Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

It is interesting how that simple and common holiday greeting has almost gone extinct in our Politically Correct (Morally Incorrect) world. It is so sad that we can't wish others a Merry Christmas for fear of offending their religious feelings. What a sad commentary on the status of our country that the very focus of CHRISTmas has been removed. This Christmas season, I tried more than ever before to wish every store clerk, every stranger and every friend that I came in contact with, a "Merry Christmas." I would never be offended if I were wished "Happy Kwanza" or "Happy Chanukah" so it is silly that others are offended at the simple wish of Merry Christmas.

How grateful I am for Jesus Christ, that we can celebrate His Birth, His Life, and His Atonement. We are so blessed to have the knowledge of the Savior on our life. I hope we will never be ashamed to proclaim that we are BELIEVERS and FOLLOWERS of JESUS CHRIST.

Our family had a wonder Christmas season this year. It started nicely at the ward Pancake Breakfast. There were lots of special guests this year and everyone had a great time. The Cat in the Hat served green eggs and ham. Woody and a cow served chocolate milk. Buddy the Elf served pancakes with syrup and candy canes and candy corn. The Grinch and Cindy Loo were there along with Frosty and Santa of course.

The Hartvigsen Christmas party was tons of fun too. We ate delicious soups, rolls and desserts. Then we played our annual gift swap game-- but this time instead of socks, gloves, bracelets, ties and books like we have done in the past, we traded $5 gift cards. It was a riot! The most highly prized gift cards were the Burger King cards with 4 teenage boys that was a hot card. The funniest card was when Tyler got the Victoria Secret gift card-- boy was he sweating it , until Anna came to his rescue and snatched it from him. Jill got a Justice gift card that Abbey was eyeing. Madi being in the Christmas Spirit, didn't take it from Abbey. Brooke and Katie and Alex were all coveting the Barnes and Noble gift card-- but Brooke prevailed and got that one (which was fortunate because she got another one on Christmas that she could combine it with.)
The Home Depot was another hot card, Julie's friend from college, Judy, who joined our party ended up with that one. Grandpa Ike, Grandma Gloria and little Eli will be eating at Subway together and Daddy and Madi will be shopping at Walmart and Target. Stevie is going to treat us all to dinner one night with his Little Caesar card. I stole the Wingers card from Uncle Joe (I am still craving those Sticky Fingers-- that craving didn't end with the pregnancy.) It was a lot of fun-- so much fun, we decided to do gift cards again next year-- that will give a whole year to come up with some really creative ones.

Christmas Eve is always a special night of tradition. This year Grandma and Grandpa Ferguson joined us for a delicious dinner of Sticky Fingers (guess who planned the menu.) The kids implemented a new tradition last year that they were excited to continue, open their gifts to each other.

Brooke had TJ-- she gave him another prized Burger King Gift Card
TJ had Stevie-- he gave him a hacky sack
Madi had Eli-- she gave a bottle of baby bath and a tub toy
Stevie had Madi- he gave her two cute flowers for her hair.

Eli had Brooke-- He gave her a leopard print snuggie.

Then of course there was the Christmas Eve PJ tradition. Only this year... mom didn't do so well with the PJ's. Brooke, Madi and Stevie's were all too small (maybe I am subconsciously hoping they are not growing up) TJ's Call of Duty Boxers fit him well though. And I just re-gifted a pair of Eli's own jammies back to him--he has so many he will never wear them all as it is.

After gifts we watched our yearly Christmas Eve movies -- The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever in honor of Aunt Sharmayn and Mr. Kruger's Christmas in honor of Grandma Janice.

All the kids had a sleep over-- lock in-- in Brooke's room with complete instructions not to leave until we came and got them on Christmas morning.

Mom and Dad were able to get to bed at a reasonable hour on Christmas Eve -- thanks to Mom spending all morning the day before wrapping. I wasn't too happy with Shawn for ditching me on our scheduled wrapping night so that he could watch a basketball game. He was in hot water until Christmas night when I made him move and remount the new TV to a lower position. At that point, I was in hot water and so it was all equal and a Merry Christmas was had by all.

This Christmas we promised the kids that there would only be a few gifts for each of them under the tree since our upcoming Disney Trip was our big gift. Mom and dad had 3 gifts for each child and Santa came through of course.

Because TJ isn't coming to Disney with us, his big gift was a 32gb Apple I pod and the others got a Disney Gift Card.
Brooke got a Barnes and Noble gift card and some camera accessories from Santa
TJ got an X box gift card and some I tunes cards. Santa gave him a skull candy case for his i pod.
Madi was spoiled with a new Nancy Drew game and a Visa gift card for some clothes shopping. Santa brought her a speaker docking station for her Zune
Stevie got a Wii game and a Visa gift card as well. Santa spoiled him with a totally cool nerf dart machine gun with an extra clip and extra darts
Eli got a travel bed and new stroller in preparation for his first vacation. Santa brought him a Little People Farm
Dad got a new razor and a super hero EFX bracelet and some m&m's and some super cool York Peppermint Patty ear buds. He also got a photo calendar and a little picture book from Eli.
Mom got an awesome digital Christmas ornament with pictures of the kids on it and a gift card for some new clothes.

Stevie gave us a picture frame he made in scouts and a fabulous calendar that he made at school.
Grandma and Grandpa gave the kids a coupon for a treasure at Disney and some treats. TJ got an extra clip for his nerf gun and some money toward his AFY this summer. For mom and dad they had our carpets cleaned. A wonderful treat! They also gave us a cute little clock for the family room. They spoiled us as always.

Grandpa Jay sent a check for the kids that we will put toward their Disney and AFY trips. Of course he gave us the traditional yearly proof coin set too.

Sweet Great Grandma Bateman gave all of her Great Grandchildren a $2-- another fun tradition. She sent Shawn and I a $10 bill. That is a very generous gift with so many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Mom and Dad gave the family a new flat panel TV to go over the fireplace in the family room and Santa gave the kids Beetles Rock Band.

Our RitterB cousins gave us a cool new clue Spy game that even sends text clues to our cell phone and a baby Einstein’s DVD to make Eli the smartest baby ever.

Grandpa Ike's custom made omelets and sweet rolls made Christmas Morning perfect. The best part of the whole holiday was spending it with eachother.

Brooke even enjoyed the holiday despite the chipmonk cheeks from the wisdom teeth surgery on the Dec 22nd.

While all of those gifts were fun and exciting, they don't compare to the wonderful gift of Eternal Life from our Savior-- the reason we say "Merry Christmas."

Taylor's first Date- Davis High Christmas Girls Dance

Just after Halloween, TJ received a package full of startbursts ( no red-- TJ hates red starbursts) and a T shirt in it. The T shirt said, Wash the T shirt and see who would like to take you to the Christmas Dance. It had the names of several girls written on it. All of the names washed away except Michelle Davis. She was one of his sisters from Trek. The next day another sister from trek asked him too. He must have been a nice big brother!

Their "day activity" . . .sledding at Cheese Park in Bountiful (where TJ played T-ball when he was 5 years old.) The hill was fast and icy but they must have had a good time, when TJ got home he was so hungry and tired. So tired, in fact that he couldn't even pour milk on a bowl of cereal ( we have a new definition of lazy at our house now. :) He ate and promptly fell asleep on the couch for 3 hours.

Michelle arrived in a beautiful red formal. she looked like an elegant Christmas package and Taylor was very dashing in his new haircut and new suit. They made a handsome couple.

Last the best of all the game!

For 9 long and wonderful years, Stevie held the "Caboose" position, not only on our little family train but on the whole extended Hartvigsen Family Train. But now Stevie has moved up a car and Eli occupies the caboose. Grandpa Jay and Grandma Liz finally made it down to see their last Grandbaby. There are even 2 great grandchildren who are older than Eli.

Little EJ meet Grandpa EJ.

There once was a boy named "Harry"

Well actually, his name is Taylor and he had lots and lots and lots of hair. He thought he was super cool and his mom thought he was super scary. Taylor procrastinated for many, many months (8 months to be exact) the day he dreaded most... Haircut Day.

But finally mom could wait no longer and out of desperation she made a deal (maybe it was a bribe) with the long haired, hippy boy. " Get a trim before the Christmas Dance OR for 50 large ones get a full haircut." his mom decreed. Taylor being the smart boy that we all knew he was, took the cash and willingly sat on the hair cut stool.

The hair was long and thick and several inches had to be cut before the clippers could even forge their way through the dense covering. It took much time and effort but in the end emerged a dashing young man.

The people all throughout the land did double takes and their jaws dropped in astonishment. "Who is that handsome boy? " "It's TJ" someone yelled. And there was much rejoicing in the land! The handsome boy was a little sad and even a little more annoyed to have his thick locks shorned but $50 buys a lot of BURGERS fit for a KING. So in the end it was a good deal for all. Mom got her handsome boy back and Taylor got a lot of BK Rodeos! And they all lived happily ever after (until it was time for another haircut.)

And they called it "Puppy Love"

Well... maybe for Eli, it should be called "Puppy Terror!" Look at his EYES, he must be thinking , "what is this black, furry thing next to me?" This is Ashley Webb's christmas present from Karl. "Catalina" named after the island where they went on their honeymoon. "Lina" and Eli are just a few days apart, they are almost the exact same size, they both have big brown eyes (although Eli's eyes might be slightly bigger) and they both wake up at 4 in the morning to be fed and played with. Wow... Puppies are good practice for babies. Congrats Karl and Ashley on the new addition to their family.

Brooke and Katie with the "Babies"

Counting Blessings

Of course November is normally the month that we tend to reflect and contemplate our BLESSINGS, but this November, I am even more GRATEFUL than ever for the BLESSINGS that make my life so meaningful and rewarding. It is hard to understand why our little family has been so richly BLESSED. But I am humbled and GRATEFUL for the tender mercies of the Lord, who knows what I need and want more than I do, and has BLESSED me beyond my wildest dreams.

Topping the list of BLESSINGS is the knowledge that our Heavenly Father LOVES us so much that he prepared a way for us to return back to him. I can't even comprehend the LOVE that was required to allow His perfect son Jesus Christ to come to earth or the LOVE that Jesus had for us to suffer indescribable pain and sorrow for us. Because Heavenly Father and Jesus LOVE us so much, we can be with those we LOVE forever

Twenty years ago, when as a young Bride, I married Shawn, I had no idea how BLESSED I was to have found such a wonderful partner, friend and father to my children. I am so grateful to have him in my life. We could have never imagined the JOY that each of our children have brought us. The birth of little Eli has reminded us just how special and precious each of our children are. To watch them LOVE and ADORE their new little brother has been a true DELIGHT.

Brooke's HEART is completely taken by this new baby. She picks him up and LOVES him the second she walks through the door. Her new favorite past time is to snuggle up with him and take a nap. Any hard part of Brooke's day is melted away the minute she picks up Eli. Eli will never lack attention when Brooke is around.

TJ thinks the "yittle guy" is pretty sweet. He too seeks him out the minute he gets home. He takes the time to pick up and LOVE him. He is fascinated by the tiny baby and is amazed to see all the things that he has learned in his medical anatomy and human biology class in an actual growing body. Eli brings out TJ's soft and tender side.

Madi--mommy #2-- is over the moon with HAPPINESS that Eli is here. She was my constant cheerleader and # 1 encourager during the challenges of pregnancy. She kept telling me it would all be worth it and she was right! She can't wait to see him every morning and even changing diapers is privilege to Madi. She is THRILLED to have a real live baby doll to dress and bathe and feed and LOVE.

Stevie is so HAPPY to be a big brother. He generously shares his room and his heart with Eli. He LOVES to stop what he is doing to give Eli a hug and a kiss. He will be a great friend, big brother and example for Eli- There can be no doubt that Eli is the most LOVED baby brother ever to come to a family.

There is no Mistletoe needed~ when Eli is around the KISSES are free and plentiful!
Shawn and I, of course, couldn't be more in LOVE with sweet Eli and with eachother. With the birth of each of our children, we have a renewed commitment to eachother and to the Lord. Our greatest desire is to raise up children who LOVE the Lord. We are so BLESSED and humbled that our LOVING Heavenly Father has given us this opportunity.

Saturdays Big Game-- Who are you cheering for?

I am sure there is no doubt what color Eli will be wearing on Saturday for the big game. But.... We couldn't resist dressing him in red too (he is adorable in either color) Thanks Ivan and Nancy for the Utah gear.
So leave a comment and let us know what color you like. Maybe it will be a good indicator of who will be victorious on Saturday.
(Go Cougs!)