Holbrook Family: Holiday Festivities

Monday, December 23, 2013

Holiday Festivities

December is unbelievably crazy. Fun. But crazy. We started the month off with our annual hot chocolate party for our neighbors on December 1st. The kids were so excited for their friends to come over ... and for the pending sugar rush.

Then Jeff and I joined his family (those that live in Utah, anyway) to decorate our tree for Festival of Trees the next morning. Big thanks to Niki and my mom for babysitting, Em Fuller for coming last minute to lend her artistic eye, and the minions who let me boss them around (you know who you are). Our tree sold and I once again felt very privileged to be a part of something so amazing.

"Snow is Glistening"

Another big thank you to Dave & Arline for watching my kids ALL day on the 6th so I could set up and decorate for our Ward Grinch Party on the 7th. It's pretty amazing what you can do with pvc pipe, felt, a glue gun, a few boxes, and a roll of butcher paper. Oh, and a chair rack. Mount Krumpit would have ceased to exist without it. It was fun to be a part of such a great team.

The kids attended their own party in the primary room where they got to play bingo, make santa hats, get their hair done who-ville style, eat pizza, and watch "The Grinch."

After the adults ate, the kids joined us for a entertaining reenactment of the Grinch story. Again, such amazing and talented people in our ward.

Then on the 12th we celebrated Jacob's 4th birthday!! He was excited to get two nerf guns (although I think Jeff was more excited than he was) and Optimus Prime and Bumblebee transformers from his sisters.

Then those family members that could, joined us at the Pizza Factory for dinner, cake, and presents.

Unfortunately it ended up being league night at Fat Cats so we ended up doing a few rounds of mini golf instead. The kids were disappointed but ended up having fun whacking balls all over the place, running amok, and seeing each other's teeth glow.

December 14th I had my annual RS brunch. I was in charge of making all the waffle batter - a yummy recipe that uses Belgian pearl sugar. Apparently I have really good yeast or something because it kept growing and growing and spilling all over the place. But the mess was worth it. Those waffles were A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.

The 14th was also my Grandma's birthday so I joined my mom, sisters, grandma and aunt at Market Street for lunch. It was fun to get together and just talk. And the hysterical laughing that ensued at the end was much needed.

Due to the short nature of my sister Lisa's trip in town we crammed a lot of things into just a few days. One of them being a grandkid picture. After lunch at Market Street we all met at my house to attempt an updated picture to give to my parents for Christmas. And attempt is about all we can manage with 13 grand kids - 11 of which are 7 and under.

After our picture we made our way to my mom's house for our annual Christmas party. We had dinner, played minute to win it games...

... and opened gifts from my mom.

Christmas and presents can be so exciting! Don't you think?

My brother-in-law was able to get an interview at the U for his fellowship so he was able to join us for our adult party on the 17th. We enjoyed another yummy dinner (has anyone noticed how much you cook and eat the month of December???), white elephant gift exchange, and lots of laughing and talking.

A hilarious round of laughing ensued when Nick decided to model his white elephant gift.

We had the Newman Christmas party on the 22nd -

more food, more presents, and of course our traditional pinata.

Then Jenn and her kids (and my mom) came over on the 23rd to decorate sugar cookies and have dinner. I can't believe Christmas is so close!

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Emilyisms

2.22.13 ~ "Ahh! You exasperate me!"

3.06.13 ~ “This has been a horrible day! I didn't want to get up early. I didn't want to go to school. I didn't want to go to gymnastics. And Jacob just ate my goldfish!"

5.18.13 ~ Em: "What's that noise?" Jeff:"It's to let you know you're drifting and driving off the road.” Bec: "Or to wake you up if you're starting to fall asleep." Em: "But what if you're a deep sleeper?"

5.24.13 ~ Looking at a treasure map: "This is puzzling."

6.01.13 ~ To Gma H: "Will you be lonely when we move?"

6.01.13 ~ Em: "Do I have to get married?" Bec: "No. You don't have to. Why? Do you not want to?" Em: *sigh* "I like my last name."

7.28.13 ~ Em: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10. Jinks! You owe me a soda!" Jeff: "Em, do you know what a soda is?" Em: "Yup. Like Sprite, Root Beer, and Dr. Coke."

8.21.13 ~ "Jacob, you need to listen in school or you won't be smart like I am."

9.03.13 ~ Bec: "You have gum. I can smell it." Em: "Yup. And I can taste it."

9.10.13 ~ Em: "Are we going to Red Robin?" Jeff: "Why would we want to go there?" Em: "Oh! I know that voice!" Then as Jeff turned into RR parking lot Em said, "Ha! I knew it!"

9.29.13 ~ Em: "Oh Yummy!" Jeff: "I thought you didn't like potato chips." Em: "Apparently I do now."

10.09.13 ~ Bec: "You're a smart boy Jacob." Em: "Maybe he'll be like me!"

2.18.14 ~ While eating a cupcake: "I love frosting. It just tickles the roof of my mouth."

Jacobisms

3.04.13 ~ Bec:"Brrr! Your hands are freezing! Were you cold while we were outside?" J:"Yup." Bec: "Why didn't you tell me?"J: "Cause me couldn't find my pockets. They were hiding."

3.05.13 ~ Talking about missions: Bec: "Matthew went to England. Daddy went to Brazil. Where do you want to go?" J: "On a hike."

3.17.13 ~ Bec:"Whoa! You have a messy face. We need to wash you off." J:"No. My tongue's washing me off."

3.21.13 ~ Bec:"Jacob, please don't. You're not supposed to climb on that." J:"Emily does." Bec:"Uh-oh, we better spank her bum." J:"Yeah! Two times!"

8.22.13 ~ On the 2nd day of school:"Mommy, we lost Emily. we need to find her."

9.01.13 "Mom, my toot left a mark in my underwear."

9.04.13 ~ Bec: "You have preschool tomorrow." J: "Yup. All by myself!" Bec:"All by yourself?! Are you big enough for that?" J: "Yup. I have a big boy bed so I'm big."

9.07.13 ~ Eating breakfast burritos:"Mom, my wrap around is undoing."

9.18.13 ~ Eliza was jumping in her crib:"Mom! Liza's a kangaroo!"

9.18.13 ~ "I'm super angry right now."

9.21.13 ~ "You're the best-est mommy in the whole world."

9.25.13 ~ "Mom, you're the wicked king. And I'm Liza's dad."

10.01.13 ~ "I have a song stuck in my head. I don't want anyone to hear it so I'm going to leave it there."

10.13.13 ~ "It's raining cats & dogs. ... Lots of cats & dogs."

10.14.13 ~ "Mommy, me & Liza love you."

11.11.13 ~ "Mom! Did you see my awesome strength!? I can lift heavy things!"

11.16.13 ~ Bec:"You're pretty smart." Jeff: "No, you're super smart."Jacob: "Yup! Daddy got it right!"

12.08.13 ~ J: "I'm not going to be a kid." Jeff: "You're not?" J: "Nope. I'm going to grow up and be a dad."

12.15.13 ~ Jeff:"Have you been playing with Batman?" J: "Yep. And Robin Hood. Why isn't his name Red Robin?"

12.24.13 ~ Em & J had eye infections and needed drops.Jeff: "Ok, who's first?" J: "Emily because she's brave. Not me because I cry."

12.28.13 ~ "Liza, I'm glad I have a baby sister."

12.29.13 ~ Bec:"Jacob, why are you still wearing your jacket?" J: "Because if you want to you can."

1.06.14 ~ After listening to a Mozart song for a few minutes: "Mom? Who's being chased?"

1.08.14 ~ "Mom!" *sigh* "That's terrible!"

1.13.14 ~ Bec: "You get what you get..."J: "And you not cry."

1.13.14 ~ "Mom, mmm-ini wheats starts with cow?"

1.27.14 ~ After 'reading' something: Bec: "Hey! How did you know that's what that said?" J:"I don't know. Cause I'm super smart."

2.02.14 ~ While playing with Little People: ~ J: "Mom, where's the mom & baby?" Bec: "I don't know." J: "Maybe they're missing. Maybe when we were at Grandma & Grandpa's a monster came to our house & took them."

2.18.14 ~ J: "Mom, I'm never going to sell Liza." Bec:"You're not?" J:"Nope. Cause she makes me happy."

2.19.14 ~ After Jacob farted: Jeff:"Toot bum." J with a quizzical look, "Dad, why did you just call me tuba?"

2.20.14 ~ Bec: "What sports do you want to do?" J: "Baseball, soccer, basketball, football, ... and skeleton. But not fast skeleton. Slow skeleton. Because fast skeleton makes my tummy hurt."