Oklahoma Aquarium

On our first day in Tulsa, we went to the Oklahoma Aquarium. John and Kiki met us there.

Brent touched sting rays and baby sharks. Racheal did not want to touch anything. They both fed fish, sting rays and turtles. The best part was the tunnel. You were under the shark tank. The sharks swam over the top of you. It almost made you dizzy in the tank looking through the glass into the water.

We were there to watch the pirahana get feed and the electric eel. When they fed the eel, he let off a huge charge. There was a giant catfish in one of the tanks that had been caught in Oklahoma. I am afraid to swim in the lakes out there. They also have these snapping turtles that can live to be over 100 year old and they are huge.

Trip to Oklahoma

Some of our really good friends moved to Oklahoma in August. We have really missed them and was trying to figure out when we could take a trip out there. My kids have only been to a few states. So I thought it would be a good idea to make the time to go out right after Christmas. My thinking was that we had not had a road trip in a long time and it would be fun to sight see along the way. Well, you don't sight see when it is freezing outside!

We left the day after Christmas. It was cold. We drove from Nephi to New Mexico. We almost made the Texas border. I could not talk the kids in to getting out at the Colorado sign. It was way too cold. They did get out when we hit New Mexico. By the end of the night, I was exhausted. It had been too cold to get out at too many places. So we just kept driving. Thank goodness for portable DVD players. At least they kids were some what entertained.

The second day we drove from New Mexico to Oklahoma City. We went to the Cowboy Hall of Fame. I am sure the kids were excited as I was to get out of the car for several hours. It is an amazing place. We got to see the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame. There are several different sections from Western Movie Stars to famous western painters. There was a sculpture of John Wayne that was done by someone who lives in South Jordan Utah.

We spent the night in Oklahoma City. We had a really good steak dinner. Since I was still trying to catch up from Brent keeping us all up at Christmas, I crashed at 8:00. It really helped me have enough energy to enjoy the rest of the trip. Brent needed to burn off some energy from being in the car. So he went swimming.

Christmas Morning

Christmas morning is usually the same for us. We get up really early. I am serious about 3 a.m. If we do not make it to Coy's parents by 5:00 a.m. the phone calls start. Sometimes they start much earlier.

I really like to have Christmas with my kids first thing in the morning. A lot of Coy's family stays at grandma and grandpa's and all have their kids Christmas together. But, I want to have first thing in the morning with just us. So we get up really early. I love to spend the time opening presents with the kids and especially watching them go through their stockings.

This year we tortured Brent again. We hid his main Christmas present. He deserved it because he was up until midnight and tried to wake me up at 2. So we let him open all of his presents and then asked the Christmas story question "So, Brent did you get everything you wanted?" At that point he knew there was something hidden. We had his grandparents buy him a Fast Lane Roping Dummy while they were at the NFR. The Fast Lane is the coolest roping dummy according to him. He has been asking for one for months. It was a last minute decision to get one and they are not easy to find.

Racheal loved everything. She got an iPod home. Now she can plug her iPod in her room. And of course I spent way to much on clothes and jewelry for her. Next year, I think it will be her turn to be tormented. I am sure we need to hid her gifts!

After we have our little Christmas, we head to grandma and grandpa's for more gifts. After we open gifts, we get omelets. Grandpa makes them every year. They are huge 3 egg omelets with everything. They are so yummy. We all look forward to them. Then of course we spend all day there. We eat tons of treats and grandma makes a ham, salads and tons of food. So we sleep and eat all day. How perfect is that!

(It is perfect until you realize you have gained 8 pounds between Thanksgiving and Christmas! Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!)

Christmas Pajamas

Each year for Christmas, grandma gives the kids pajamas on Christmas Eve. She used to make them when they were little. I think my kids look more forward to getting their pajamas on Christmas Eve than they do anything else. Then you can't get them out of them. They still in them from the moment they get them to the end of Christmas Day.

I try to get a least one picture of them in their pajamas. Brent is opening his with Haley. Isn't she so cute. Racheal is posing with Ashly. They have always been close.

After they get their pajamas, we usually indulge in various foods. Grandma has already made all of her candy and other delectable treats. Grandpa make shrimp, stuffed mushrooms, and lots of other yummies. This year was had a special treat. Yuki was here from Japan. So he made a Japanese dish called Shabu Shabu. I think that is how it is spelled. It was really yummy.

It was a great night. We love just hanging out with family.

Holiday Catch Up

So I really did it. After about the 20th of December, I just relaxed and enjoyed the holidays. Sure I still had a lot to do but I did what I could and let the rest take care of itself.

Now, I am back. I want to catch up on all of the holiday events. We started the holidays with a Christmas party the Saturday before with the kids from Moab. It was a really good weekend. We ate, opened presents and played games. It was a quick trip for them but it was nice.

My grandparents came over Saturday night for dinner and presents. Emma came this time. She was so funny. She helped me hand out presents. She had more fun handing them out than she did opening her own. She kept wanting to give out one more. It was really cute. She took to my grandpa for some reason. She would hug him everytime she got to open a present. It did not matter who it was from.

Tristen is so excited when he comes here. He loves to talk. He stayed up late with me on Friday to watch my favorite Christmas movie "A Christmas Story". It is almost sad to send him home because you can tell he does not want to go.

Haillee is the quiet one. She just tries to blend. She was excited about a couple of her gifts. I was proud of her this weekend for smiling for pictures. She also stood up to me about the clothes she was going to wear. I know most adults would be offended but I like to see that she can have a mind of her own. I worry about her not taking care of herself.

I really miss them and wish we could do more. I try to give them a little glimpse at a stable family life. Hopefully, they can see a goal to strive towards as they grow up.