Christmas Clothes

 The kids all got new Christmas clothes.  I think these girls are so beautiful!

 And these boys so handsome!

Then we got to go to church and speak.  Lucky us!  

Christmas Day

 Opening the 1st round of Santa gifts.  I'm kinda funny that way.  The stockings are left out for the kids to look at when they get up but everything else is wrapped.  I loved, as a child, not seeing all the gifts at once or at all when we got up.  I loved the anticipation of unwrapping the gifts!  So after the kids got up Christmas morning, searched through their stockings and we got Christmas breakfast in the oven, it was off to open our presents!

 There is a funny story behind Luke and this box.  His present from his grandparents were wrapped in a box that had a picture of a pump on the outside.  He was so excited when he got the wrapping off to see the pump.  Then when he opened the box and found no pump, only dinosaurs, he was so disappointed.  He pouted and kept asking for the pump and we had to keep telling him it was only a box--thankfully he got distracted after about 5 minutes! 

 The kids opening up their big Santa gift.  A Wii!!!  I have been holding out for a long time, I do not like video game systems, but after 2 years of Sam and the kids begging for one, Santa brought one and the kids were so happy!

 Luke working very safely!!

Merry Christmas!! I hope yours was as wonderful as ours :)

Christmas Eve--Part 2

 Every Christmas Eve for the past 5 years, we get together with our friends to eat homemade pizza, act out the Nativity and exchange gifts.  The kids look forward to it almost as much as Christmas Day.  Above were our 3 wisemen.

 Here is our donkey, barn mouse and our angel.

 The same as above except with Mary (and her baby that hasn't come out yet :)

 Our wisemen were pretty silly the whole night.  Luke was pretty much running circles around all of us.  Can you find him?

 The Cast!

 Maybe this wiseman isn't so wise?  Or maybe Joseph was trying to steal the present?  Who knows...

 A tradition that we started this year (after learning about it from my Dad) was making a birthday cake for Jesus.  We had to light the candle a half dozen times because "some" of the kids were enjoying blowing it out before we were done singing.  Can you tell who didn't like it?

 In my Dad's family, the tradition was to put a large candle in the center and put sprinkles on it.  (I tried a new recipe and it was delicious, check out my recipe blog this week for it!)

  Then it was off to home to open our traditional Christmas jammies and get ready for Santa.  This is what we left him, the Diet Coke comes from many memories of being at home and leaving a Diet Coke out for Mrs. Claus.  I think she liked it!

Christmas Eve--Part 1

 On Christmas Eve we took the kids to the South Hills to sled.  Luke didn't think it was very much fun and was done after 10 minutes but the rest of us had lots of fun!

Merry Christmas!!

We hope you have a wonderful Christmas!

Looking at Christmas Lights

 One of our favorite traditions is looking at Christmas lights.  We have an amazing house south of town that decorates their entire property for Christmas.  It takes them 3 months to put it up and even have a camel for the kids to feed.  We love going every year.  Here are our pics from this year!

 I couldn't get Luke to look at me or smile because he lost his candy cane that Santa had given him and Seth thought it was pretty funny.  Can you tell?

 Below is eating our popcorn popped from our new whirly pop (ever heard of them--they are awesome--thanks Mom and Dad) and listening to Sam talking about fun Christmas traditions.

Salt Lake Trip

My cousin got married last week at the Salt Lake Temple so my mom came through, picked me up and we made a quick trip to Salt Lake.  It was a beautiful sealing and we hung around outside for pictures while we tried not to freeze.  She looked beautiful and we were so glad we could be there.  Afterwards we ate yummy Italian food, then took a walk around Temple Square to see the lights.  I haven't been there for at least 5-6 years and I forgot how beautiful everything was!  

Afterwards we visited with some more cousins, then slept terribly, and then took off to come home.  It was fun, quick, and I am so grateful Sam watched the kids so I could go!

Stuffed Animals Anyone?

Anyone have guess how many stuffed animals are in this picture?

I didn't realize my girls sleep with so many.  I was taking their sheets off their beds to wash and this was what I found.  There are 35 animals and 1 baby.  Maybe we need to give some away--they never will let me though, they love each one they say and can't get rid of any of them.  Oh my!!

Hanging Christmas Lights

 Christmas lights are always a funny affair at our house.  I want them up and Sam doesn't want to hang them.  It ends up being me on top of the house trying to hang lights.  This year we got some new lights and thanks to that and it being a balmy 60 degrees outside Sam did it for me.  YEAH!!  They look absolutely beautiful on, thanks honey!!

Luke helping with the extension cords.

 Kathryn was a great helper laying each string out and making sure all the bulbs worked.

Sam on top of the house, what a great guy!

Ornaments

 Every year the kids get a new ornament to put on the tree.  I try really hard to have it be something that represents them from this year.  They get to open them when we decorate for Christmas which we did for FHE on Monday.  They were very happy with their ornaments and so excited to put them on the tree.  

Kathryn got a My Little Pony because they have been some of her favorite things to play with this year.

 Luke got a mixer because he still loves to be my helper in the kitchen (and because I couldn't find a firetruck or semi that wasn't ridiculously priced).

 Sam and I usually don't get ones but I saw this one in South Carolina and thought it was perfect for him.  Can you read it?  It says, "Trust me, I'm a Lawyer".

 Sarah got a horse because she had her first horseback riding lessons this year.

And Seth got a reindeer playing video games because that has been his love for the past year--his x-box.

Thanksgiving

 WARNING:  this will be long :)

This year it was my families Family Reunion at Thanksgiving, so the day before Thanksgiving we packed up--in the midst of a major snow storm--and headed to Crouch, ID for a grand weekend.  We were able to stay in a large cabin with all my family members but Brian and Beth.  The kids all got to stay in one huge room together, they were very excited!

We had lots of fun doing so many things like:  taking a walk to work off that delicious turkey (all the sisters and sisters-in-laws),

 (my parents)

 going hot tubbing (I do have to admit it was tons of fun and someday we might actually buy one-it was great),

 having a kids talent show (Kathy sang "said Samuel"),

 playing lots of air hockey,

 playing with cousins,

 sleeping,

 watching movies (the funny thing was that these two boys were the only ones in the room and Luke started a movie for them, the only problem was it was the movie "Taken", not so appropriate for a 3 and 2 year old),

 making kid crafts,

 making headbands and crocheted hats,

 playing more air hockey,

 (Seth playing his violin for the talent show)

 vegging out,

 sledding,

 and snowboarding (Sarah picked up on it quite fast and became pretty profficient on it)

 eating lots of yummy food,

 chopping down Christmas trees,

 making a women's craft (we had to finish it at my parents and it turned out so cute),

 watching the BSU game (man was that intense),

 and having lots of fun memories!