A Family Christmas

Our Family Christmas Album
I know there are serveral pictures on this post, but I took over a hundread pictures the last couple of days, and these were some of our favorites. I just love Christmas. It is a lot of work, and I did come close to a few meltdowns there close to the end. But when it's all said and done, it's all worth it! Our first stop on Christmas Eve was to Scott's dad and Gwens house. We didn't have a long stay, but it was full of yummy snacks( Gwens aleays got something tasty for us to eat)and opening presents. We were off to my Mom and Dads house for a deliousious Christmas Eve Dinner. I could smell the scumptious aroma from the driveway, after the kids ran in the front door. Jackson loved the train around the tree that he de-railed several times in the course of the evening(sorry dad). And the girls loved scouting out their presents with their cousins, Spencer and Miriam. My parents house looks like The North Pole at Chrismas time. The presents overflow into several rooms, and my moms wrapping is always so beautiful and almost as great as the gifts they hide inside. We had a wonderful evening together. Christmas morning was "the best ever" as quoted by Emma. Thats always good news to tired parents. We spent the afternoon visiting at my Grandma Slaughters house, with Aunts, uncles and cousins. We don't see each other very often anymore, and really enjoyed their company. We were off for our second stop at my dads parents house for a short but sweet visit. I love my grandparents, and the flood of memories that come from being in their familiar home. Our last stop of the day was at Scott's brother Brad and Judy's house. It took us a half hour to get from the circle they live in to the driveway, thanks to the few feet of snow that fell that day. It's always a party with the Wardle's! We had a great time and more delicous food. Waffles with a variety of toppings,(Thanks Brad for alowing Jack to help you make stacks of them) Christmas ham, funeral potatoes, pasta salad, it was awesome. We had a wonderful evening together laughing, eating, and opening gifts. The snow storm had begun again so we traveled one mile back to my parents house and spent the night with them. Thank you to all our family. We love you and cherish you all. We had a magical, memorable Christmas with you.

Thank-You

I just have to say "Thank-You" to a total stranger who's kind words made a world of difference to me today. Here's the story... We had a bad morning at our house trying to get out the door by 8:30 to get Emma to an Orthodontist appointment at 9:30. This is never easy to get 3 kids and myself all ready to go so early, no exceptions today! Long story short... Emma and I had an argument, that didn't go well(do any arguments go well)? Anyway this left me feeling terrible all the way to Salt Lake. Thoughts going through my head, how could I, should I, have handled that differently? Should I stick to my guns, or give in? Is she learning a lesson here, or was this all for nothing? On the way home we had a good talk, and I tryed to explain myself better, and apologized for the way I handled things. In an effort to make things good (and because she missed lunch at school)I let her pick where she wanted to go for lunch. She choose Apollo Burger. She ordered her favorite Apollo Burger sandwich, they are huge! I ordered a Large cheese burger combo, so Emma, Jack and I could share. Well I guess I made another mistake. Jack started screaming "I want my own drink"! I tryed to explain I got a big one to share, but he still wasn't happy. That only got worse when I cut the cheeseburger in half. He wanted his own. "Fix it" he screamed! After about 5 min. and lots of tears, he started to eat and calm down. On the way out of the restaurant a man stoped me and said something like "way to go". I didn't know what he was talking about. I said "what"? He said " you didn't give in" I was still a little confused. But he went on to say that I didn't give in when Jack wanted his own drink. I stood my ground. He thought that was good. He told me that he had a little granddaughter that goes 90 miles an hour(just like Jack) and he said "it's hard, and we know its hard, and you did a good job". His words as simple as they were, meant the world to me today. So "thank You" to the kind stranger at Apollo Burger today, who brightened my gloomy day.

Santa Parade

Every year since Scott has been on the Tooele City Council we have been able to participate in the local Parades. Today was the annual Santa Clause parade. Its fun to see the cool new cars and trucks they have for us to drive. Today was a new big truck(guess we wouldn't look so spiffy on parade in our 2002 mini van). The kids enjoy Trowing hand fulls of candy out the window to the people along the route. Jack was strapped in the middle in his car seat, but was trowing candy just like the rest of us. Most of it didn't make it out the window,and several hand fulls hit Emma directly in the head, but it was another fun parade. Scott and I were talking today, and we hope that these are some special memories for the kids. That as they reminisce when they are grown, that they will remember some of these fun times as a family. After the parade we went to our local Macy's store and decorated Christmas sugar cookies, and the kids had their faces painted. We love our little town of Tooele!