Welcome, baby Emery!

Welcome to my nephew, Emery David Banks...born today! He weighed 4lbs 3oz. He is in the NICU, he needs all the prayers he can get! Proud Daddy and Momma: Clint & Amanda Banks. Isn't he cute!

"Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus."

One of the things about having 7 children is Christmas morning! I love to watch them as they get so excited about Santa coming that they can't get to sleep...some of the kids stayed up until 2 am. Wow! That is crazy. In my last post I talked about traditions...another of our traditions is each person takes turns opening a present. We start from the youngest to the oldest. I love this tradition for a couple of reasons...1-it is much easier to keep wrapping paper and boxes under control & 2-a lot less parts or instructions get tossed with this method & 3-everyone gets to see what others received as well as their reaction. In the past we have had family members stay with us for Christmas, they say they can't take it because it takes too long, (It has taken up to 4 hours before) but I like it. And thus it will continue to be a tradition here at our house.

Traditions

Traditions are so important. This year the kids kept saying "it doesn't feel like Christmas"! I think it has to do with the fact that we have moved and most of the memories they have are tied to our old house. But we carried on some of our strong traditions despite the move. One of these traditions is every Christmas eve the kids get to open one gift...it is the gift from Mom & Dad. This gift is always new pajamas. This is a tradition that I remember doing as a child. This is the kids sporting their new pajamas on Christmas eve!

Jacob the wrestler

Wrestling is the perfect sport for Jacob. Ever since he was very little he loved to play "fight games", when Rachel was born one of the first things he asked was..."When will she be big enough to play fight games?" This is Jacob waiting for his next match. He went 2-2 in this tournament. His 2 wins were by pins and his 2 losses were by points. He was not pinned.

This is the first match that I have been able to go to. It was a long one because it was a tournament. John & Tony wrestle too, they did not attend this tournament.

Saturday...crazy day!

Saturday was BUSY! I had to finish my Christmas shopping, it was just as crazy as black Friday out there on Sat., but I am all done except for one gift. Yahoo!

John & Tony had a wrestling Tourny so Chris went to watch them until about 2. Then, he went to the Las Vegas bowl (BYU vs. Arizona), with John, Tony & Jacob Bushman.

After, shopping I went to watch Sara at Planet Hollywood, she had a Cheer Competition.

This is a picture of her being silly.

Sara is on the right hand side most of the time in the video. This is my first attempt to upload a video so hopefully it worked out!

Happy Birthday to Chris!

Chris' birthday was Friday! I tried to make it a great day...I started by letting him sleep in. I took Jacob to seminary and then I took Rachel to school. Then we went to breakfast at The Original Pancake House! Next we went to a movie...I let him choose

He usually lets me choose...he chose to see Australia with Nicole Kidman.

We picked up kids from school & I took him to Costco (ok I know that isn't fun for him...but I wanted to spend the whole day together)!

After Chelsey & Taylor got home we sang Happy Birthday, open presents and ate pizza!

Chris singing happy birthday with us!

Happy Birthday Chris!

Donny & Marie

To start Chris' birthday weekend we went to Donny & Marie. We weren't allowed to take any pictures during the show so here I am with a poster of Donny! Yes...he is this cute in real life. :) Here is a picture of my dad with Marie...she looks so good(and so does dad)!

Waiting for the show to start.

Mom & Dad...aren't they cute!

Let it snow, let it snow , let it snow!

Wow! This is crazy...this just doesn't happen very often here in Vegas!

This shot is taken around 4 pm from my bedroom window. Taken a little after 4 pm. It continued to snow so it is deeper now!

It looks pretty huh?

This shot is taken from our balcony around 4 pm.

This is the front of the house, taken from my car with my phone.

The kids are so excited...No school tomorrow! A snow day!

Oh Tannenbaum!

Well it is Dec. 14th and the Christmas Tree is finally decorated! It was a hard go this year. The tree we have had for many years was too tall for this house, so when we moved we gave it to Goodwill. So, we were treeless! We finally decide to get a real tree. Chris did a wonderful job choosing this one. When we went to decorate it last Sunday, none of the lights worked and 2 boxes of decorations were MIA. Anyway, our tree is up and it is starting look a lot like Christmas!

Blizzard Assembly

Friday was the winter assembly. Chelsey in her purple Santa hat.John & Tony sitting with the wrestlers!

Chelsey performing the fight song.

Chelsey watching the students vs the teachers.

YW in excellence

Lifetime achievement Award

Chelsey completed the Personal Progess Program 2 times. Rachel is working diligently on her personal progress.

Taylor is working hard too!

I am proud of the girls!

Monday!

Whoa, life is crazy for me on Mondays. I never should have let my husband & kids know that I have Mondays off, because some how my days get filled up with their stuff. Oh yeah...that is what moms do! I given myself another title Life Manager. My kids have a tendency to think that I am controlling...well with 7 kids going seven different directions, it may appear that way but I am now calling it Life Managing. I manage my life and their lives! And I will not apologize. My oldest Sara has already admitted that once being out of the house for a few months she began to miss the structure. Hooray!

Picture tag

Picture tag!

I was tagged by Laura at Dizneymom's World. I had to go into my fourth folder in my pictures and pick the fourth picture. This is a picture that Rachel and Taylor sent it to me on my phone, they were at the party store with Chris. It was taken sometime in October 2008.

Now I have to tag 3 people:

1: Dawn at Mama Dawnie

2: TorriLyn at Shelley/Davies Wedding

3: Mandi at About Mee and Him...

So, tag you are it! Let's see those pics!

Black Friday!

I must be crazy! After cleaning up until 2 in the morning, I decided that if I went to bed I would not get up so, Marty & I stayed up. We left at 3:55 am for Kohl's, We were at Old Navy by 5:05 am. We met up with Laura, Torri & Russ at Target at 6:05. Then we were off to Macy's. We stayed at Macy's way too long. We were both so tired that neither one of us could think any more. We head home for a nap. I was in bed by 10:30, but the stinkin' phone rang every 15 minutes, so after a 2 hour attempt at sleeping I got up. Friday was also...the Salsa making contest! Clint had a sweet, tangy salsa. Dawn had a green salsa that snuck up on ya, Marty made a salsa with avocadoes and Italian dressing mix, mine was a little of everything & Dad made his chili conqueso! We also had turkey enchiladas. Clint says that our salsas could be compaired to our personalities! LOL! Who was the winner...ME! Not because mine was the greatest, but because everyone left their salsa here! Yumm!

I love Thanksgiving!!!!

I love Thanksgiving!

I am not sure why but the pictures are kind of mixed up. This is after dinner. Mom, Clint, Noah, Amanda, Marty & Dan playing the train game. I am thankful that the Jordan kids came over for a bit!

Sara & Paul joined us after dinner for pie!
I am thankful that everyone helped with dinner!
Emily, Fama, Lee, Marty, & Amanda enjoying dinner.
I am thankful that Chris will play games with the kids!
Paul, Chris, Emily & Sara playing Zarahemla (After dinner & pie).
I am thankful that the little kids ate in the kitchen! :)
Kids table!

I am thankful for a big kitchen!
The chow line!

I am thankful the turkey finally got done!
Chris, Russ, Laura, Dad, Mom & Chelsey eating dinner.

I am thankful for my parents!
Mom & Dad...aren't they cute!

I am thankful for my family!
The Schram's: Dan, Dawn, Nicole, Ashley & James

Marty's crew: Emily, Lisa, Marty, Josh & Alex

I am thankful for great neighbors!
My favorite neighbors & cousins...Laura & Russ!

Mom making the gravy...thanks mom!

I am thankful for LOVE!
Ooooh they are so cute!

Anthony & TorriLyn

I am thankful for the TV!
Watching the footfall game!

I love Thanksgiving! I love having everyone over! I love to cook for my family & friends! I am Thankful for my family & friends!

All in attendance for dinner: Me, Chris, Chelsey, John, Tony, Taylor, Mom, Dad, Marty, Emily, Lisa, Josh, Alex, Dawn, Dan, Nicole, Ashley, James, Clint, Amanda, Noah, Brooklyn, Laura, Russ, Torri, Anthony, Tyler, Jordan, KateLyn, Weston, Lee, & Fama

Joining us for pie: Sara, Jacob, Rachel & Paul

I am thankful for a bigger house!