The Magic of Christmas

Christmas seemed different this year.  It was hard to get into the swing of it all.  We had so much on our minds with moving to Seattle... or not.  With Coelton gone it just wasn't the same.  But... I guess that will be the new normal.  Caden will be gone the next 2 years and I'm sure the boys will be getting married and not having Christmas at our house every year. Really??  We just need to embrace it.   Sniff Sniff.

Of course there was no snow either.  That is always a bummer,  but... Christmas night it started to snow!!  We went skiing on Christmas eve which was great to be in the snow.  I love that tradition!  We had our Pajama hunt too.   Caden was all worried that he wasn't going to get any PJ's this year.  Joel and I made comments that he was too old, and he didn't need any PJ's.  We were going to give him a big bag of garments instead. hehe  He was all sad that this Christmas would be zero fun, because it would be his "missionary" Christmas.  Lots of suits, luggage, ties and scriptures.  Boy- was he surprised!

We got up at like 6:30.  Santa left a Lego house for Chloe, a camera for Caden and an Ipod Touch for Hailey!   Dad got a new watch, goggles and a stylus for his ipad.  He also got many many "clothes".
I got a visa card!  I get to go shopping since I just found out that I am a type 4 and need to dress the part!
I also got an ipod shuffle so I can clip it on when I work out.   key word is "work- out". ; )

Our family gift this year was a chrome book!  Now I get MY lap top and don't have to share with all the kids who have to do their homework.  Coelton sent us all a T-shirt from Antigua.

The highlight was getting to skype Elder Hammer !  He was living on the Island of Antigua.  He called us at 10am and we hooked up the big screen in the living room and also had the laptop.  It was so good to see him and he enjoyed watching everything and visiting with everyone.  Caden got a new cell phone that we showed Coelton cause it's his in a few months when Caden leaves and Coelton returns.  hehe.  We also showed him some of Caden's new clothes that he could wear when he gets home.  Caden didn't think it was very funny- but we were all laughing.
Of course when it came to the good bye's, the eyes were glistening - but we hung up without too many tears.  



 

Chloe has to bring her AM girl doll and Hailey's cause they are BFF's.  She didn't get them for Christmas but they are always a part of everything we do. 

 

 

 

 

 

Robertson Reunion

The Robertson Clan Cloggers reunite in Bone Idaho, at my cousin Dynell's ranch.  She married a Loertcher and they live on the ranch.  We all made a "family brand".  If I could get this to rotate- you could see it better.  But it's "The Rocking Hammer" Ranch.  I think.  I can't remember what the squiggly lines mean.  It might mean Lazy.   In that case it's  "The Lazy Rocking Hammer" Ranch.

 

The Ranch is near my Dad's dry farms.  The days of my youth was spent here.  Dynell's ranch has lots of cows, so there was a lot of nice cow pies everywhere.  But it doesn't matter much if you get to look at this all day.  What a beautiful area. 

 

 

 

 

My Mother is a Robertson.  Her parents, my grandparents are both gone now.   Grandma passed away in 2010, Grandpa in 2003. 

 

My Mom, Donean is the oldest.  She passed away in 2007.

 

Diana, her sister is next in line.  She is married to Glenn and they have one daughter- Jenni who is a year older than Caden.  She goes to BYU-I.

 

Dell is next, and he is married to Syd.  They have 5 children.  LaDonna (Rancher is Ledore), Jack (lives in Montana and does something with farming soil), LaDean (lives in Washington), Krystal(husband is a dentist- live in Montana) , KayDee (going to law school in Moscow) and Clay (recently married and going to school).  All those cousins are married.

 

Doyle is the baby and he is married to Delia.  They have 4 girls.  Dena(lives in Ammon), DesRay(lives in DC), Dynell(Rancher in Bone), and Darby(recently engaged) 

All those cousins are married too.

 

All  "D" names you say?  Yes!  And my Grandpa's name was Dean and Grandma is Donna.

 

 

Then their is my cousins.  All grown and married- kids of their own.  I was one of the oldest in the Robertson clan.  We spend many days together practicing and performing with the clogging group.  It's strange for me to see them all grown up. My cousin LaDonna owns a ranch in Ledore.  She wears cowboy boots every day...seriously.  She's in the Levi Jacket.  I always thought I would marry a cowboy, and live on a ranch.  It was in my blood.

 

 

These guys are hard core.  They even rope for fun.  I remember having to run around my Grandparents yard and pretend to be a calf.  My Uncle Dell would practice roping us.  It hurt! 

He was a team roper in the rodeos. 

 

 

We had a gun shooting contest.  Look at what I did!  Told you it was in my blood.  My brother there on the end is exactly what a Judy would look like.  Dena's husband, Mike- next to Rhett is exactly what a Robertson would look like.  Then there is me...a city slicker. 

 

Of course, riding motor cycles and 4-wheelers is all apart of both sides on my family.  Robertson and Judy.  It wouldn't be a "get together" with out them.  I sure do like riding.  Thanks to my Dad who lets me take his 4-wheeler when I want to.

 

 See...He's dressed like a Judy. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We play silly games where we ride our fake horses across the field and milk fake cows.

We  had to see who's team could fill their cup the fastest and fullest. 

 

 

We walk on sticks and have races.  It was actually a lot of fun.  Team Work!

 

So you could say we're a bunch of red necks...and that is probably true. 

 

While we were WAITING for SNOWFLAKES

 

Chloe is a Multiplication Master!  Here she is being "Knighted" (is that even a word?)  by Mr. Reed. 

She has to pass all of her multiplication tables by doing each number and only getting 1 minute to finish the test.  After many flash cards and late nights of stress...she did it!

 

Aunt DaNae made our Christmas card this year.  We sure like it, she did a great job.

Elias Lines got home from his mission just after thanksgiving.  He went to Bolivia, Santa Cruz. 

Ugly Sweater Party

 

We did it!!  My friend Kim and I have talked about doing this since last year, and we did! 

We invited like 70 people and like 50 came! 

We cleared out our garage and had a good time deorating it all up.  It was perfect since the party was kind of trashy and Cousin Eddy-ish.  We played Christmas vacation on our little TV that we keep in the garage.   We raided the church house of chairs and a table.  We brought over an old couch the nieghbors had in their garage.   We had lots of food that everyone brought, and we played some fun games. 

 

 

We did a white elephant gift exchange that was fun.  Joel got the ONLY BSU gift.  Funny cause he was the only person there who hates BSU.  Jenn Smart made a pillow that said "Tonight" on one side and "Not Tonight" on the other.  haha.  Everyone traded for a singing outhouse and a $10 car wash. 

I scored with a mounted singing fish!  It's the perfect addition to our garage.   

 

We played the Pollar Express or The Train Game.  Everyone loved that! 

We also drew Christmas things on a paper plate that we put on our head. 

And we played Telestrations with the 13 couples who remained until the bitter end. 

 

It was a great night to spend with friends and celebrate Christmas in a fun way.