Christmas Time 2008

Christmas really snuck up on us this year! I believe there are several reasons for it, but we we had a wonderful Christmas, nonetheless.

Early in November, I decided that I would try and save us a couple bucks and make all the gifts this year. Yes, all. It worked out really well, I believe there were only a few gifts that weren't handmade (and then of course the things my kids really wanted - from Santa). I was so excited to start making the gifts for the kids and then the stress really starting setting in. Time was flying past and we weren't sure we'd get everything done in time. Thankfully, we did and the kids have been having a great time!

Lucy Christmas Morning. She did not want to be awake. Can you believe we actually had to wake our kids up?! Who does that?! She became really spunky though once she saw there was a Barbie movie invlolved.

The other kids' art boards - to hang their creations from.

Although the picture doesn't quite capture it, Clay really did like his apron. He didn't take it off all day. (Really warmed his mother's heart!)

This was really the highlight of everything we made. I searched high a low for a sturdy wooden kitchen set and then nearly choked when I'd see the price. We didn't have enough time to actually do all we thought we wanted to, cabinet doors etc. and paint it, but we decided that the kids might have a good time painting it. Kudos to Ryan for a fabulous kitchen set that the kids absolutley love! (Yeah, we totally beat out Santa!)

Rylee modeling the girls' aprons. Thanks to my sister Micki, and my mom for the wonderful pattern. My mom embroidered their names on all the fabric for me. I got too tired to do pockets. (Note: if you're kids have larger heads like mine do, D-rings are perfect for adjustable neck loops.)

The gifts from Santa - thankfully they were simple requests this year!

Good Morning Kaycee!

Merry Christmas Olivia!

This is what we did for our moms. Mom H's was black and Mom L's brown.


We are so grateful to celebrate another Christmas and remember the birth, life and resurrection of our Savior - the real reason of the season!

We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.

From our Home to Yours

Wishing you a

Merry Christmas!

From the Hunts
Ryan & Honey
Rylee, Clayton, Kaycee, Lucy & Olivia

A New Status Symbol?

My sister, Patti, found this article - so true (and not just in the work place)!
"Keeping up the the Joneses" has taken on a new meaning.

Have a read

What did you think?

Clay & Lucy: Do I smell trouble?

Lucy with bangs...courtesy of Clay.

I wonder these days who is running these shannanagins!

Our little telephone table calling for help.
(She was actually stuck until she knew to bend her knees.)

Lucy "built" this. Notice Olivia IS in there.

This is more like it. Tired and quiet, taking it easy.

Falling Behind

Quick Thanksgiving recap: It was wonderful! We headed out to Utah the day before Thanksgiving. Our little Olivia was awesome - a great little traveler (it's such a blessing that our kids can do so well on an 8 hr trip!). We had the entire Livingstone family together! Because of our size, we booked two church buildings (at different times) to hold our festivities. We enjoyed a fabulous turkey dinner and then after games and letting kids (and the men) run wild, we opened our Christmas gifts. Christmas gifts? Yes, when it's the off year we celebrate both holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas, together. So much fun! The kids thoroughly enjoyed being with their cousins and having sleep over after sleep over (we really need some cousins here!) . We enjoyed having "sleep overs" with Micki and Spencer - thanks a bunch! And, to my parents for their hard, hard work. It's quite the production to have us all together - and then adding Christmas on top! They're super!

What fun!

Forget shopping! The boys went shooting the day after Thanksgiving - along with Aunt Patti and Uncle Spencer and his boss.

Random pictures of Olivia:

What are they looking at?!

Just chillin'

So now, we're home with a gazillion loads of laundry that I have no desire to do, growing messes here and there ALL over the house, a Christmas tree standing with no decorations, a home naked of any Christmas decor and gifts that need to be made. One step at a time right? With all of the things I'd like to get done, it's intimidating to even start. So I won't :)