Van Leuven Christmas Bash

This year we had an

'Ugly Sweater Party'

for our family get-together. On Christmas Day everyone showed up in the most hideous sweater they could find in hopes of winning the prize for ugliest sweater worn by a male and female.

Everyone voted and here are the results:

Then it was time for the grandkids to open their gifts from grandma and grandpa...

We also had a lot of fun "Minute to Win It" games planned by my awesome sis-in-law, Charly...

There was yummy food and too many treats and goodies, even without counting the pound of chocolates I won!

The little cousins settled down (for a few minutes) and watched a movie...

We also had a White Elephant gift exchange and

LOTS OF FUN! Now everyone is on the hunt for next year's UGLIEST SWEATER!

Game Night!

28 Things I love about Holly

(Not in a specific order)

1. I love that she agreed to marry me for "Time and all Eternity"

2. I love that she made me a father and has blessed us with three wonderful boys

3. I love that she has taught the boys how to love us as parents and each other

(Actually she still working hard on this one...not her fault though "boys will be boys")

4. I love that she trys to give the boys the kind of cakes they ask for...and has impressed me everytime

5. I love that she is great at making other things too. Check out her recent post "Projects"

6. I love that when she throws a party she always goes overboard, even if it's a "stupid football game"

6. I love that she is still with me even though she suffered through me fixing up our house and dealing with things from cold weather, black dust, frozen pipes and much much more

7. I love that she has helped me improve my clothing selection. Some days I come home from work a morning she didn't get a good look at me and say "don't tell me you wore that today"

(for those that don't know I am color blind and I don't mix and match really well)

8. The gentleman who married us told us to always hold hands and I haven't been the best at it but...

I love that her hand fits just right in mine

9. I love that she has dark hair...

A quick story on this is my dad thought Holly colored her hair the first time they met.

10. I love that she has a great love for her family and we have the opportunity of living close to them

11. I love that she is so caring that she is always thinking about others and helps out when someone is in need

12. I love that she takes pictures and captures our families' life moments

13. I love that she goes to church with me and supports me in my callings

14. I love that she believes in the power of prayer

15. I love that she is forgiving

16. I love that she doesn't like to sleep in the bed without me and she doesn't like it when I fall asleep before her

17. I love that she keeps a clean house

With four boys (me included in that) it's hard to do so

18. I love that she is a great cook

Even though I'm a pretty picky eater

19. I love that she has put up with my career explorations

I have held 8 different work positions and am waiting to hear about a 9th and hope to make that my career

20. I love to take trips with Holly...long or short

21. I love her home decorating skills

22. I love that she puts up with my forgetfullness

23. I love to come home from work and receive a hug from her

24. I love her strength

What I mean by that...is when I am sick I am a big baby...when she is sick she still gets up and takes care of the kids and get them where they need to be

25. I love that she made our home a refuge from the outside world and we can feel secure there

26. I love that she is so willing to be there for our kids

Already being so busy she has volunteered to be one of Ethan's room mothers

27. I love that she is my best friend

28. I love that she loves me

I could have not asked for a better wife to have. Happy Birthday Holly!

(sorry to all the bloggers...I don't have the skills to blog like Holly)

A Very Happy Un-Birthday

Today was Ethan's day to celebrate his un-birthday since his real birthday is over Christmas break. He was really excited and has been planning for the last week.

The un-birthday boy.

Getting his certificate and pencil from his teacher-she had to write it with her left hand since her right one is broken.

Discovering how many times the earth has rotated in Ethan's lifetime...Ethan is the earth and his teacher is the sun.

Changing his age from 5 to 6 on the birthday board.

The birthday brownies with green frosting and sprinkles, Capri Sun, and Spiderman napkins. Who could ask for anything more?

Projects

I've been a bit obssessive lately with some of my projects and trying to get them finished. Several months ago I started knitting baby hats with the intention of donating them to a hospital to give to newborns. When I had Owen we received a hat like these and I loved it. I have 23 done but got a little distracted trying to finish some other things. I'm hoping to get more done over the next few weeks and get them to the hospital before Christmas.

One of the other projects I've been working on are these little stitcheries to give as gifts. I just have some frames to paint and then they'll be done! We made a stitchery with a quote about teaching and a stocking cap like the ones above in the school colors for Ethan's teacher, he just loves her!

These next pictures are TOP SECRET (because they are Christmas gifts) and have been in the depths of my brain for the last few years...I finally took the time to put them together and I'm hoping the boys will like them. They are super hero capes with Batman on one side and Superman on the other. I used felt for the super hero signs so that they stayed in place as I sewed-I learned the hard way that the material I used for the capes wouldn't work for the signs...

 I just need to finish stitching their little masks to go with them...

This project has been a really special one and I just finished it today. A friend from High School and his wife lost their little 3 year old boy last month. She gave me several of his favorite shirts and I made them into a quilt for her.  

The back:

I've also made a few things for myself, like these flowers and pinwheels for my hair and to clip on my clothes. They are really easy and fun! I just forget to wear them most of the time...

When I had Owen, a friend made me a cover for my infant carseat so I wouldn't have to hassle with putting a blanket over the top. It was really handy! But, since Owen has long grown out of his tiny little carseat, I decided to convert the carseat cover into a cute apron for me! And who doesn't enjoy cooking and baking even more when they have a pretty apron to wear?!

This has been about 3 years in the making. I started this with a friend and we finished hers before she moved and I forgot the pieces in a closet and never got it completed. I decided I really needed to get it put up on the wall, especially with all of the papers and things Ethan is bringing home from school. (The green paper is his 'TOP DOG' award he earned for his good manners at school.) He drew a picture of our family but instead of 3 boys, there are 4. When I asked him who the extra one is he said it's his friend, Talvyn. They go to church and to school together. I was worried maybe Ethan knew something I don't, but thankfully that's not the case!

So this week I'll be tying up loose ends and getting everything (hopefully) done. If I can find the time, I have intentions of turning these ties into bowties for the boys...I'm not making any promises!

Over the weekend we made pizza and FINALLY found time to watch Toy Story 3 with the boys.

Owen spent the majority of the weekend pantless (as we often find him) and made good use out of the toy box as it doubled as a seat...the only problem was, when he tried to stand up, his bum was stuck.

Jeff and I got to go out and celebrate my birthday-THANKS to everyone who watched the boys for us!

On Sunday I had to speak in Sacrament Meeting, but at least I got to sit by Jeff up on the stand! Then our good friends, The Hodges, came over for a little pre-Christmas party and the kids exchanged gifts. Callie made our boys the most AWESOME Quiet Books to help them (and me)get through church. The boys LOVE them and keep asking if they can take them everywhere we go. We had soup, homemade rolls, and a YUMMY chocolate cake made by Callie.

Kennedy:

Owen:

Elisa: 

Kamden:

Ethan: 

It was a great weekend and went by too fast, I can't believe Christmas is less than 2 weeks away! We are looking forward to spending time with family and the boys are trying SOOooo hard to be patient while waiting for Christmas morning!

Happenings...

My life has gotten a lot easier now that I have my own personal housekeeper...

He even mops carpets and is totally worth the investment.

We put up our tree a few days after Thanksgiving and Owen's favorite place is right behind it under the window and next to the little chair. He sits there and points while he says "Look, look" and he has only broken two ornaments so far!

We went to our church Christmas party last weekend where the boys got to visit with Santa...

Ethan and Kamden waited anxiously all day for a few moments with Ol' Saint Nic... 

Owen, on the other hand, wasn't a fan...



SnOw DaY!

Today is Ethan's very first snow day from school. It snowed all day long yesterday, most of the night, and is still coming down-I can't remember the last time there was so much snow here or if I've ever seen it snow for so long.

The boys and I bundled up this morning and went outside to play. I tried shoveling the sidewalks, which Jeff did last night before bed, but it hasn't done much good. Instead, the boys and I built a snow fort...

Owen watched from the window since he would probaly get burried in all of this snow.

There was no way Jeff's car was getting out of the driveway, so it stayed home today and he took my car. Thankfully he is working in town today, it took him an hour and a half to get home yesterday.

The swings were extra fun today since there was a pile of soft snow to dive into...

 

HaPpY SnOw DaY!

Riddle Me This...

What do a toothbrush, a bouncy ball, and a spoon have in common?

They are all items that have been found in the toilet over the last 2 days, courtesy of Owen. He makes a mad dash any chance he gets (although there have been strict instructions to keep the lid closed) and loves to toss various items in the bowl followed by dipping his hands in the water and splashing around until he is discovered. Then he quickly takes his hands out of the toilet, points to the water and says "Yuck, yuck" and screams while he gets his hands washed. Screaming is his new favorite expression and he has been driving us to the brink of insanity with his shrill sounds. Kamden is constantly telling his baby brother "I don't want to listen to that! You are hurting my ears!" It's really fun when he decides to make his presence known to everyone in the entire church building (and the surrounding 5 mile radius, I'm sure) by waiting for the quietest moments and screaming as loud as he possibly can. I'm just waiting for the people who fall asleep in the middle of the meeting to have a heart attack from being startled awake by Owen's ear-splitting screams... 

The Feast of 2010

I had a lot of fun hosting Thanksgiving this year and enjoyed spending the day with family. The day before Thanksgiving I made 9 pies: Peach, Cherry, Apple, Chocolate, Banana, Coconut, Lemon, Pumpkin, and Blackberry. We had quite the feast with LOTS of yummy food. Then we relaxed, watched movies, and played games.  

Now it's off to the weekend with a few photo shoots, some shopping, and more family time!

Cannibal

Today at the grocery store the boys picked out a Lunchable to eat on the way home. Since Kamden has been adamant about not eating turkey on Thanksgiving because "that's gross", I asked the boys what kind of meat they were eating with their cheese and crackers. Kamden didn't have an answer but Ethan asked if they were eating "people meat".
Kamden was glad to learn that it was turkey!