Christmas 2012

 Christmas 2012

Christmas Morning

Christmas morning finally came and the kinds were all so very excited.  Megan had been asking and talking about a Doodle Bear for a month and was so excited to get it.  Yet, I think she hardly played with it at all.  Lauren wanted an "American Girl Doll"  with extra long hair to style and a special doll bed for her to sleep in.  Target makes a nice version of the American Girl doll and Lauren loved it.  Megan picked out one too that looked just like her.  They played for hours with the clothes an accessories.  Grandpa Shurtz even made them a beautiful doll bed and I sewed some bedding for it.  I think their dolls will get a lot of love an attention, but poor Doodle Bear that Megan just had to have is sitting lonely in the corner.   

 Ethan really wanted some wii games and a B-B gun.  He was happy to get Brent's gun from when he was a kid, I think it makes it rather special.  He also wanted a lava lamp and a basketball hoop to hang over his bedroom door.  He loves taking the new mini trampoline and dunking his ball.  It makes the whole upstairs shake, but he has so much fun doing flips from the tramp onto his bed.  He had a great Christmas.  I am not sure why I don't have pictures of Maddy on Christmas morning, but she got a new watch, MP3 player, and lots of cute clothes.  She is growing up so much!

I was really excited for Brent to open his present from Dad, Renae, and Me.  Dad and Renae are always generous at Christmas time and I asked them to combine our money and get Brent the iPad he has been wanting for a while now.  I thought he would be really surprised, but he knew he was getting it that little stinker.  He said he figured something was up when Renae didn't hassel him about what he wanted for Christmas.  Also, on Christmas Even he found a shipping reciept for the iPad case I had ordered for him.
He was so happy to get it though, look at that smile on his face.

 Sugar Cookies and Gingerbread Houses

 Every year when we talk about our Christmas Traditions the kids are always remind us we have to make cookies and decorate Gingerbread Houses.  This year they upgraded from graham cracker houses to the real thing.  They were really excited about how they turned up.  I don't think Ethan and Megan waited very long to start eating theirs.  It takes me week to clean up all the frosting I find in the kitchen but it is well worth it to see the fun they have . 

 Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa Sears!

  





A week before Christmas Grandma and Grandpa Sears came to visit us for a few days.  Grandma brought lots of goodies for us to snack on and a car full of gifts for us to open while they visited us.

We watched movies and played games and one day went downtown to take in the lights and go on a carriage ride.  It was fun to sing carols and see the lights of downtown.  We also went to the Davenport hotel to see their beautiful tree and the gingerbread houses they had on display.  The night ended with the Sears family tradition of pizza for dinner.  We sure wish they could have been with us on Christmas Day but it was a real treat to have them with us during the Christmas season. 

Lauren Turns Six

Lauren Turns 6 Years Old!

I know this looks likes Christmas morning, but she is opening some of her gifts in the morning wearing her p.j.s

 Lauren brings so much joy to our family. Here are the top 6 things we love about Lauren.

1. She is usually always happy. She loves to laugh and her laugh is very contagious.
2. She is very creative. Every morning she shuffles out of bed goes straight to her craft table to create a new picture or write a new story. She spends most of the day crafting and sharing her masterpieces with everyone.
3. She wants to be helpful and obedient. She is the first to volunteer when we ask for help around the house. She has a hard time cleaning her room on her own, but if you turn on the music she loves to clean while rocking out to her favorite songs.
4. She is always dancing and singing and inviting everyone to join in on the fun.
5. She loves to bare her testimony. She bore her testimony for the first time in Fast and Testimony Meeting in November. She always says her prayers at night without being reminded and thanks Heavenly Father for every blessing. If the family is extra hungry or in a hurry to get out the door they dread Lauren saying the prayer because she prays in the longest. Nephi is her favorite Book of Mormon Prophet because “he is really brave and did hard stuff.”
6. She is still our beauty queen. She loves anything to do with styling hair, wearing make up, and putting together great outfits. All her dolls and her mom get regular make overs. Even her Dad is not immune from her styling touches. He often gets his hair combed during scripture study or family council.

Lauren is loving Kindergarten with her teacher Mrs. Stephens. She is a good reader and enjoys math. She likes doing her “homework” every day as she practices at home. She and Megan are the best of friends and play together really well. Except that Megan has the most beautiful hair and she does not like having Lauren comb and style it. Lauren is always up for any adventure and thinks everything sounds like fun whether she is wrestling with Ethan, playing Just Dance on the Wii with Maddy, playing barbies with Megan, golfing, camping, Geo caching with Dad and cooking and crafting with Mom. However, she does not really enjoy riding her two wheeler bike. She is getting better, but right now it is not her favorite thing to do.

Lauren in our peacemaker and has a happy go lucky attitude that endears her to everyone. Every morning before she leaves for school she gives her Dad and me a hug and whispers, “I love you with all my heart.”

We love you too Lauren. Happy Birthday!