Christmas

We had a busy Christmas Eve and Christmas Day filled with family, food, and giving service. On Christmas Eve, we spent the morning and afternoon with Mum and Al who got to come down for two days to spend the holiday with us. Grandma and Zander took a long nap on the love sac. Mum was exhausted since she worked the night shift and drove down to the valley on the same day. 

In the evening, we went to Aunt Julie and Uncle Brent's for dinner and then headed to Coolidge to open gifts as a family. Santa was very kind to us this year! Zander loves all his new toys and books. 

On Christmas morning, we all woke up early to feed the homeless in downtown Phoenix. Two families started this tradition a couple years ago to teach their kids about giving service and we were lucky enough to participate with them last year. They take everything with them - tables, chairs, stoves, food - and set up underneath the 7th Avenue bridge near a couple of homeless shelters. This year, Mum & Al and Kylie & Stevan and the kids joined us. Last year we just cooked and served breakfast. This year we came with coats, clothes, socks, hygiene kits, scarfs, hats, and a lot more volunteers. It was a great way to spend Christmas morning!

The food line. All the teenagers were up front serving breakfast. 

Tristen and Ashlen passed out hygiene kits and $5 Walmart gift cards. The kids saved $65 in change and had the choice of using the money to buy gifts for each other or buy gift cards to pass out. They choose to pass out gift cards. 

All the coats & sweaters that were donated. 

Devin hanging out with the people. 

Merrill clan minus Megan, Eddie, Jayden, and Tage

Gotta love Ashlen's pose. 

We spent the afternoon at Kylie & Stevan's house. We opened gifts, ate a yummy lunch, and enjoyed each others company. Christmas night we went to the Merrills. We ate dinner, played with the Wii, and went to the movies to see True Grit. 

We really enjoyed our first Christmas with Zander. Can't wait until next year when he can open his own gifts. 

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

He's Certified!

Devin has been studying for the past two months for his CompTIA Network+ certification. He recently found out that the test would be changing starting January 2011 and you'd have to recertify every 3 years. If he took the test before the end of the year, he'd be certified for life. He knew that he better get his nose to the books and study so he could take it now.

All his studying paid off. He took the test this morning and passed! He got a 829 score out of 900. Devin is a whizz at computers, but we were a little nervous spending $240 on this test. If he didn't pass, he'd have to retake it and pay the fee again.

This is just the first step for Devin. In May, he'll have his associates degree from Central Arizona College. A good job is next and then on to ASU to get a Bachelors degree. You can do it babe!  

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas...

I love how happy we both are in this picture!

 

Christmas seems to creep up on us every year. We always wait until the last minute to get a tree and buy gifts.  Since it's Zander's first Christmas, you'd think that we would have been better this year. We weren't. It's better late than never, right?

We finally got a tree and decorated it tonight. Zander loves it! He's been rolling around on the floor trying to reach for the branches and decorations. It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas around our house now.   

It's finally done..

I finally organized my craft area! It's been a long 6 months since I decided I wanted to use the other half of our office for my craft/sewing/scrapbooking area. I had the shelves and table, but didn't have the motivation to do it. You'd think during the 9 weeks of maternity leave I would have gotten this done. After all, I was quite crazy the first few weeks cleaning all the cupboards in the kitchen, washing all the doors in our house, going outside to sweep the front porch and then ending up picking up all the weeds in the yard. I honestly felt like I had so much energy after having Zander. Then I got lazy and the task for the day was taking a shower and brushing my teeth.

 If you would have seen our office prior to this weekend, you would have thought we were on that show "Hoarders". Crap everywhere, stuff piled on the table, stuff on the floor. Ok - not that bad, but bad if you know what a clean freak, organized person I normally am. The area still needs a little work, but at least I have the table clean and the sewing machine out. Oh......the crafting possibilities! I am so excited.

 I can't get enough of my sweet boy!

Ugly Christmas Sweater & Mustache Party

Our friends, the Ethingtons, have an Ugly Christmas Sweater and Mustache party every year. This is the 3rd year we've gone. Normally we search Goodwill and DI for a sweater and come up empty handed. Everyone has already taken the good ugly sweaters! This year, we lucked out. We found our beautiful, ugly sweaters at Goodwill less than 2 weeks before Christmas. The Clawsons decorated their ugly sweaters and did a great job.

The party was fun. We ate chili and drank Martinelli's Sparking Apple Cider. We played bunco. Devin was the winner with the most points and I was the loser with the least amount of points. There was a white elephant exchange. Devin and I brought the best gifts. When we were in Coolidge dropping off Zander to Aunty Kaylee, we found a house giving away free stuff. We picked up a stereo (with a Paula Abdul tape) and a chalkboard. The recipients were not as thrilled as we were.  

Can't wait until next years party!

Santa Claus

A few weeks ago we had our ward Christmas party. It was Breakfast with Santa. Devin was out of town on a boy scout camp out, so Zander and I went. It was a lot of fun! Lots of food, good company, beautiful musical numbers, and of course Santa. Cousin Ashlen waited in line and we threw Zander in with her just before she got up to the big guy. He wasn't quite sure what to think about Santa, but at least he didn't cry. 

Zander loves watching Baby Signing Time. I think it's the catchy songs, cartoon animals, and all the babies they show that he likes. It keeps him occupied and happy for a 1/2 hour straight. Since he is learning, I figure it's productive tv time.

When I come home from work, I usually find Devin and Zander watching this dvd. Devin swears he watches it at least 4-5 times on the days he is home with Zander. Devin and I can recite all the songs and Zander gets a huge smile on his face when we sing the songs to him. With how many times Zander has watched this show, he better be signing very soon.

Uh Oh..

I hate when I do stupid things that end up costing us money.

My latest "uh oh" moment happened earlier this week when I broke our kitchen faucet. I was trying to be a good wife/mother/clean freak and wash out my bowl of pudding instead of leaving it in the sink. I went to turn on the faucet and snap. The top part just broke off. Now, I'm not a big lady and I do not have the strength of the Incredible Hulk. How was this possible? I don't know! We've been using the sink without the end part, but it is very difficult considering the water sprays straight up into the air when you don't have a towel over it. I've forgotten many times and been sprayed in the face. We need to give in and just buy a new faucet.

 I have had many of these "uh oh" moments. Let's see.....backing out of the garage and hitting the back of our car into Devin's work truck. Our car has a large dent. The work truck was fine. OR trying to kill ants in our closet by putting kitchen cleaner on them. I know ghetto, but we didn't have ant spray. The cleaner had bleach in it so we now have large bleach stains on the carpet. OR taking the ice tray out of the freezer to defrost the huge chunk that had accumulated. After a few days away for the Thanksgiving holiday, I open the freezer to find a giant ice mound in the trays spot and icicles forming down the sides of the freezer. OR trying to cut the sides of a candle with a kitchen knife. After an $800 trip to the ER, a tetanus shot, and 3 stitches, my hand is good as new. I could go on and on. I am thankful that I am married to such a patient and laid-back guy who doesn't get mad and assures me that everything will be ok. I know I would have FREAKED out if these situations were reversed. I could really learn something from him!

A Tooth!

Zander has his first tooth. The bottom right tooth has popped through and it's sharp. I think the bottom left one will be coming through soon. I'll miss this gummy smile!

FHE

We have a great group of friends who do family home evening with us every other week. The host family provides dinner, gives the lesson, and plans an activity. For the Merrill FHE, we ate yummy pulled pork sandwiches and went carolling to fellow ward members. We surprised the Powells, Hunsakers, Smiths, Campas, Lees, Hoffmans, and Potterfs. I am sure we sounded like a beautiful choir!

Gingerbread Houses

Yesterday I got into the Christmas spirit by decorating Gingerbread Houses with Charlotte, Jamie, and Kassidy. Charlotte made her Grandma's gingerbread and frosting and we each brought candies to decorate with. I felt like a little kid getting my fingers messy with frosting and eating a lot of candy along the way.