Christmas Eve & Day

Every year Jami makes sure that we have cookies for Santa, and carrots for the reindeer. She takes after her big sister Tara by making sure we keep all of our holiday traditions going. Both of the girls really enjoy traditions. (Kind of like me.) Every year I get worried that Waffles, the dog, will get Santa's cookies, or that Waffles will scare Santa away so I have to make sure the bedroom door is shut tight when we go to bed on Christmas Eve.
I know that the date on the pictures says 12/25/08 but it really was Christmas Eve, I'm not sure but I think it was after midnight when we went to bed, either that or the date is off on the camera. Pretty sure it must have been after midnight, cause we were partying at the Combe Grandparents earlier in the evening and we always stay late. I don't have the pictures from that party yet, hopefully soon.You see Waffles is already eyeing the treats and we haven't even left him alone in the room yet.Cole is keeping Waffles under control as "Vanna" presents the treats to the camera. The kids and the tree just before bedtime. Christmas morning, waiting for the "OK" to investigate the goods!Yeah, my favorite part, the joyous faces of the kids as they run to their gifts. Who took this pictures anyway? They cut off half of Cole!First gifts opened. Perfect seat for opening the rest of the gifts.The opening of the gifts.........Just great!!! Somehow I seemed to have put the same picture on here twice. I have removed pictures in the past but that skill has somehow escaped me right now so sorry you have to see it twice. Yes, I did right click on the picture and there was not a delete option. I know I'm a spaz!ROCK ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can't wait to start rockin' with some new songs!
Jami and her new Ipod. You see, Jami had a hand-me-down Ipod from her sister Tara, and some where along our trip to St. George for the Thriller performance it disappeared! My sister searched the house that we stayed at high and low, cars were torn apart, bags were searched etc. The only conclusion that we could come up with was that the Ipod must have fallen out of the car somewhere as Jami was getting in or out. Who knows what happened? Well, Jami was very upset to say the least. Santa must be very trusting in Jami to give her a brand new Ipod to take care of. Because she asked, no begged, her mom for a new one and her mom told her, "Why? You had one and couldn't take care of it."

Short side note to this story, fast forward to New Years Eve, cousin Willow was sleeping over with Jami, Willow was using Jami's old sleeping bag, (Jami got a new one for Christmas), anyway.........I unzipped Willows sleeping bag for her to get into and I'll be damned, an Ipod was in it. I said, "J was this the sleeping bag you took to St George?'' "Yes," she replied. Who would've thought.Cole sporting his new Dallas Cowboy hat. Although, I heard Clint tell Cole tonight that they were going to have to change teams since Dallas has let them down.Clint filming the fun and Waffles trying to get some attention.Double picture once again. Help me Rhonda! Grandpa and Grandma Firth always come over Christmas to see what Santa brought the kids and to spoil them with more gifts. We love them very much and have been so blessed to have them as a part of our lives. I can't imagine our lives without them. That afternoon we went to Grandpa and Grandma Dearden's house for more gift exchanging and some yummy food.

McCall showing off her new digital camera, maybe she will help her mom with pictures for their blog.

Annie caught in the act of passing out gifts. Grandpa Dearden inspecting their new food disposal. And me on the side with my mouth open as usual.

Lance and Kelsey opening a gift with McCall give directionsThis is not the greatest picture of Tara or Cole, but I don't have any photos of Tara on this post so far and she was in attendance of all of the activities. So, sorry Tara you probably don't love me for posting this but I had to include you.

Tara, Cole and Jami surprized us with a portrait of themselves and Waffles. One Saturday Tara had said that she wanted to take the kids sledding and for them to bring a change of clothes because they might go to a movie after. She wanted them to bring the dog sledding because her friend was bringing his dogs also. Well, I almost didn't let Waffles go since he likes to explore the area and doesn't listen when told to come back. He just wants to come back in his own sweet time. Clint said, "Oh, just let him go." So I did and I'm glad I did. It is the cutest picture and I have wanted a picture of those kids together for so long. I couldn't bring myself to have Cole & Jami's picture taken without Tara. I don't know if Tara realized how much this picture would mean to me but it made my whole Holiday season! Thank you Tara, love you much!!!!Clint & Ashley listening to some tunes on her new Ipod.
I just stuck this picture on to show my children's talent with dominoes. Jami received some dominoes from Santa because I'm sure he has heard her say how much she likes to play Mexican Train with Granny, but my kids have found their hidden talent of setting up formations with the dominoes and then knocking them down. They've even figured out how to start the formation on the table and then have a domino fall to the floor to continue the chain reaction. A lot of our Christmas break has been spent with the neighbor kids making these formations. Amazing, the gifts that the kids spend the most time with.

We had a great Christmas and New Year's holiday. We have an amazing family and were lucky enough to spend time with all of them. I think good times were had by all and I hope that 2009 is just as nice.

December in Review

As you can tell I've had a hard time keeping up on this blogging business this month. So I'm doing a review of the month all at once. Except I will post Christmas later. I forgot my camera Christmas Eve and I borrowed a camera so now I'm waiting for those pictures to be e-mailed to me.
Anyway.................here's the Crazy Combes month...........

CHRISTMAS SYMPHONY

Willow, Carly, Jami, Cole, & Todd at the Christmas symphony. Every year we go to the Utah Symphony's Christmas performance and we really enjoy it. We've done this for about 9 years, give or take a year.

Willow and Carly with Santa before the symphony.

Jami and Cole with Santa. We couldn't get Todd to sit with Santa.

FEEDING HORSES

One evening Clint & I went to measure windows and the gal whose home we went to had horses. We had taken Jami & Zandra with us since it was someone that we knew and so here are a couple of pics of J & Z feeding the horses. I'm not sure if the horse ate Jami's hand or if Jami was cleaning out the horses nose. Either way it's pretty sick.

Zandra's turn.
Do you think the girls need to hold out their hands a little more? Big Red thinks so.

DECEMBER PIANO RECITAL

Cole with his Level 6 award around his neck.

Jami posing for her photo.
Jami waiting for her turn. Jami played the Theme from Batman, and Jingle Bells with her piano group. She really did a great job.

Cole played Christmas Fantasia. He has really made a lot of progress. I leaned over to my mom during Cole's song and said, "Can you believe that kid is my son and he is playing that music from memory?" You see I took piano for quite a few years and had one heck of a time ever memorizing a song, let alone playing in front of an audience. Maybe it has something to do with practicing.

Cole receiving his award.

The kids and their grandparents after the recital. Their grandparents are always there to support them in all of their activities. We are really lucky!
SANTA'S REINDEER

One Saturday we went to the Quilted Bear in Midvale and saw Santa's reindeer, along with Santa. My sister and her girls went, along with my brother Duane and his girls, I picked up my brother Lance's 2 girls on our way down, and we also had cousin Todd with us. Then Clint's sister Shannon and her boys met us there so we really had a crowd. It was a lot of fun to be with so many cousins AND Santa!

The girls looking at the reindeer.

Here's a picture of the whole crew. Minus a couple of the adults.

More watching the reindeer.

Kelsey and Kenna with Santa. Kenna did NOT like this one bit. She doesn't like men in general (except her grandpas) never mind a man looking like this!

Cole & J with Santa.

One of the reindeer, I'm not sure which one, um I wanna say, Prancer.

Combe cousins, Rory, Todd, Jami, Cole, & Kellen.

Some of the Dearden cousins, Jami, Kenna, Annie, Avery, Cole, Kelsey, & Ashley. Funny how Cole is the only boy here and Jami is the only girl with the Combe cousins.

Combe cousins again.

TREE DECORATING

Jami and mom decorating the tree.

Cole & Waffles hanging ornaments. Waffles had to make sure he did not miss a thing, he was always right where he was in the way.

DADDY DAUGHTER DINNER

Every year Jami's dance studio has a Daddy Daughter Dinner in December. Jami & Clint didn't go last year but Jami made sure I got them on the list for this year. Jami was really looking forward to this and Clint was a little nervous that the date wouldn't be up to her expectations. Not to worry Jami had a great time, she really enjoys this one on one time with her dad. And she loves to dress up.

All ready for the ball...........

Grandma Rose

This is a picture of Clint's Grandma Rose. I believe it is her high school graduation picture. On Nov. 5, 2008, Grandma Rose passed away at the age of 90. She was an amazing woman! One of the kindest, and sweetest Grandma's ever! I have been so lucky to have her in my family. All 4 of my grandparents passed away by the time I was 5. Before we got married, I didn't believe Clint when he said that all 4 of his grandparents were still alive. I hope that my kids realize how lucky they are to have been able to get to know their great-grandparents. They are all gone now but we have many fun memories. A lot of game playing, cards especially, great rolls, great pies, fun outings and much more. We love you Grandma Rose! This is a part of the display at Grandma's funeral. The cards represent Grandma Rose's love of playing pinocle. Always a card game going on.

This picture was taken last Christmas (2007) at the Symphony Hall. I couldn't get Grandma to sit on Santa's lap, but she did agree to be in the picture. Jami, Rory, Cole, and Kellen, in Idaho Falls, on the way to Montana for Grandma's services.

Throwing food to the ducks and geese.

Jami racing with the birds. I think she beat a couple of them.

John, Kota, and Clint playing poker at Donna & Wally's house. I think that there were 3 poker tables and 1 pinocle table. Like I said a lot of card playing goes on in this family. It was like a family reunion. I think almost everyone was able to make it to Montana for the services.

Tucker playing pinocle. I think he's 9 and he kicked my rear-end. I'm just not much of a card player.

It looks like Kota is counting his chips.

"We are a happy family" Garrett making his nephew smile, and Grandma Janni joining in.

Rory cheesing it up for the camera.

Garrett and Jami. Garrett is Clint's cousin's son. Garrett said he didn't realize he had so many cousins. The kids really had a good time with all of their long lost cousins twice removed.

Cole & Todd at Burnt Fork. This is where Clint's family loves to go. Cole & Clint were sad that they didn't get a chance to go fishing here but at least they got to go and take a couple of pictures. I don't think a trip to Montana would be complete if Clint didn't get to go to Burnt Fork.

Cole at Burnt Fork.

Clint outside the church.

Pam and Melyssa at the lunch after the funeral. I think that Pam is looking for the funeral potatos, they were probably all gone.

This is Grandma Rose's sister she is 95.

Me holding Pam's baby Gracie. She is a cutie!