The TRUE meaning of Christmas

Every year for Christmas we do a secret service for our Doyle's sock.  In honor of Justin's brother who committed suicide when he was only 16 years old.  It will be 15 years this May since he left this earth.  Some years we do something during the year or through out the year and some times we do it close to Christmas.

This year Hunter was very determined to do something himself for Doyle's sock even though Justin and I had already done something.

Hunter came up with the idea to play his violin outside of Walmart to earn money to buy gifts for a family in need.  He talked Kiersten into playing with him.  They practiced Christmas songs for weeks.

Then on Christmas Eve day I took them down to Walmart to play.  We had been so busy this month that it was the only day we could do this.  I wasn't sure how things would go since it was Christmas Eve....

The out pour to love and support from friends and strangers was amazing!  The kids only played for an hour at Walmart and they ended up making $340!!!!  Non of us could believe it!!  People were great.....they commended the kids for what they were doing and told them what great kids they were. 

Justin had told the kids that he would double what ever they made while playing at Walmart.  He of course about died when I counted the money!  But he is a man of his word so the kids ended up having $680 to spend. 

All the great comments and seeing my kids being so brave like this brought tears of joy to my eyes!  This is what Christmas is all about and I have never been prouder of my kids!

Great day as a parent!

Aunt Susan was working that day so she said if the kids came and played for her patients at the Dialysis Center, she would donate to the cause.  The kids were more then happy to do that.  Even one of her co-workers donated as well.

Kiersten said that playing for Aunt Susan's patients was her favorite part......just might need to make that a new tradition!

The whole family had a great time buying gifts for a sweet single mom with two boys.  They kids were able to buy some really nice gifts for every one as well as give the mom $300 cash.

We spent the rest of our day buying gifts, wrapping and secretly delivering the gifts.  Then going around and looking at Christmas lights.  It really made my kids focus on giving, instead of what they wanted for Christmas.  It was a beautiful day!

Thanks Hunter for such a great idea!  They are already talking about what they plan to do different next year!  This just made my Christmas complete!

Look Who Came....

Oh My Goodness......look what our Elf Peppp took a picture of with my camera that I had sitting out on the counter.

Yep, he captured a picture of the real Santa IN OUR HOUSE Christmas morning!!!!

What a fun surprise to have captured on film!

Our kids got up at 3:00 A.M.........yes you read that right 3:00 A.M.

We figured what the heck they were all too excited to send back to bed so our Christmas fun began at 3:00!  Okay so I might be like a little kid on Christmas morning myself so why not start the fun!

Grant was of course thrilled with the candy in his stocking.

Hunter loved his purple case for the Playstation Vita he already had.

Kiersten could not believe we got her a PHONE!!!!

Hunter loved his Electric violin we got him!

Grant was excited about the train table.

Logan's

To Use:  Green Machine scooter

To Amuse:  Xbox

To Cherish:  Electric Drum Set

We gave Hunter my iPhone 4 to use as an iPod.  We even had it covered in purple ghost armor!  

He was in heaven!

Of course purple earphones to go with his "new" iPod was a hit!

Hunter's

To Use: iPod

To Amuse: Xbox

To Cherish: electric violin

Logan wanted a drum set and we are just crazy enough to get him one.  Of course we did think it through and got him and ELECTRIC DRUM SET which has a volume control!

Grant could not have been happier then he was with his new Lightning McQueen bike.

Kiersten loved her little sit down scooter.  She had seen it in the mall and even tried it out in the store.  So it was at the top of her Christmas list.

Logan and Hunter got an Xbox with a couple of games.

The boys all chipped in and bought Kiersten some jewelry with their own money.  

What great brothers!

Kiersten's
To Use:  Cell Phone
To Amuse:  Sit on Scooter
To Cherish:

This picture right here is proof that I am NOT SANTA!!

All the kids with the exception of Grant got FURBY'S!!!!

We aren't sure how Santa was able to be so quiet and get this air hockey table into the playroom which is right by all the kids rooms but he did.  The kids are ready to have friends over to play some games!

The drums were a HUGE hit with actually everybody!

I even enjoyed pounding on them!

Logan has quite the rhythm!  And boy were we glad we invested a little more money into them and got an electric set........the volume control is great!  The kids can even plug their iPods into the drums and drum along to their favorite music!

Grant's

To Use: Bike

To Amuse: Wooden Train Set & Table

To Cherish: TRIP to Disneyland with just MOM

Okay so Grant's to cherish gift was really a gift for me as well.  Ever since summer time when I took all the other kids to Disneyland when Kiersten danced there, Grant has asked when he was going to Disneyland.  So he got a Mickey Mouse shirt and a note saying he was going to get to FLY to Disneyland!  It will be his first time on a plane and he was thrilled about that.  We scheduled our Disneyland trip in February!

Grammy Boswell made it an extra special Christmas for Kiersten by making her an owl blanket.  It is cool cute!  All hand stitched with LOVE!

Grant was thrilled with the RC truck Grampy Boswell picked out for him!

Logan got a RC spider and I think Grampy was more excited about this one then anybody.  Sadly the spider did not end up working well to climb the wall.

Hunter loved that his got a RC monster truck!  We were so glad Grammy and Grampy Boswell came down to see our Christmas surprises.  For some reason Grammy and Grampy Cluff didn't come out.

Kiersten bought the boys this huge ball that you could climb in and roll around the yard.

Needless to say this ball was a HUGE hit with everyone!  Even the neighbor kids!

The kids crashed out in our bed early.....guess 3:00 a.m. caught up with them!  

It was a wonderful Christmas day!

We are so grateful for the real reason we celebrate this season, our Savior Jesus Christ.

Peppp

We were all thrilled when our elf, Peppp returned for a visit this Chirstmas.  This our second year with him and we just love him!  All the kids love finding him each morning.  This year he was a lot more comfortable in our house and had fun with his stay here!

Kiersten thought Peppp looked adorable as part of our decorations in our ice wreath. 

We went away for a night to a hotel in town and when we returned the next day Peppp was caught watching a Christmas movie and eating popcorn!

See Christmas movie and all!

We all got a kick out of this!

We love that Peppp also knows the true reason we celebrate Christmas and he spent some time in the manger.

I thought the kids were going to die when they saw him.  I know I about did when they showed me what Peppp had been up to!  We found him the next morning sitting on the toilet.....too much sugar is not a good thing even for an elf!

Hunter's first comment was, "Mom you have to come see Peppp!!  This is total proof that you aren't the one moving Peppp because you don't like messes!"

I couldn't agree more Hunter!  

We all enjoyed our visit from Peppp!  The kids always hate that Peppp has to leave when Santa comes.  But this year Peppp got special permission to stay and watch us open presents.  Then he left some time in the afternoon.  The kids loved that!

Elf Party

One of our fun family holiday nights this year consisted of an ELF Party!

Justin was such a good elf and helped me decorate the house with snowflakes.

Doesn't he look happy hanging those snowflakes!

The kids really liked the snowflake decorations!

Looks like a pretty excited bunch of kids!

We had spaghetti with syrup and sausage.

It actually was not a hit with any of us. Which surprised me because I though the kids would like anything covered in syrup.

The three Elf food groups.... Candy Canes, Candy Corn and Syrup!

Before we watched the movie Elf we made our own Elf hats.

What an adorable Elf my Hunter is!!!

Don't they look great!

The Elf party was a success and of course we all love watching the movie Elf.

It was a fun filled night!

The next morning we woke up to this message from Peppp!

Dance Recital

Once again it was time for the Christmas Dance recital.  I love going to watch the routines the kids have been practicing for months.  The company dance really put on a production with their pieces.

Kiersten was asked by Jenny Rogers, the owner of the dance academy to have a spot light in her master's company lyrical number.

Kiersten was thrilled to say the least!  

This meant that for a few months she had an extra dance class with the master's.  The master's group is the oldest group in company......the senior girls.

Kiersten absolutely love it!

In the dance number, Kiersten danced with Rena DeLaCruz.  She is one of the dance instructors at the studio....she is awesome!  This was Kiersten's first lyrical dance routine.  There is something about lyrical dances, their drama and my little girl dancing a spot light that made my cry buckets of tears.  Justin even got choked up watching it.  It was beautiful! 

This number was the finale in both shows and I was so happy to get to see it twice.  Made me cry both times!

My friend Wendy helps behind stage and snapped a few shots for me.

This is Kiersten and some of the girls in her dance group.

They were the mice from the Nutcracker. 

Some of the Shupe girls and Kiersten

Logan is my dancing boy!

He dances all the time.  He kind of has a dance step to his walk.  

Man does this kid LOVE the stage!  The more people yell and scream the more into his dance he gets.  And he is all smiles when he is up there.

The boys danced a hip hop number, tap number and where in the gymnastic routine as well.

Wendy didn't catch Hunter behind stage to take his picture :(

The weather was quite nice for December.

I really love going to my kids dance recitals.  

They all make me so proud!

Early Christmas Surprise

We surprised the kids with a night at the Comfort Inn in Safford since it has an indoor heated pool.

It was like Christmas morning when they found out what we were doing!!!

I sure enjoyed soaking in the hot tub!

Little brotherly love going on.

Looks like one happy Logan!

We couldn't talk Justin into getting in the pool his was too exhausted from his long hours at work.  This is a really busy time of year for him with all the end of the year financials.  So I got my workout in my throwing the kids in the pool!

The kids love action shots....quite the posers huh!

When we got home from our over night fun we came home to Peppp watching a Christmas movie and eating popcorn!  It was a fun surprise especially considering we had locked all the doors.  It was fun to hear the kids say all the things they thought Peppp might have done while he had the house to himself!