting this picture on the blog, but seriously. How many people do you know who have moms / GRANDMA's who can do this? Nice talent, mom!

Cortnie also played an excellent piano number, and Jenna and Nate did a Dancing-With-The-Stars-inspired lift routine...very impressive. An awesome time was had by all. My favorite part was when we presented my parents with a huge, personalized temple picture - and Mom sort of giggled, and said "you'd better open your presents from us." We did and guess what? Smaller personalized temple pictures for each family. I was so thrilled! I was totally jealous of the one we were giving my mom...

On Sunday morning, we went to Tabernacle Choir Broadcast at the Conference Center. It was really fun, despite the parking fiasco and getting separated...
We ended up having to sit in the "Little Theater" because of having so many little ones, but it was fine, we had tons of room and the babies didn't have to worry about being too quiet. The guest soloist was a broadway star, and he sang "The Friendly Beasts" in the neatest way, doing different voices for all of the animals, we all loved it.

This was the closest we could come to getting a group shot in the matching outfits from Grandma. Can you tell where I get my love of matching from??

Later on Sunday we went to the Museum of Church History. I haven't been there is a while and it was great. There was a really fun kids room that everyone enjoyed...I mean everyone.

We even had our own little nativity. I think this picture is hilarious...aren't our guys good sports???

All in all, a most excellent party. Thank you so much to Mom and Dad, we had such a blast!

Kennedy's Christmas Program

Kennedy's school had their annual Christmas Program last week, and she was so excited to be in it! They sang lots of songs and did some dancing, too. Kennedy's class were little lambs and did a cute little routine. We were very proud! I was actually a little choked up during the whole thing, especially when they had the live nativity and a teenage boy sang a beautiful "Mary Did You Know." It was so beautiful and touching, and all of my other emotions about how I just couldn't believe how old Kennedy was getting, and I was feeling her excitement and nervousness about the night...it all combined to make me a little teary...jeez!

In this picture, she is straight down from the red fire thing on the back wall, on the second row from the back...

Cute little lamb!

Kennedy with her school buddies Bailey and Savannah.

Keeping Hudson by our seats was a full time job...we switched off on wrangling and camera duty...

Anyway, she was adorable, and insisted on accessorizing her required white shirt-black pants combo with a wide black belt. Yes, I was proud mama that night. :)