Christmas!

This was the first Christmas we spent away from our home in Utah.  It was wonderful!  We missed our families and seeing friends, but it will be a Christmas we will always remember!  We had lots of yummy treats, music, movies, board games, egg nog, and family time.  The kids were so excited Christmas eve! It is so much fun to see that magical look they get in their eyes on Christmas Eve.  It was interesting to talk to our families in Utah and hear about what they were doing. I was thankful to have so many wonderful memories of Christmas when I was a child.  My parents sent me a dvd with home movies and it was so fun to watch.
It was nice this year to have time to read Dicken's A Christmas Carol, bake some favorite family recipes, and spend time playing with the kids.  It is so wonderful to have Ty home from school.  It will be hard to let him go back!  He surprised me by making me breakfast in bed, vacuuming, doing laundry, and helping with the kids.  We each go over to the Butler gym each day, and it is nice to have some time alone.

We are very grateful for our families in Utah. They were all very good to us and helped us have a nice Christmas!

Christmas Eve

This boy LOVES to drum!  He is constantly stealing my spatulas for drum sticks. 

The noise  drives Ty crazy, but I think it is good for him.

Milk and Cookies for Santa

The kids did very well!

Santa had a little help acquiring this train table set from a neighborhood yard sale this summer for $25.00!  Zealand loves it!!

Ty's little pile

Don't you love our cozy fireplace?  

I told Ty all I wanted Santa to bring me was paper towel. I am always out and don't always have the money to spend on it.  Santa surprised me with 2 rolls! What a guy!

Grandpa Jon and Nana sent him the little tool belt!  So cute!

Ty was convinced he was the ONLY man in America who got Eclipse. 

 He kept talking about buying it so I thought we could both enjoy it. We had set a $20 limit on each other, so I cheated a bit by adding this :)

American Girl golden retriever

At Zoey's school yard sale this summer she found this dump truck for ZZ. She paid 50 cents and wraped it up and hid it in the basement.  He was thrilled and she was thrilled to have such a nice present for him.

Zoey knew that an American Girl doll would be too much to ask Santa for this year.  Deep down though I knew she really wanted one.  I gave her my Kit that I had put away. She was so happy!  

Santa sure makes a mess. 

Zealand loved the train table and cash register!

Talking to Grandma Sherry :)

He LOVES Chip N Dale

He almost went to sleep hugging his new friends!

He was in heaven! 

It was a wonderful Christmas! We are very blessed!

December Fun

The Franklin family had a very quiet, peaceful, fun December.  We took a few trips to Jolly Days a the Children's Museum.  The kids love the slide.  Zoey got to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Zealand mostly loves to ride on the elevators.

Ty had an Ugly Sweater day at school. He found this beauty at Good Will.  I embellished it the best I could with some felt and lights.  He has a plug by his seat in his classes, so he blinked the whole day. Hopefully, it wasn't too distracting going into finals week.

One of the most exciting things in December is receiving lots of fun packages and cards from back home.  Everyone spoiled us too much!  The kids were thrilled to see the presents add up under the tree.

Ty finished the semester with flying colors and Zoey was excited to have a break from school.

She seemed to be more homesick though as the break progressed.  I think kindergarten is so good to keep her mind off missing family in Utah.  She also misses her pup Annie something awful! 

The older she gets, it seems harder to make her happy when she gets into a homesick mood. She is usually so happy go lucky, but she tells me "I just don't feel like myself."  It breaks my heart! 

We try to keep her very busy!

Zealand loves baby Jesus.  He will pick up the little manger and say "the poor baby wakes!"  He loves to sing Christmas songs and primary songs.  He pretty much knows the words to all of them.  

I love being in another room and listening to him sing his little heart out. His favorite song however, is Winnie the Pooh ..."Deep in the Hundred Acre Wood, where Christopher Robin plays".  It is so sweet!

When I get him out of the bath and put his towel with the hood on he says "I baby Jesus"  I swaddle him up and rock him.  He gets this blissful little look on his face.

He likes to paint, but mostly to mix the colors in the water.

Brushing the Reindeer

Zoey loves when they have a snowball fight with all the kids at the museum. 

Her favorite horse!

It was very nice that Ty could come with us to the museum for a change.

Zealand was waiting very patiently to go outside.  When he gets on his computer or mine he says "Dot com?  Zac on dot com Nana on dot com?"  We do iChat occasionally with family back home and it is confusing for him I think. Christmas eve he cried and cried when we had to tell Nana good bye. He remembers things and everyone in Utah, but I think it will be hard for him when we move from Indiana. 

We had a very White December with lots of snow, but the last day of the year it was all gone.

Perfect for strolling. Although, it is freezing with the wind!

He takes keeping his babies warm, very serious.  He lets them use his beloved brown blankie.

One evening it was so warm outside we  decided to build 4 snowmen.  The next morning we could tell they were out having fun ,because they weren't as straight and tall. 

Just like the book "Snowmen at Night" 

Zoey reminded me we didn't bring any stockings with us. 

 It was fun to whip these up with stuff I had around.

I stole this little tree from Ty's ugly sweater and the sweater went in the trash.

December was filled with lots of family time. Snuggling watching Christmas shows, drinking hot chocolate, baking yummy goodies, taking treats to our neighbors, fly tying, quilting, and reading.

We have really enjoyed just being home together as a family.

We have four months left in Indy.  We have to be back in Utah May 1st for Ty to start his rotations.  It is weird he has like a month off now, but as soon as this next semester starts we will be going full steam until May 2012 when he graduates. It has gone by much faster than I ever dreamed it would! 

Now, we are just enjoying making lots of memories as a family here in Indiana. 

Heat!

Update!  Our heat is back on!  Makes me very grateful for a warm house!  Sorry, for the previous panic post. :)  All is well. -Zara

Baby, It's Cold Outside and Inside!

This is my sweet boy asleep while running a few errands.  The mid-west has been in a deep freeze the past week.  In the mornings the wind chill has been about -4 degrees. 

 I usually enjoy winter, but this cold is really different than Utah cold.

We have tried to stay warm by bundling up, making christmas treats, watching christmas shows BUT we seem to be having a string of bad luck events.  I am trying to stay positive, but as I type this our house is 55 degrees, NO I am not trying to save energy.  

The heater is broken and I am waiting for the house owner to come and fix it. 

I wouldn't mind so much, but since yesterday this is the third mishap that has taken hold of the Franklin house hold.

Yesterday, I thought I smelled gas, I waiting for two hours with Zealand in the car, while the gas company checked it out.  Hours after they left and said they couldn't find anything, I found the tiny BBQ grill in our garage had been bumped and the switch was slightly on.  Needless, to say I had quite the headache.

This morning, Ty wakes me up bright and early to say there is no hot water.  The pilot light was out.  He re-lit it and so far so good.  Poor Ty, had a cold shower.

Then the kids and I left for a few hours to come home to an ice cold house. The heater was clicking on then off and not blowing.

I am praying they can fix it quickly.    

Ty is super busy with 5 exams ahead of him and we really didn't need this right now.

I am gently reminded everyday how important it is to BE PREPARED.  When it is this cold outside, and you are far from family it makes one feel very vulnerable.

Hopefully, all will be well soon. I just needed to warm up my fingers with some typing. :)

Zara

PS GET YOUR FOOD STORAGE!  :)