Christmas Re-Cap

Sheesh this week has flown by!

Christmas was an adventure as always this year. We decided to let the kids open their gifts from us and each other on Christmas Eve this year due to the fact that we were traveling to Montana on Christmas Day and we wanted to get an early start. The kids enjoyed everything they received and even liked watching the faces of their brother(s) and sister(s) as they opened the gifts they gave to each other. We had a lot of meaningful conversations with Megan and Kyra this year discussing the true meaning behind Christmas and gift giving. It's really neat to hear about Heavenly Father's gift of His son from a 5 year old and a 7 year old.

Christmas Day we got up and opened our gifts from Santa. They kids were thrilled that Santa would leave a personalized note to them in their stocking. After a quick clean-up, we were in the van and headed to Montana. We had not so pretty roads, but we made it all in one piece. When we pulled in the driveway, my mom had Christmas dinner all ready for us (that was wonderful due to the fact the EVERYTHING was closed on the way there). After dinner the kids geared up for another round of gift opening and the excited shrieks continued clear into the night.

Jacob and Ethan playing together.

On Saturday the kids got to go sledding Grandpa's way...behing the 4-wheeler!
Grandpa pulling Megan, Kyra and Jacob...actually, he's waiting for them to get back on the sleds after a wipe out.


Ethan was upset that he couldn't go out. So he stood and ciried as he watched the kids go by.

My sister and her family came into town 5from Boise 4and 0we wen out to dinner at Outback to celebrate her 25th birthday. We had a great time! We went to their Hotel afterwards to take fa20mil2y p32ic1ut2e54rs45...a4s 4lovel3y4 as we all 3were.....33(3Sor3ry Ethan wants to type too). No comment on the family picture...we weren't quite prepared...

FRONT L-R: Jacob Shaw, Megan Shaw, Lindsey Klotthor, Kyra Shaw
BACK L-R: Angela Anderson, Jon Shaw, Pamela Shaw, Ethan Shaw, Arvil Anderson, Sue Anderson, Clayton Anderson, Becky Klotthor, Courtney Klotthor, Ben Klotthor

Sunday we went to church and just enjoyed everyone's company. It's nice not to be needed anywher6e and t4o 54just enjoy the meetings. After church we had fun hanging out with each other.

Lindsey playing.


Angela and Kyra looking at pictures.


Megan, Becky and Courtney.


A very smiley Ethan sitting with Grandma.

Monda4y we 11 loaded the car and drove 40 MPH all the way home (Ok the last 100 miles we got to drive actual speed limit). The roads were awful and the weather was awful, but we made it! We even ran into my aunt and uncle in Idaho while they were on vacation...what timing!

We had a blast on our trip and enjoyed seeing everyone we got to visit with. We hope you all have a wonderful Holiday and that you also have a great New Year! We wish you Health and Happiness in 2009!

Gingerbread Houses

Tonight we went to my Aunt Carol and Uncle Evan's house for Pizza and creativity. Carol and the boys made the houses and then the kids: Kyra, Megan and Jacob, Jon, and the boys decorated them. The boys meaning my cousins: Darren, Blaine and Derrek. I helped Jacob first and the Carol stepped in. I think they all turned out great and the important thing is that everyone had a fun time doing it. Here are some photos...

Here are Carol, Jacob and Kyra working hard:


Here is Blaine with his "Red-Hot" house:


This is Darren's house. I think he's won "most candy on the house" two years in a row:


Here is Megan and her finished house:


Kyra is working hard piping more icing onto her house:


Jacob's finished house:


Jacob's snowman (he's fishing) next to his campfire:


And of course Ethan had fun exploring:

My Icicle Garden

This is what I have been growing the last week. All you have to do is add water! Ok, the below freezing temperatures do help a bit.

Snow, Snow, Everywhere

*Sing to the tune of "The Wise Man and the Foolish Man" chorus*

The snow came down,
And the drifts piled up.

The snow came down,
And the drifts piled up.

The Snow came down,
And the drifts piled up.

And the Shaws stayed inside nice and warm.

Tomorrow I will post a picture of the icicles coming off the house. We have one that has almost touched the deck...(This is what passes for excitement around here lately.)

Extended Winter Break

This break is going to be a LONG one. We have had two snow storms a day apart from each other this week keeping Megan home from school every day and Kyra went one day with a delayed start time. All the other days school was cancelled. I'm already tired of the fighting and arguing that the kids do when they are all together. It would be okay if I could send them outside to play, but with the 12+ inches of snow we've gotten, the temperatures have been in single digits and the wind chill has dipped below freezing. I just can't force myself to force the kiddos outside. Megan tried to play yesterday, but after walking out about 15 feet from the door she would turn around and walk back, each time bringing in a pile of snow all the way downstairs where she would melt by the fireplace and leave a freezing puddle right where my socked feet seemed to step. Oh joy! Also, I can't go anywhere because Oregon doesn't believe in snow plows or gravel trucks. All of the drivers think that they have the same reaction time on ice as they do on dry roads and then there are the high schoolers that like to see how many fishtails or 360's they can do in the middle of the road. I love winter and all, but I can't stand the crappy drivers! As far as the scenery goes, it's truly beautiful! I love how clean everything looks and how quiet it is. It's also fun to drive around at night and see all of the Christmas lights. It definitely gives a peaceful feeling....and then I remember that we have 18 more days without school....help!

First Snow of the Season

The title says it all. Tonight as I was getting the kids ready for bed I looked out the window and realized it was snowing. Yippee! Megan instantly exclaimed, "Yay it's Christmas"! I had to break it to her that we did not just jump 12 days into the future and that just because it's snowing doesn't mean it's Christmas either.

This is a picture of it on our front deck...it's not much, but we have it!

I just feel bad for the drivers out there because it rained for a good hour before the snow started falling and it is very icy underneath.

West Park Elementary Winter Concert 2008

Tonight the girls had their winter concert at the High School here in Hermiston. They had all of the kinders wear antler headbands, fuzzy white tails, red noses and bells on their wrists. They sang the "Reindeer Pokey" ("You put your antlers in...you put your antlers out...") and "Jingle Bells". This is the shot I got of Megan after pushing my way through the crowd of parent Paparazzi.


Kyra and the 1st graders sang 4 songs and on "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", Kyra had a solo and nailed it! (She is standing next to her friend Megan).


At the end they had the Kinders, 1st and 2nd graders all sing together and close the concert. (We had to be out of there quickly so that the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades could put on their concert. It was fun to hear all of the songs that they sang (2 were Spanish) and also to listen to the girls teach Jake the words to all of the songs in the car. Needless to say, the Shaws could have their own concert in our living room at a moments notice!

Christmas Time

Alright, I gave in finally and put up our tree:



And my Nativity scene:



And the stockings:



Now if only there was snow...(only for effect)

I've also finished my birthday present to myself:



And my Christmas present:

Kyra's Award

Kyra's school had an awards assembly for their kids and we were informed that Kyra would be getting an award. So last Friday Jon came home from work early and we loaded up the younger 3 kiddos and headed to the school. The anticipation of what kind of award Kyra was going to get just about made Megan pass-out! When we got to the school we were ushered into the gymnasium/cafeteria and seated in the back with all of the other parents and younger siblings. Soon the kids came into the gym and sat down on mats in front of us and they began calling up the different classes. After applauding 2 afternoon kindergarten classes (Megan clapped while annoyed that her class did not get to participate), and after 3 1st grade classes, Kyra's class was called. Well, she didn't get the acedemic all-star award, but instead recieved the "Ravenous Reader" award. (Their mascot is the "Wild Cat"). So I guess what that means is that she is the kid that likes to have her nose stuck in a book....that can be a very good thing....Well, we were excited for her anyway. Her teacher told us that she has a Second grade reading level and one of the highest in the class. We told her that she was reading "Spiderwick Chronicles" at home and her teacher was impressed. Jacob, Ethan and Jon were not thrilled about being at the school and not being able to run around....hmmmm a future predictor? All I can say is at least the girls got something from me!

Kyra is in the blue coat hiding her face from the camera.


I couldn't even get them to hold still for a picture. Every single one is blurry! If you can make it out, Jacob is winking at me. The anticipation was just too much for Jon, he could barely hold it in as well....and Megan clapped when anyone came into the gym.

Thanksgiving

We went to Montana for Thanksgiving and had a wonderful time! But before we left, we celebrated my birthday by adding a new member to our family..

Jon had to have a new tv and so we found our pretty 32" plasma and set it up...as you can see, the movie "Cars" is playing....go figure. So, who's birthday was it again???

Anywho... we left for Montana on Wednesday and had a great drive over! All Jacob wanted to do was go to WalMart...his ALL TIME FAVORITE place!

We had a nice Turkey day and the girls even go to go to the movies to see Madagascar 2 with Aunt Angela. Ethan had fun sitting in Grandma's kitchen eating snacks.

Friday, mom and I went shopping. We left the house at 3:30 am and had an uneventful time (uneventful meaning no run-ins with the security or unruly crowds). We managed to find the things we had wanted and my dad even caught up with us around 7 am. The day had been pretty uneventful except for the electronics manager at Shopko puking his guts out a few aisles over from me...I guess EVERYONE works at Shopko!

Saturday I got to go with my mom to her work department's Christmas Luncheon. We had a fun time at the Chinese place and then hit more sales at stores we didn't make it to the day before.

Sunday we went to Church in Lolo and caught up with lots of our friends and the kids had a blast seeing everyone they knew! We drove home in a lot of fog and pulled in to the driveway around 9:30 pm

We get to go back at Christmas and so we are thnakful about that too! I hope everyone had a nice holiday and that the spirit of gratitude will follow us through these next few months and into the new year.