Christmas - Rejholec Style

Julia and Gabe were ecstatic about having a few more Rejholecs join us for Christmas this year. (Jonny and I loved it too, of course. We just weren't running around in circles with excitement like these two balls of energy were!)With Grandma Myra, Uncle Joe, Aunt Rudi, and cousin Hudson, there was hardly a dull moment, as you can see...

A snowball fight naturally broke out after the sledding.

Evy learned to crawl (probably to keep up with the big kids). 

And she was generally loved, as usual.

We all participated in the traditional Christmas Eve tinseling and decorating of the Christmas tree. 

(We save the tinsel and "special ornaments" to put up on this day. Jonny's fam used to do it all on Christmas Eve.) 

There is actually an art to blowing the tinsel.
The Rejholecs have it down. 

(I am not a natural and have some practicing to do!) 

The kids worked on a gingerbread house.  

We also made paper-bag Luminarias, a Durango tradition. 

The kids posed for a PJ picture.

(Which turned into a hilarious photo shoot capturing all of their personalities.)

We were delighted by a White Christmas.

Santa visited! 

Julia was overjoyed with the artichoke in her stocking.

True to first-Christmas-form, Evy ate the wrappings.

Cousins colored together.

The Doctor was In. 

Gabe fell in love with his monster trucks from Joe and Hudson. 

And Christmas Day fun and relaxation ensued. 

It was truly a wonderful Christmas and we were so happy to have beloved family in our home. Thanks for joining us, you four! Here's hoping 2013 is a good one for all. 

She sure makes life great

I'm sitting at the airport waiting for my flight home, and I'm just thinking of how excited I am to see my family. And I've only been gone 3 days, so, I don't know how those who are away from family so often do it.

Nine years ago, right about this time, was the first time I laid eyes on the beautiful Melody Graham. She came walking into an ASL class at BYU on the last day of adding/changing classes. It was a class of 21 girls, but when Melody walked in, I tell you, there was really only one. I just love this lady so much. She's not perfect, but she is perfect for me.

Stayin' Alive

That's right, this year our tree is actually thriving and it looks like it's going to be fresh and lovely on Christmas Day. I love a live tree. But over the years it's been hit and miss in respect to keeping ours, well, alive. Last year our beautiful tree dried up after only a few days. It was depressing to look at the droopy, brittle branches all month and I definitely did not "cry the day I took the tree down." But this year we were very careful to do all the things we believe help to keep a tree perky until Christmas Day. (Pick a good one to begin with, make a fresh cut on the trunk, water very faithfully - even in the middle of the night for the first week! I'd love to know any other tips. I will have to scour Pinterest.) And, so far so good. Maybe not a very exciting post, but this is big time around here!

We also love this tree because we had such a festive and fun time picking it out at Faust Creek Farms. (The Fowles, some friends who moved from our neighborhood a few years ago, have a farm in Faust. This kids were so excited to be driving out west, close to the location of our favorite summer camping spot.)

Santa (or "that cowboy pretending to be Santa," as Gabe put it) loaded us up for a hay ride over to the little tree lot. We spotted a perfect tree almost immediately, but stuck around for delicious pulled-pork and cole slaw sandwiches and hot chocolate. We also checked out the chickens, goats, and extra fat pigs. We plan on making this trip a tradition. And hopefully successfully keeping the tree alive will be one too...

Songs for E

It is about time I document Evy's songs. Her lullaby has been around since she was a month old or so. And a few weeks ago a playtime song came about while I was bathing her. She loves to hear her songs. Her lullaby calms her at night and she giggles and kicks when anyone starts singing "Everything about Evy."

I cannot describe how much I adore my angel baby. She is a complete delight. She is a joy in my life from the moment she wakes up to when I sing to her and rock her at night*. And I love to know a sweet little baby girl is soundly sleeping right next door to my room. Oh Evy, how I love, love, love you.

Evelyn's Lullaby

Evelyn, my darling baby girl

It's time to say "Goodnight" to the world.

Close your eyes now, and rest your head

So warm and cozy in your bed.

Evelyn, my darling baby girl

It's time to say "Goodnight" to the world.

Let the day go, another will come.

Dream now, my sleepy little one.

Everything about Evy

Everything about Evy

Everything about Evy

Everything about Evy

is cute, cute, cute.

Your eyes are cute, your nose is cute

Your hands are cute, your toes are cute

Your arms are cute, your legs are cute

Your little dimples are cute, cute, cute.

Repeat Chorus

Your laugh is cute, your cry is cute

Your yawn is cute, your sigh is cute

Your goo goo's cute, your ga ga's cute

Your little giggle is cute, cute, cute.

Repeat Chorus and make up as many verses as come to mind!

*Yes, Evy is a sweetheart. But that doesn't mean she sits around and smiles all day and night. Just almost all day. Really, she is a happy little thing. But she is a baby and has her occasional fussy times (which are further and farther between than my other two babies - she is definitely my most mellow), is not yet sleeping through the night, and we have been battling the "45 Minute Intruder" at nap times for months. Ugh. But those small things certainly don't keep me from thinking she is the most wonderful thing in the world. Just look at that face! (And be sure to notice her luscious lashes in the second picture.) She is my little dolly and I love playing house with her.

Oh, and here are the links to see Julia's and Gabe's songs.