Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas!

I love Christmas!  It's a wonderful time to celebrate family and the birth of our Savior.  This year Zach was able to take Christmas off from work so we got to enjoy it early in the morning with all of us there!  I was excited to see how Stetzen would like Christmas this year because last year he was too little to get any of it.  I think he liked it, but he still didn't really get what was going on. 

 

I think his CAT Loader and Dump Truck were his favorite toys this year!  He loved getting rides from his dad while sitting in his dump truck.  He also thought it was a great little chair for him!  Santa came through this year for sure!

I also had to post this picture of Stetz.  After his dad had pushed him around the house a dozen times, he still wanted rides.  This is his desperate cry for yet another ride on his dump truck.

In addition to his CAT trucks, Stetz got a nativity set, clothes, a fire truck, and some John Deere tractors.

 

This year I hope Zach liked his presents.  He received a saw-zaw, wolf call, pajamas, and a gun safe.  I think I really surprised him with the wolf call.  He had been looking for one for several months but couldn't find the kind that really brought them in.  I did some research and decided on one and hoped it was what he was looking for, or something as good or better.  It turns out I found the exact one he wanted.  Now he's planning his wolf hunting trip to use his new call.  

 

This year Zach did pretty good!  He bought me speakers for my iPod, a new laptop for church, a comfy robe, and some pajamas.  I thought they were all perfect! 

 

 I love that my two favorite boys are here to share this Christmas with me!  It wouldn't be the same without them here, and I love them both!  I hope they had as wonderful a Christmas as I did!

 

 

After the work opening presents, Stetz needed a bath and a good bottle to relax and enjoy the rest of the day.

Hello Santa

 

This year the youth were in charge of planning the Ward Christmas Party.  Hence, that meant that the leaders were in charge.  The Young Women took charge of the program and we planned the "12 Days of Christmas" theme.  Each auxiliary was given an assignment to fill the McKinnon version of the 12 Days of Christmas as follows:

 

1.  On the first day of Christmas, mine eyes were glad to see, a green, sparkly, decorated tree

     Audience Sings “Oh Christmas Tree”

2.  On the second day of Christmas, mine ears were glad to hear, a Christmas Story.

     Favorite Christmas Story read by Carol

3.  On the third day of Christmas, mine ears were glad to hear, little children singing.

     Primary Sings "O Little Town of Bethlehem"

4.  On the fourth day of Christmas, mine eyes were glad to see, Christmas joy is spreading.

     Young Men Charity skit

5.  On the fifth day of Christmas, mine eyes were glad to see, a star brightly shining.

     Young Women sing “O Holy Night”

6.  On the sixth day of Christmas, mine eyes were glad to see,  all the symbols of Christmas.

     Poem “The True Meaning of Christmas” by Venetia & Doug

7.  On the seventh day of Christmas, mine ears were glad to hear, tickling of the ivories.

     Piano Solo “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” by JaNae

8.  On the eighth day of Christmas, mine eyes were glad to see, one redneck reindeer.

     Music Video, “Leroy the Redneck Reindeer” by Rustyn

9.  On the ninth day of Christmas, mine eyes were glad to see, carolers singing.

     Audience Sing Favorite Carol

10.  On the tenth day of Christmas, mine eyes were glad to see, chipmunks sing & dance.

       Skit by Bishopric

11.  On the eleventh day of Christmas, mine ears were glad to hear, Herald Angels singing.

       Audience Sing “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”

12.  On the twelfth day of Christmas, mine eyes were glad to see, Santa Ho-Ho-Ho-Ing!

       Primary Sing “Here Comes Santa Claus”

 

It was a fun program and the audience loved the skit by the Bishopric.  They stood behind a table and put pants on their arms and the young men stood behind them and were their arms.  They sang and danced to a Chipmunk Christmas song, and the whole audience roared in laughter.  I didn't get a picture or video of them, but they looked like this.

 

 

I really hope that I won't be in charge of the program again.  I'm not the creative, funny type to handle that kind of thing.  Hopefully everyone enjoyed the night.

 

After the program, Santa came in and the children went crazy!  They love having Santa come.  Stetzen was on the fence with him again this year.  But, he did love the orange Santa gave him and tried to eat it, skin and all!

 

 

Petey Boy

 

Here is the latest edition to our family of pets!  It's Petey.  I really do love the markings and look of this stud colt.  Among the list of colors of horses I'd like, I wanted a sorrel horse with 4 white socks and a white diamond on its head.  Petey pretty much sums all that up!  Now all I need is a creamy red dunn, and I've got all the ponies I want! 

 

Ever since I found out that the Hickey's sell colts every year, I have to take a peek at all of them each fall.  This year, I, along with Zach's dad, were able to convince Zach to buy yet another colt for the ranch.  I've decided that instead of raising cows, I would like to have a horse ranch to breed and break out colts.  Of course, Zach would have to do all the riding, but I could play with all the cute babies and do their ground work!  But, if we did that, I think we'd just be horse poor.  I do like the idea of "collecting" them though! 

 

Nothing beats having a horse that will walk straight to you from the field every time he sees you!  That's my goal with all these new horses.  Mr. Darcy is starting to do that now, just like Fred and Stumpy do.  I'm glad I picked him out.  I think he's going to be the nicest of the four colts we bought a couple of years ago!