New Year's Eve Fun

We Atwood's are finally feeling better after a nasty stomach flu this week, so we've had a great time celebrating the end of 2011.  We spent this morning running some errands and then went out for lunch as a family.  The boys spent this afternoon playing their legos, Jason played his new computer game and I worked on sharing time and other primary stuff for tomorrow.

Tonight we put on a big spread of yummy munchy foods (my favorite).

Yummy appetizer - take grapefruit and orange segments, add crab meat and top with cocktail sauce, Jason likes salsa

We watched "Marmaduke" with the boys and played the new game - "Sorry" they got for Christmas.

We rang the year in early and the boys were off to bed just after 10:00 p.m. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

FROM THE ATWOODS



Christmas Celebrations

We had a great Christmas at our house this year.  We started our celebrations with a family Christmas Eve.  In the afternoon we took the boys to the matinee of "Arthur Christmas".  Very fun!  It was a great way to kick off the weekend.  We came home and had Singapore noodles - one of Jason's favorites - for supper.  It's from one of the "Company's Coming" cookbooks and if you haven't tried it you should - very yummy!!

SINGAPORE NOODLES

1/4 cup oil

4 - 6 garlic cloves

2 tbsps ginger

Fry in wok.

Then add

2 cups chicken chunks

1/3 cup green onions

1 tsp crushed red pepper

1/4 cup oyster sauce

1 1/2 tbsp curry powder

2 tsp soy sauce

In separate pot cook pasta (linguine / penne / rotini etc.) in 2 quarts of water and 2 tsp of salt

Drain pasta and mix with chicken mixture.

After supper the boys opened up their Christmas Eve presents.  Lego and jammies of course!

The boys played with their lego for a bit and then put out cookies for Santa, laid out their stockings and then they were off to bed.

After the boys went to bed Jason and I finished wrapping a few gifts.  I made cinnamon buns for Christmas morning (note for next time - do not over stuff pan), they were delicious but they were definitely trying to escape the pan during the cooking process.

I carried on one of my dad's traditions and put out candy all over the house to be eaten Christmas morning.  It made me happy!

Christmas morning arrived early with Ashton waking at 6:15 a.m.  We held him off until 6:45 a.m. and then we were up to see what Santa had brought.  As it was Sunday and church was at 9:00 a.m. we had decided to only open stockings and the gifts from Santa for the boys before church.  All the other gifts were under the tree in the living room to be opened after church.

While sitting in front of the fireplace Ashton noticed the fireplace guard door was opened a little.  When he looked inside he noticed something quite exciting.  I however was quite horrified how dusty it was back there.

The boys played for a bit, we had a cinnamon bun and then were off to church.  The boys sat with our good friends the Tsumagari's as Jason was speaking and I was a wee bit busy.  I led the primary children, accompanied the ward choir for 3 pieces, played the organ for 5 congregation hymns and lastly accompanied 2 special numbers.  It made for a very quick sacrament meeting - but I was glad when it was over.

Back home we opened presents under the big tree in the living room.  We were all extremely spoiled and loved everything we got. 

My big gift of the day was my new camera.  Isn't she beautiful!!

Jason's big present was an Art Easel with oil, water and acrylic paints.

The boys big gifts were ... wait for it ... you'll be shocked ... LEGO!!

 

After opening presents we headed to Cardston to see Jason's family.  Jason's mom, his brother Mitch, sisters Kailee and Nicole and their families were there and we had a lovely Christmas dinner of ham, potatoes, salad, buns, etc.  We had a great time visiting and enjoying each other's company.  Boxing Day we woke up had breakfast and then headed to my mom's to see my family.  Everyone was home - mom, Dave, Char, Jared, Amber, Rachel, Jared and all the kids.  The cousins had a great time together and we had another delicious meal of turkey with all the fixings!!

After dinner we opened gifts.  We all got spoiled again!

So fun to spend Christmas with family.  Merry Christmas!!

Why Not Longly

So I promise I've got a Christmas post coming soon.  I'm slowly getting over a horrible stomach flu and still need to figure out how to get pictures from my Christmas present onto the computer.  In the meantime here is a little exchange I overheard while laying in a sick heap on the couch.  Jason and the boys were at the dining room table assembling lego.

Jason - "Boys, you need to start cleaning up you are going to bed shortly."

Bowen - "Shortly?, what do you mean shortly!  Why not longly?"

He cracks me up!

Also, I know you are all worrying about it so I'll put you out of your misery.  My Friday Weigh-In posts will return next Friday.  Stay tuned!!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

From My Family to Yours

Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year! 

Love, The Atwoods

Lalainia, Jason, Ashton and Bowen

School Concert

Wednesday night was the boys' school Christmas concert.  A few weeks ago Ashton had come home telling me that he was going to audition for a part in the Christmas play.  Sure enough he got a part and played a chimney sweep named "Cobweb".  Bowen sang in the chorus.  How fun it was to watch my boys.  I was so proud of both of them. 

Bowen was a riot.  He was so enthusiastic with his singing - dancing along and singing every word.  He was really fun to watch.

Ashton did a great job.  He had about 6 speaking parts and he knew them all by heart and delivered them really well.  My favorite part was a rap dance to the song "Ashes to Ashes".  He's behind the boy in the front row - middle, with glasses and black fuzzy hat.

Mom was able to come up today so we went to the morning performance as well.  Bowen wasn't quite as enthusiastic as he was last night.  He was a little tired, but both the boys still did a really good job.

Today was PJ day at school so that is why Bowen is in his jammies.  It was a really cute play and the boys had alot of fun and it was a very good experience for Ashton.  They are growing up so fast!  I'm so pleased the boys are in such a great school, with such great teachers!

Christmas Get Together with "Aunt" Sheri

After my piano recital on Sunday we had invited my cousin Sheri over for our annual Christmas get together.  We had a few leftovers from the recital and I added sausage, cheese, crackers, pickles, more veggies and fruit, chips and salsa, and chocolates for us to munch on while Sheri was over.

My boys love my cousin Sheri and couldn't wait for her to arrive.  As soon as she did the noise level went through the roof.  I told Sheri we need to find a way to clone her so there is one for each of them as they are always fighting for her attention.

After eating some munchies the boys anxiously awaited for their presents from Sheri.

She didn't disappoint - oh my goodness they are so spoiled!

It was a fun evening chatting and the boys building their lego.  Sheri is the best cousin and I'm grateful for the relationship I have with her and for the relationship she has with my boys.