*CHRISTMAS SEASON*

Merry Christmas to all of YOU! I love this time of year. The sun has been shining for days and the air is crisp and cold. This last week we have been busy getting everything ready for Christmas. On the weekend we traveled down to Eugene to be with Grandma and Grandpa Newell and cousins. Madalyn had asked us if she could go down and spend the weekend with her Grandparents and cousins. We said sure. Life doesn't get any better than spending time with family. Enjoy the many pictures!!

Paige and cousin Tyler in Grandma's front yard trying to help string the lights. It was so cold that they didn't last long. Bring on the snow***

Matt and Jeff put lights on the house.
Carter went out and helped Matt untangle the lights.

Jeff is carefully putting up the lights.

Aunt Tricia and Aunt Ashlee made Madalyn an awesome cake with swimmers on it. The molded people in the grand stands. Can you pick out Ariel? They did an excellent job.

Tricia, Madalyn and Ashlee.

Almost all of the kids in Grandma and Grandpa's bedroom watching TV. This is a favorite thing to do while they are visiting. The only problem is that they tend to lose Grandpa's remote control.

Tyler, Paige and Natalie playing.

On Saturday evening we went to Mom and Dad's ward Christmas party. This is the gym that Matt and I had our wedding reception. I love this chapel very much. I actually met Matt on this very gym floor when I was 14 years old. Anyway, we all sat down to wait to be served a very yummy dinner.

Matt, Paige and I.

Ashlee and Jeff trying to take a good picture with two nieces acting crazy behind them.

Natalie and Tricia.

Santa arrived at the end of the evening and most of the children did very well sitting on his lap. This is my two nephews, Tyler and Ben acting like such big boys.

Hayden enjoyed telling Santa what he wanted for Christmas. A Star Wars Republic Attack Shuttle. Wow that is a big request!

Carter did not want to sit on his lap. Can you tell?

He said, "I am not going to sit on his lap next year. I am too big for this. Mom, I could have just stood by him and talked."

Bailey just starred at Santa the whole time. She got off his lap and came up to me and quietly said, "Mom that wasn't Santa was it?" I said, "Santa has helpers and tonight this was a helper." She said, "his beard was not real".

Paige did not care for Santa, she wanted nothing to do with him. We said, "just smile Paige". She gave us the cheesiest smile ever and quickly wanted to be removed from his lap. (After she got her bag of candy of course!)

On Sunday, we celebrated Madalyn's birthday. That was really the only time we could. This is Madalyn opening her presents from her cousins. She loved everything that they gave her. Thanks!

Most of the cousins after Madalyn opened her presents.

The AWESOME birthday cake.

Blow out the candles!

Everyone waiting for the cake to be cut.

CHRISTMAS TREE HUNTING!

Matt and I love to get our tree around Thanksgiving. We were with my family that weekend and then this last weekend we were in Eugene, so we decided no matter what, we needed to go on Tuesday after Matt got off work. Well, I had a doctor's appointment and so we realized that the sun would almost be down when I got home. Quickly, Matt dressed the children and we jumped in the car and drove to a tree farm close to our home. As we pulled up, it said that it had been closed since 4pm. It was 4:55pm. A man walked up and we must have given him a pathetic look and he probably heard the children talking and screaming in the back of the car so he said, let me get my flash light and we will try to find you a tree. So, let me just say, we picked the tree in less than 3 minutes. We really couldn't even see what it looked like. It turned out to be an awesome tree. It was probably 15-20 degrees outside, so we tried to move fast. We asked him how much we owed him. He said $15. I felt so grateful that he let us look even in the dark that I told Matt to give him $30. What a wonderful evening!!! We came home, turned on Christmas music, ate chili, homemade french bread, got into a few arguments, and put the lights on the tree.

Matt with the kids as soon as we arrived at the tree farm!

The kids and I.

Look at how dark it is outside.

This was the fastest that we have ever found a tree. Usually we spend a good 30 minutes searching.

Madalyn, Carter, and Hayden carrying our tree.

The nice man putting it on the top of our car. We forgot rope!!

Can you believe that?

Matt and I at the tree farm.

Carter and Hayden helped Matt get the tree inside of the house.

I had to put the lights on the tree before the kids could decorate. This is Paige trying to help me. There is also another child in this picture trying to help me string the lights.

Can you find it??

Paige yelling, "no my lights".

Our house is very cold! I wear a hat to keep warm. I also have on 2 shirts and a sweatshirt. , and my winter boots. I am not kidding. Matt started a fire thanks to my Dad giving us firewood. It felt toasty and warm. Here I am stringing the lights.

If I can't see them, then they can't see me!

This is Paige trying to sneak lights on the tree. Look at her rosey cheeks from a warm fire in the livingroom.

Madalyn turns 12

Time really does fly by. Our oldest child, Madalyn has turned 12 and we feel like she was born yesterday. We lived in Monmouth, Oregon at the time of her birth and we were so excited to have her come to Matt and I. I was really excited because I was 41 weeks and 1 day pregnant. We don't find out the sex of our child until they enter this world, so we didn't know that she was a girl. We were so excited when she finally made her appearance. She was born at 9:08pm and the day was a beautiful day just like yesterday was. She is just a wonderful daughter. She is very responsible, helpful, loving, kind, thoughtful, forgiving, patient, and beautiful. We have loved all that she has taught us over the last 12 years. Hopefully, she feels like we have taught her some important life lessons. Happy Birthday Madalyn. We LOVE YOU!!!!


Now remember everyone, I am not a cake maker. Her Grandma is amazing at cakes and her Aunt Tricia. This weekend her amazing cake will be made by her Aunt Tricia, aka cake extraordinaire. Needless to say, I wanted her to have a yummy cake on her official birthday, so I made this simple cake. She liked it.

Paige and I wrapped Madalyn's presents during the day. Paige punctured 2 of the gifts wrapping paper and so they had a lot of tape on them. Madalyn was very sweet and let Paige open 2 of her presents.

Madalyn loves Greek mythology and so Matt and I bought her a children's book about it. She was very excited! I always love it when you know that they love their presents.

Afterwards the kids wanted to know when they could have presents like Madalyn. Well, luckily I can tell them that Christmas is right around the corner.

Madalyn loves sour cream chicken enchiladas. This was her birthday request for dinner. Bailey and Paige loved them, but the boys struggled, even gaged to get the food down. I told the kids that they could not have cake and ice cream unless they ate dinner. Carter and Hayden were not happy campers.

Sour cream enchiladas!!! If my brothers read this blog they will be so impressed with my cooking skills. When I went to college with my 2 older brothers, they would tease me that all I could cook was burnt toast. Not anymore!!!

Yummy! Yummy! Yummy!

As Madalyn was blowing out her candles, she put her hand up and told Hayden not to blow out her candles. Hayden got a huge smile on his face and attempted to blow out the candles, but I covered his mouth and got a handful of saliva.

Thanksgiving

Matt and I headed to my parents house for Thanksgiving. My brother and sister also came with their families. We had a great time playing board games, pinochle, football and of course eating a lot of food. Thanksgiving always has the best leftovers. The kids loved playing with their cousins. On Friday, we did the right thing and got up at 4:50 to go shopping (What were we thinking?). My parents live about 30 miles from a town that has the big stores. The good thing was that the lines at the stores we went to were short. We got the things that we wanted and arrived back at my parents house around 7:40am. The children hadn't even woke up yet. The weather was so pretty on Saturday and Sunday. The kids enjoyed going to the park and playing football. We love this time of year. Now, it is officially legal for me to play Christmas music.

My dad, sister Megan, nephew Hunter, my Mom, Paige and my brother Matt.

Paige making one of her many faces!

Bailey and Hayden playing at the park while Grandpa watches them.

The official 2009 Turkey Bowl!

Matt had such a busy work schedule that I packed all of his clothes for our 4 day trip. My sister-in-law also packed my brother Matt's clothes and when they came out of their rooms to help with Thanksgiving, they were twins. We had a good laugh on that one.

Madalyn and I on Thanksgiving morning.

My sister Megan and her daughter McKenna.

Paige and McKenna look a lot alike and I think that people could mistake them for fraternal twins.

Madalyn with her food.

Bailey eating her Thanksgiving meal.

Grandpa helping the kids.

Carda and Megs.

Carda, Me, Meg and my Mom.

Finishing up our meal.

Matt and my Dad in the tree stringing Christmas lights. The Morrison family has a special relationship with trees. Someday, I will tell you all about that relationship.

My Dad, my brother Matt and my brother in law, R.J.

My wonderful DAD!

Paige was happily reunited with Zip her favorite dog.

Hunting for Turkey's?

No, Matt does not work for the NRA. Carter has been asking Matt if he would take him outback and let me shoot the BB gun. The timing has always seemed to be wrong. Finally, this weekend was a perfect time. Carter and Hayden got a BB gun 3 years ago and haven't had time to shoot. When we lived in Central Oregon we had 2 acres and the barren land went on forever. Now we live on a farm and there are homes close by. I know that it is only a BB gun but it still makes me nervous. Needless to say, Bailey, Matt and Carter had a great time shooting at some targets. Speaking of shooting at things, we hope that everyone has a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Enjoy those turkeys!

Bailey watching her older brother who loves to wear his army Russian hat and act like a soldier shoot at his targets.

Now, it is Carter's turn to make sure that his little sister is aiming correctly and holding the gun properly.

Way to go Bailey and Carter. They both hit their targets very well and had a great time with their Dad.

When it rains in Oregon........

.....go swimming indoors. When it feels like winter weather in Oregon, we start taking the kids to Swim America at our local pool. The kids love it! We went for the first time last week. It is only one day a week and all swimming levels are in the pool at the same time working on getting better. Madalyn is on a swim team and so we don't have her do Swim America but she enjoys sitting with me watching the kids swim. Bailey, Carter and Hayden are all together in level 5. Carter has told Matt and I that he refuses to advance to level 6 because that means he has to go in the deep end. We shall see son! Bailey goes 2 times a week to swimming lessons so she has caught right up to her brothers. So, if any of you live in a rainy area or super cold area, go swimming at your local indoor pool!!!

Paige at home getting ready to go to Swim America.

Bailey preparing to kick off from the wall.

Carter showing his teachers his stroke.

Paige is in the Kitti pool learning to feel comfortable with the water. This is her little froggy that leaps in the water and she has to put her hand down and pick him up.

Paige practicing her kicks! Her brothers know how that feels.

Ready, get set, GO. Time to blow bubbles.

Ok, look at Hayden! That is so Hayden. All the other kids are waiting for instructions and he is howling like an animal. Look at Bailey in the left hand corner.

HALLOWEEN

Happy Halloween!!! Our candy is almost gone and we have all experienced a candy adrenaline rush! Have any of you? On Friday night our ward had a Halloween party. Actually they called it a Harvest party and it was great. The kids played games and then we all went outside to trunk-r-treat. It was a perfect evening with face painting, food, great weather and friends. On Saturday, we had our last soccer games and the boys did great. Hayden's team played for first place but lost to Josie's team. I try very hard not to be competitive, but I needed an hour to re-adjust my thinking. (Ok, not an hour, maybe 20 minutes). The rest of the day was relaxing and getting ready for trick or treating. We went to our friends house and watched the Duck game and during half time we rushed the kids outside with us to do some trick or treating. We felt that the night before was so successful that we didn't need that much candy. The kids loved knocking on doors and getting all that candy!!!

Bailey and Paige on Friday.

I took them to Matt's High School and then we drove to his old Middle School to see the Principal Molly and wonderful secretaries Kris and Becky.

The whole family on Friday night!

Matt and I just returned from Hawaii and packed on a little weight.

We wanted to make sure that we didn't get a sunburn that night.

Bailey had a spider painted on to her face. Isn't she cute!!

Paige had a butterfly on her face for about 2 minutes and then wiped the whole thing off.

Carter was Jangofet from Star Wars.

Hey, for those of you who are Star Wars fans, I hope I spelled that right.

Hayden and his stash.

Madalyn and her friend Emelia. They were kitty's.

At one point Paige had 3 unwrapped suckers.

She ate so much candy.

Crazy girl, she takes after her mothers addiction. Sugar!!!

Pumpkin carving and hay rides

This weekend we went to a pumpkin patch close to home. The kids have been waiting for us to take them for some time. We are all finally healthy and have an open time frame to go out to a pumpkin patch. The kids love Fall and Halloween. We spent the rest of the weekend carving pumpkins, eating hot cha cha chas, watching Halloween themed movies, eating popcorn, candy and caramel apples!

The drive to the pumpkin patch.

When we arrived there the kids were so excited to see a huge pumpkin because they have been asking us if a pumpkin can be as big as a car.

Getting ready to go on the hay ride!

The draft horses that pulled us.

Bailey and I.

Madalyn wasn't to happy that Matt wanted a picture with his girls.

Can you tell???

Hayden and his pumpkin.

Carter helped Paige pick out her pumpkin.

Bailey loves her pumpkin.

Heading home to carve pumpkins.

In the garage carving pumpkins.

This job is very serious!!

Bailey

Paige and her little pumpkin.

Madalyn with her OOOHH so cool pumpkin.

Scary Carter!

Hayden spent a lot of thoughtful time thinking about

how he wanted his pumpkin to look!

Matt always does the best work on his pumpkins!