Simply Having A Wonderful Christmas Time!

I'm a couple of days late for posting this-but it's better late than never and my laptop has been MIA for the weekend!
We had such a wonderful Christmas!! This year was spent at John's parents house in Rigby, along with Tawnya and her 3 kids, and Richard, Tiffany and Briley! We headed out on Christmas Eve, had dinner, played games and waited til all of the kids (including babies) would finally fall asleep so we could set out all the presents! Boy, was that fun!! It was my first being trying to be "all sneaky" and stuff! :)
Here's some (ok, a lot!) of pictures from our Christmas!

Bruce and Garrett getting excited that it's dinner time


Once the children were nestled all snug in their beds...

...the real party began!


Presents Before....

CHRISTMAS MORNING:
We went to bed about 12:30am and then got back up again around 7am to open presents. That was a little odd to me getting up at 7, since my side of the family usually gets up around 3:30am! :) Not gonna lie-I missed getting up that early!

Garrett decided to join in on the fun

For about 3 years I have been asking/wanting a picture of the Rexburg Temple and this year I didn't one, not two, but 3!! 2 from John and 1 from my parents.

And I also got the rest of my "WillowTree Nativity" set


John got socks...

...socks....

...and more socks!! He got about 4 boxes full of new socks-which he desperately needed! Every pair he owns has holes in them!

He obviously didn't just get socks, but I felt like every present he opened was socks!

John and Bruce were given a gun to share (signed contract and everything)


GARRETT AND BRILEY'S CHRISTMAS:
We thought that it would be fun to let the babies open up their presents together, so once Briley was up, we got to do the whole thing all over again!
Earlier, Tiffany had bought Garrett and Briley matching pajamas and they are so cute!!

I think they both would have been happy with just wrapping paper



..Presents After...

We had such a fun time spending Christmas with Bruce and Linda but I was more anxious to get back home for Alex's phone call! Actually, it wasn't even a phone call..we got to Skype with him!! I LOVED IT!!! We not only got to hear his voice, but we got to see his face that we all miss! :) It was so good to talk to him. I miss him like crazy! He couldn't believe how big the babies have gotten, and was even more shocked to see how Hallie (Ashley's girl) has grown! :) We spent a little over an hour talking to him and we all hated to say goodbye! He sounds like he's doing well and enjoying being a missionary! :) We love you Alex and hope you had Merry Christmas, too!

Every year my siblings draw names. So, after Skyping, we had yet another Christmas with my family! :)
Robert drew my name and got me this HUGE present! Not really! He stuffed a big box with his pillow and hid my real present which was "Eclipse"! :)


Nick drew John's name and he got him a cover for his phone


My parents got Garrett a toy...


...and every year they give us a couples gift-which this year was the present was really for me! :) My 3rd picture of the Rexburg Temple which I LOVE!!! THANKS MOM AND DAD!!

Isn't it pretty?? :)

We had such a wonderful Christmas with all of our families! We wish you all a Merry Christmas and hope yours was as wonderful as ours!! :)

Just In Time For Christmas

TA-DA! IT'S DONE!! John assembled my reindeer stocking holder just in time for Christmas!

What do you think?? :)

Must Be Santa

Tuesday night, Santa was at John's work! I loaded up Garrett and brought him in to sit on Santa's lap:

He wasn't sure at first...


...but he sat on his lap without crying! I think he was just fasinated with the white beard!




And of course, a family picture with Santa is always nice! :)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

He's Been Out As Long As He's Been In!

Today, Garrett is 9 months! Here are his stats:

• Weighs around 22 lbs.
• Eats table food-every once in a while he'll eat baby food
• Sweet Potatoes are his favorite!
• First tooth is popping through, closely followed by a 2nd!
• Loves to play with balls
• Sits up all by himself!
  
• Gets excited when watching "The Price Is Right" (Just when they spin the wheel)
  
• Army crawls!! He's almost figured it out!
• Can pull himself up with some help
• Takes 1-2 naps a day!
• Is loving the Christmas Tree and the presents underneath it
• Still chews on everything
• Gives kisses
• Waves bye-bye (we think that's what he's doing anyway!)

Oh! How we love our little chunky boy and his big wide smiles!! :)

Family Christmas Party And More!!

Last night was the McAffee Family Christmas Party. I love getting together with family! This year it was at my Grandpa's house out in Darlington, Id. This was also the first Christmas holiday without my dear Grandma. Her birthday is on the 12th, and before she passed away, she and my Grandpa would put up all of their Christmas decorations and the tree on her birthday. So that's what we did!! :) My Grandpa isn't one for words (or emotion for that matter) but I do hope he enjoyed what we did! Of course, there was food involved! And, yummy food I might add! :) We visited and ate, and ate, and ate, and then one by one we all went home! What a fun night.

Hallie "reading" to her Uncle Robert:

My A. Lanell and Garrett:

A. Caroline and Garrett: She was keeping him occupied for quite sometime with a roll in her hands....

(He looks a little frustrated in this picture! Let me explain-He does this growling thing where he tenses up his ENTIRE body, clenches his fists, pushes out his lower jaw and roars! It's so funny!)

..as you can see, he's trying to figure out where the roll goes after it's been in his hands...


...I didn't get a picture of it, but he did finally figure it out! :)

I guess the saying is right "A way to a man's heart is through his stomach!...even if you are only 9 months old! :) I love my Chunky Monkey!

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WORK IN PROGRESS:

In the post about my stockings, I mentioned that I was making a stocking holder. It's not quite finished yet, but I thought I'd share some pictures of my (and Ashley's and mom's) hard work!

Painted, but no details...


They are much cuter with their eyes painted on...

(Sorry about the upside-down picture)

...and FINITO!! :) They will all be nailed to a pole that looks like "The North Pole" and my stockings will hang off of the antlers!! I can't wait til it's all done! :) It took me (us) about 2 days to paint all of them.

Thanks mom and Ashley for all your help! They turned out so cute! :)

Look What I Did!!

A couple of nights ago, I went to my mother-in-laws house and made some Christmas Stockings for my family! I know what you're thinking-"Taunya? Sew?" But, believe it! I actually did it! :) From Linda's perspective it was probably a very entertaining night! We started at 6:30pm and didn't get done til around 11:00pm! Yes, it took me that long!

Cutting out the pattern: Intense Work....


Not the first time on a sewing machine but I still didn't know what the crap I was doing!

This was, however, my first time using a surger! I was SO nervous! That thing went so fast! My hands were literally shaking! I think I would have made my grandma proud! :)

Ironing on some patches Linda and I made for the Stockings...


One of MANY frustrations throughout the night...


Sewing on some stitches...


...and one of MANY un-picking from sewing the pieces on backwards...


...but, in the end.....


...I think they turned out pretty darn cute!!! :)

John's Stocking, My Stocking, and Garrett's Stocking

*I was quite pleased and very proud of myself! A HUGE thank you to Linda for teaching/showing me how to make them! I feel I should mention that she should take most of the credit how they turned out...She helped me A LOT! :)
I'm also in the process of making a Christmas Stocking Holder! For some reason, I guess the craft bug bit me this year! :)

"Cheeesy Grin"

Lately, Garrett has been such a character! He's been doing what we call "cheesy grin". It is so funny!! These pictures don't really do justice-he will usually squint his eyes really tight, smile and put his gums together! I just had to post them! :)

Normal smile....


Cheesy grin....


Normal grin...


Cheesy grin!

What a goof! He has also learned how to be a monster and growl. Haven't captured it on camera or video yet, but when I do, I"ll be sharing!! :)