Merry Christmas!

I just wanted to take a quick minute from our crazy Christmas preparations to say Merry Christmas! I hope you are all enjoying the week and able to spend time with your loved ones. We are in Layton celebrating with our families. It's been hectic and a little emotional at times (what Hickman family holiday isn't?), but we're having a great time. Lucy is loving every minute of the attention. We're excited for the "program" we'll have tonight after dinner. It's one of my favorite times of the whole year. My family acts out the Christmas story and then we sing songs. Blaine and Lindsay (amazing voices) do solos, my sisters and I sing. Lucy has been practicing "Picture a Christmas". What a happy time! I'm looking forward to seeing all of your holiday pictures and to posting a few of my own. Right now I'd better get going.....I have two pies to make for dessert tonight. Wish me luck!

Goodbye, Gilmore Girls

It's over. We finished the 7th and final season of Gilmore Girls on Saturday night. I'd had watched it a few times, but never for very long. But then we started with season 1 this summer and continued to Netflix them through season 6. Season 7 didn't come out on DVD until mid-november and then we had to be on a waiting list to get it. Finally, they arrived and we zoomed through them much too quickly. We should have savored each episode. When we realized we were on the last disc, Jason made some no-bake cookies in a feeble attempt to make it more of an event. I'll miss Lorelai, Rory, Suki, and Luke. There's something about the quick dialogue and witty conversations that I really enjoy. I wasn't completely satisfied with the way everything turned out, but for the most part, there was closure. I told Jason that if I could live anywhere in the world, I think it would be Stars Hollow, CT (even though it doesn't exist).

Any other Gilmore Girls fans out there? I'm curious to know who was your favorite of Rory's numerous boyfriends? I was a major Dean fan until the whole affair issue. Was anyone else disappointed about the ending with Lorelai and Luke.....not enough info?

We're trying to decide what to Netflix next. It's nice doing TV shows because then you can watch one show in 45 minutes. Any suggestions? What shows are you all into? What are you currently Netflix/Blockbustering?

Happy Birthday!

I just wanted to give a shout out to my best bud, Lichelley! Today is her 28th birthday and I want her to know how much I love and appreciate her. I look to her as an example in so many ways. She is a fabulous mother. Very creative, very patient. It seems she always has new ideas of things to do with her kids and ways to teach them.

Lichelley is a wonderful friend. She's always there when I need to be assured I'm not an idiot or if I'm in a bind and need a good idea for the kids, primary, presents, etc.

Thanks for being such an amazing friend, Lichelley! I'm so glad we met way back in junior high and our friendship survived high school and living together at USU. We have so many memories!!!

I hope you have a very happy birthday!

Soccer Queen/Supermodel

We got Lucy's soccer pictures back. I had to show you the group picture. She's on the front row, far right. Whenever we try to get Lucy to smile for pictures, she does this weird head turning thing. She took it to a whole new level with the side stance action. Jason and I were laughing pretty hard. Lucy couldn't have been more proud.

Crazy Town!

Crazy Town has been my saying for the last few days. Kids, kids, and more kids!

On Friday evening we had a little party for our neighbor friends and their kiddos. We had dinner and decorated sugar cookies. The kids drew names a couple weeks ago to exchange gifts. The big surprise was that Santa came! The kids reactions were hilarious! All of them were so excited. All of them got a turn on his lap. Lucy kept poking her head in when it was other kids turn and saying, "I know you have a sleigh!" or "You're funny!" It was pretty cute! She's been telling us for the last couple weeks that she wants "boots that light up and a music box". She's been wanting shoes that light up for years, but I'm not a fan, so it hasn't happened. She saw someone with boots on and decided she wanted those....... then remembered she wanted light up shoes and that is where we get the "boots that light up" situation. (Good luck with that Santa! Actually "Santa" found some seriously cute pink cowboy boots that have stars that light up when you walk...hilarious!). Santa was so sweet and personable to all the kids. A very kind man! You'll notice in the picture that Lucy is wearing a purple leotard. Much to my dismay, she slipped that little number on right before Santa came.

Graham wasn't too impressed with Santa. He jabbered to him a little bit after we gave up on putting him on his lap. But.....he jabbers to just about anyone or anything lately. On Saturday we had a primary activity to practice the Nativity Program we'll be doing for the ward party. There was some ornament making and sugar cookie decorating and then the practice. Lots of kids, lots of craziness......hence the Crazy Town expression.

Today I had sharing time. It didn't go as well as planned, but we got through it. I can't decide if the kids were extra crazy (there's that word again) or if my kid-o-meter was just full, but by the end of church I was ready to drop-kick any human under the age of 12 that crossed me. (The drop-kick line was for Jason. There's been a few times that I told Jason that I wanted to drop-kick Lucy and he thinks it's pretty funny. Slightly morbid, but still funny.)

Graham woke up earlier than expected from his nap today, so only one of us was going to get our Sunday nap. My sweet, kind, wonderful husband let me sleep while he played with the kids and made dinner. What a man! I think I can survive another trip to Crazy Town if he's along for the ride!

Santa is Watching!

We had a little package delivered to our house on Saturday night. Lucy and Graham got a gift from Santa and his elves! (We love Grandma and Grandpa!). The elves rang the doorbell and ran (Jason is quite the sprinter). Lucy was so excited to find the Polar Express DVD and the big bell. She was beaming from ear to ear when we read the note to her from Santa and the elves. She called and told her cousins, Abby and Oliver, about her surprise. She was so happy to find out that they had gotten a similar package.

The next day she told a few of her friends at church that "Santa is watching everyone!" On the way home from church she asked Jason, "Did the 'A''s give some to Abby and the 'O's to Oliver?" She's a little confused about the elves being elves and not 'L's (as in Lucy). So funny!

Whenever we're in the car we've been listening to Soft rock 98.9, because they're playing only Christmas music from here on out. Lucy came walking into my room singing the stations little jingle, "Sofrod....98.9!" I had to try not to laugh because I wanted her to keep doing it.

This is Graham in his brand new coat. I couldn't stop laughing as I watched him walk around. So flippin' cute! It's been a freezing 59 degrees here in Lemoore (that's cold for us....I know, we're wimps). We felt like the guy needed some gear. Especially because we're heading to Utah in 16 days! Whoopeee!