The Big Finale...

I love that we still have a Christmas party with my Rigby cousins, we don't see each other nearly enough. (We in on Island Park this summer, just tell us date!) So we get together the Sunday after Christmas for tons of food and visiting. This year on Saturday my mom decided she wanted a slide show of us growing up, the one on Christmas Eve was such a hit. So I spent the almost the entire next 24 hours finding, scanning and stealing photos. I found a bunch of really fun old ones, and some of all the grand kids too. I think everyone really enjoyed it and it got everybody talking and laughing.

It was so much fun to have all my cousins kids there too, there were 4 babies born last year, and a bunch more little ones. In my rush making DVD's I forgot my camera, but we did take some family pictures I will have to get from someone.

Ahh... Christmas...

Yes, my kids are the type that wake up early on Christmas Eve, put frankly so do I! They were up at 6:30 and ready to go! Daddy tortured them by putting out scones first, but then we got to business. We are very fortunate that even in terrible year in the car business we were able to give our kids a great Christmas. And then of course they have the Grandparents! Elisabeth declared several times that day, as she does every year, "This is the best Christmas Ever!" And Sam, who is at a weird age between being a kid and teen, I was worried that he would be excited about his gifts and he was really pleased. Here are a few of their Santa Gifts...

Elisabeth got a bunch of crafts, clothes, books, Cooking Mama, American girl doll clothes and her much awaited "Uggs." Sam got new PACKERS bedding (he was using girls sheets and a quilt), books, LEGO books, Legos, a Beattles CD. Sam also had asked for a Beagle puppy for Christmas, so he got a stuffed one. (I thought this was terribly funny, he was not amused!)

Jeremiah spoiled me with new a new University top and Jacket new jeans and new NikeShox, I had no idea he was doing so much. I got him a book and a new CLAY MATTHEWS jersey. Speaking of jersey's that was our family gift, we all got new jerseys, Sam really wanted to have a party to burn our Favre jersey's but we resisted.

Then while the kids played we lounged around and watched the Disney Christmas parade.

The Rigby's was scheduled to start at 11, but got a late start because Jana and Chad got to talk to both the boys from their missions. We had our usual yummy food, including Miah's yummy scones. Then we all got to talk to Jordan on speaker phone, I was getting teary just hearing his voice, so I didn't talk. I'm so proud of those boys! Then it was on to the present extravaganza in Grandma's basement. Sam and the other boys got Nerf guns, oh my, and Elisabeth got a sewing machine, again oh my! I got more shoes and clothes and Miah got a really nice dress coat. It was strange without the twins to entertain us, but Chad did a pretty good job. Everybody is getting so old on my side of the family, that things are really pretty calm.

Chad and Stockton talking to Jordan. Elisabeth with she and Ashlyn's new sewing machines. Amy and her new "hooker" boots.
We made a quick dash out to Sandy and the Johnson's, for more food and more spoiling from the Grandparents. The kids got there long awaited LEGO sets, E's are pink! They also got new games from there Aunts and Uncles, American Girl stuff, a Green Bay gnome Jeremiah and I got a really nice knife set, tool set, some Ohio State gear and more. It was fun to watch Aynsley open her presents, she really liked her doctor kit from Grandma!
.

Christmas Eve...

For a record 3 years Jeremiah has had Christmas Eve off work! This year we had to pack a lot of things into one day. The kids and Miah started off first thing with there annual sledding trip. Unfortunately, they forgot the camera. They took good old Koda again, and surprisingly he could still keep up. They all had a great time until the last run when all three of them went together and took a tumble, they all were a little banged up. I've learned to really enjoy my hour by myself on Christmas Eve, I can get so much last minute stuff done, thanks Daddy.

They came home and quickly we had to jump in the car, pick up Joe and Randi and head to Orem. They had to pick up Joe's truck from the lot, since they just go a new JEEP and we had to sign some refinance papers. To add to the excitement we got pulled over about a block from the dealership, we had taillight out in the dealer car we were in and the dealer plate was in the front window. We thought he was gonna be a real jerk, but after checking Miah's license he was really cool.

The kids rode home from Orem with Joe and Randi and met us at Fudruckers for some pre-movie grub. Personally I hate that place, but it must be a guy thing. We went to see new Disney movie The Frog Princess, which was really cute, and I managed to stay awake for most of it.

5 o'clock was our Cousin Christmas Eve party at my cousin Libbi's, we had a good time visiting, playing the "$10 gift game," and watching the slide show of old pictures that Jamie and Libbi put together.

Sam taking Ryan's wheelchair for a spin. A was the lucky winner of a ZhuZhu pet in the gift game, she was pretty happy, but the funnies part was M squealing like it was a real mouse every time it game towards her.

Then home for the usual Christmas Eve new jammies and we watched the new show "Prep and Landing," together. The kids readied their snacks for Santa and were off to bed. We stayed up to some ridiculous hour watching the "Deadliest Catch," marathon, I'm not really sure why I like that show so much, but I will watch it for hours. And then on to dream land waiting for Santa to visit...

The kids were super excited to get new slippers, and we all loved our new matching jammies (E and mommy matched and Daddy and Sam matched) that we wore them all day on Christmas. Sam and Elisabeth also opened gifts to each other that they had bought in Downtown Disney. Sam gave E a new pin and Minnie earrings and Elisabeth wrapped his Jack pillow in about ten layers of paper in a huge box.

A LEGO Nativity...

My kids spent the 2 days before Christmas building a Nativity out of LEGO. I think they are so creative, they had all the animals and people. Maybe I should have left Sam at LEGOland.

Poinsettia Bowl...

With Christmas and all I haven't had a chance to blog much, I can't believe I haven't shouted from the roof tops that my UTES won another bowl game! We had our friend's the McFarland's over for the game and the yummy and huge prime rib Miah bought. I wish I took a picture of it, yum,yum! We kinda had a crazy night because of some mortgage stuff we were working on and calls from Miah's work, but we did get watch the 4th quarter with interruption. Yahoo, great game guys! The McF's have 3 little boys and we were a little worried about what they would do at our house, but they were great. We had a train for Aiden, Legos for Ethan and the baby wandered around. But it was funny, when we finally climbed in bed that night we both were so tired! Even with their parents doing most of the tending, having three little guys in the house was exhausting.

Welcome to the Family Little Adrian...

Meet my GREAT NEPHEW! Wow, that makes me sound so old. My niece Jessica had this sweet little boy last Saturday, he's just a little guy at 6lbs. 11 oz. But boy is he cute! This is the first great grandchild for the Rigby clan and we are so excited, what a perfect Christmas gift!

Parkside Holiday Program...

Today was the annual Parkside sing-a-long, except for the fact that we had no room to fit all the parents that showed up, it turned out great. Thanks to Jai-Dee and Tyra. The kids were so good and they performed really well. I of course loved the 4th grade, but I must say the 6th grade singing the 12 Pains of Christmas was the highlight. We have a great bunch of 6th graders who love to be involved and bring great school spirit.