Christmas Eve at the Benjamin-Bakers

We have had such a nice and relaxing fun day. Deven went into his folks room this am and asked "Is gramma still here?" When told I was, he came and crawled in with me---at 6am. Not bad except I am in the midst of a good book and read until 1 am. Brie had said as she was trying to get Josh to go to sleep, that last time she went into labor he had been up late! Of course, the book won out over the warning. Deven and I snuggled and then went groceries shopping, Starbucks and the park.

Josh's family---making the group 14 in total ----came over midafternoon and we had a fantastic meal (Josh had gotten up at 5am to start the ham!) and they brought lots to share----and sufficient sweets for a brigade!!!!

Present opening was next for all the kids. Deven is so excited about the whole holiday---Santa, baby Jesus---he plays with one of the Nativity sets ALL the time and, of course gifts. We are now taking turns getting him to go to sleep and getting all the gifts under the tree. He is going to go nuts tomorrow. From what I have seen so far, he is getting some cool stuff.

I don't think I have EVER been this relaxed for a holiday. I am feeling very blessed.

Love to all and we'll talk sometime during the day.

Val

Last one ....I promise

Promise only valid until Deven wakes up in 10 or so hours.
Brie

Check out these hot moves. Jealous Linds?
Brie

Ok, we know we screwed up on the first post and will probably catch hell from,,,,hmmm....I guess just Brock. All others enjoy. Next we'll try a video---which should throw Brock into a coma.

Brie

Deven and Zev

Hey all, I'm finally on. Here are some pics of Deven and Zev from last weekend. You can also see us decorating our tree today. We are having a Christmas party with Josh's family tomorrow so we figured it was about time.
Check out the belly. It won't be there for long.
Brie

Should we rename the blog?

I loved seeing Zev open the gift from Lori and Dave---he didn't like it much did he???? Maybe we should rename the blog, "Zev Opening Gifts"?????

I talked to Gail tonight and didn't think to mention that they hadn't gotten on. I am going down to Tucson tomorrow after church. Almost all of my "have tos" are done. Nice.

Business has been down from last year but still good. Lots of guys in the store with that "deer in the headlights" look.

I taught in Brie's science classes last Monday all about ocular melanoma and protonbeam radiation. We had them sew sequins on a black and white copy of the photo of my eye that shows the tumor. They enjoyed that and we got some great questions. I also loved the day with Brie and seeing her school. It was a culture shock though!!!!

We'll post photos of the BBs and me over the Christmas holiday. I am coming back up here Wednesday or Thursday morning. Diane and I have given each other the day off on Wednesday-----the first day of our annual "We don't want to count it" Sale. Then I am just "on call" for when labor starts!

Love to all!

Zev's Christmas present from Lori/Dave

Well Zev's Christmas present from Lori & Dave showed up last night. We'd been over at Theryn & Zoetta's house all night and so we opened it around 9:30 or 10 p.m. Zev went crazy. Luckily the three and older toy sets don't have that small of pieces (its ok, the age limits are set up weird). Today he's been running around trying to saw, hammer and screw everythign in sight.

Zev and I came back from our AZ trip last night.  Nice to see the family.  We have a few days to get ready for our week in CA.  

So, I on. Do we get a eamil push when a new message has been posted or do we nned to log on to see what has been posted?

By the way, who is Tart?????

Thank you Brock and Monica

Thanks you guys for capturing Zev as he opened his gift from me. It was exactly what I had hoped for----I'll never forget how excited Deven was when he got the rolling Buzz Lightyear suitcase from Lori and how he wheeled it all around. Zev didn't disappoint me. Sure looks like it was a hit.

We have had a fun afternoon and evening with both of the guys---and the three parents who are here. We miss you Brock.

Now come on everyone else----write!!!

Zev got a present from Val

Ok, Brock posted the first video and it had a video of Zev opening his present from the Morgans. Here's a post of Zev opening her present. Well it arrived today. We opened it as you can see in the video and Zev drug it around behind him until it was time to clean up and go to bed. The funniest part is where I put the back pack on his shoulders and he pulls them in so that he doesn't drop the bag.

The videos are simply one video broken up. Hope you guys like them.

Zev opening morgan's gift

This is Zev opening Morgans' gift. It's a veggie tales movie and stuffed pirate cucumber that he sleeps with every night.

First Post!

Hi! Brock helped me set this up. I, of course, wanted it to be funny, gorgeous and the best blog ever. But to quote the lawyer in the family---who knows his mom all too well! "The idea is to make it short and simple or else it doesn't get done."

So there will be photos and great stories and all the hilarity of a big get together in the future, but not tonite. Tonite it is "Hi" and "I love you all" Now you get to write us all back.


Val