Christmas Day

Boy do I love staying home for Christmas. On Christmas Eve, Sam and I, after we get the kids settled for the night bring out all the presents, turn on the Christmas music, eat "Santa's offerings", and wrap while we talk and enjoy each other's company. I love it. I love spending that time with him, plus this way he gets to see what we got for the kids. Haha!!

 These two are always super quick to check out Santa's note and I love it. Their excitement is wonderful. We have started the tradition of the kids getting 4 presents. They go in these categories: "something they will wear, something they will read, something they need, and something they want". It gives them great guidelines to follow and I think it works out awesomely.

 This year Luke wanted everything electric. He said it didn't matter, as long as it was electric. Cute boy!! Kathryn gave him this wonderful thing and he has been in heaven, He has consumed him daily and he loves it so much.

 This girl loves her animals. Anything animal and she is great. She got animal clothes, a horse for her American Girl Doll, and even animal books (Warriors Series her absolute favorite right now!!). She thought life was pretty amazing!!

 Seth wanted all sorts of expensive goodies this year, I guess that's completely normal for a teenager but he loved his presents and constantly carries around his airsoft gun (and we constantly have to have talks about appropriate places to take it :/) and is in love with his books. Cute boy!!

 This guy got an acoustic guitar, among other things and was one happy guy. Love that smile. 

 This girl is our happy one. Her she is with her scooter for her American Girl Doll and her new robe that she wears constantly. Luke picked out a bow and arrow set for her and she was so thrilled. She gave him such a huge hug and he was so thrilled that she loved it so much. She is so happy to enjoy whatever she has and I think it's so wonderful to be blessed with such a great trait.

 Every year I get a new pair of slippers from Sam and I love it. I wear through them in a year but boy do I love the new ones. He also surprised me with a 1.5 massage which I got the other day and it was pure bliss. So amazing!! Plus he got me new curtains and blinds for our bedroom and hung them up. Love, Love it!! So thankful for his thoughtfulness!!

 Luke with his loot.

 Sarah with her loot.

 Seth with his loot.

 Kathryn with her loot.

 We were blessed with so much snow Christmas morning, it was the best. We built up a fire and I sat in front of it while the kids went outside to build a snowmen (love our snowman set!!). 

 Sam then joined them and they decided to have a snowball fight. They each made many snowballs...

 Can you see them lined up on the trampoline?

 Luke had a great idea and hid his all behind the shed.

 It was all fun and games until Dad hits you in the face with a snowball.

Then it's over...oh well, it was fun while it lasted. Thank heavens she is tough and took it quite well. 

What a fun day we had. We vegged all day long, eating a yummy ham dinner and playing with all our new toys and reading all our new books. We are so blessed!! 

Christmas Eve Eve

This is our 9th Christmas Eve we have spent the evening with the Barfi. It is a highlight of every Christmas season and amazing that we have been friends for that many years!! 

It was our turn to head to their house. We spent the day sledding with them and then headed over to their place after cleaning up. The kids could hardly stand it. We ate delicious homemade pizza and salad while visiting. What great friends they are and so thankful that our kids love to be with them.

After Maddie and Kathryn, the costume designers, got everyone suited up, it was time for the Nativity. 

 Sarah and Makayla were Shephards.

 Our wisemen. One so ticked, one so sure of himself and one so serious. Boys!

 The girls wanted Sam to wear this while he read the story (Bryce had just gotten his tonsils out the night before so he couldn't really talk so Sam did the honors).

 Ella was our angel.

 Maddie was Mary and Kathryn was the Donkey. 

 Quite the donkey face don't you think? (:

 Kathryn also doubled as King Herod and did a great job.

 Sarah thought it was cool to put her theatrical skills to work and man was it quite silly. We had a good time though watching and trying to take it seriously.

 Another important part of the evening is the gift exchange. Wow!! We sure came out the losers, at least that's what Sam and I think and everyone else thinks it's awesome :(

 This girl picked out one of the last presents and it was a....goldfish!!!!!!!!! Bryce and Heidi thought it was so funny and wouldn't let one of their kids steal it plus Kathryn wanted to keep it so bad. Like I said Sam and I were the only ones not super impressed with it. Haha....oh well at least it and it's babies are dead now--totally different and long story and no it wasn't me who did it. Sam accidentally did it!

 Sam picked a "hair" bow for his gift. That thing was made of real hair and it was hilarious.

 As we were leaving Barfusses it was starting to snow and we were so excited. It was predicted to be a white Christmas and we couldn't wait!! The kids immediately headed outside to leave feed for the reindeer that Grandpa and Grandma sent them.

 Then it was inside to open their Christmas Eve present...new pajamas!! Surprise!!

 Here they are looking all nice and looking all silly. Oh my, good thing we love them!! Haha....

They then left a note for Santa and some more food for the reindeer (carrots) and then off to bed all downstairs. So exciting!!

Christmas Eve--Sledding

 Boy do we love this tradition. This was our 4th year of driving to the South Hills to go sledding with greats friends in the hope of distracting the children till Christmas.

 It is always an absolute blast and boy we do we love being with such great people (no the weird guy in the back?).

 We spent hours and hours sledding. Trying out our new sled from Grandpa and Grandpa which was perfect for taking off a jump we made.

 Luke loves Brittany and she is so great to him. They played in the snow for quite a while and he thought it was the coolest thing ever.

 Sarah and her bestie immediately took off to the nether regions to build a fort. They are both not that excited about the sledding but love to talk and hang out with each other.

 I had to include this, Seth is so particular in certain things. One of them is his winter gear. Specifically his gloves. It is a huge process to get him suited up and ready to go in the cold. So silly!! You would think he would be closer to 3 but I guess 14 makes you particular also.

 Now he's all ready to go....finally!

 I just had to include this. I asked Sam to take a picture of me going down the hill on a tube. I had already been down quite a few times and since there is usually hardly any pictures of me on the camera I called Sam over to take one. Of course, it's the one time I get totally flipped off the tube. I would have to say that it was quite spectacular though!

 Kathryn drinking hot chocolate with her friend and Ciera.

 Sarah, Makayla, and Ciera with their snowman (the snow was too soft to build anything so they settled with pushing it into a pile and sticking a face on it!).

 Seth and his good friend Logan. Two peas in a pod!

And a picture of my favorite guy ever!! Love this man and so grateful he was able to get work off to come sledding with us!

Christmas Traditions

 What a great month!! Love this time of year. We decided that this year we would start a new family tradition....gingerbread houses (or in our case...graham cracker houses).

 The kids were stoked. I love that they still like to do these kinds of things and be a part of doing family things.

 Luke was very sure of what he wanted to do and also very sure that he wanted to eat his as soon as possible. I think his only lasted about 15 hours and that was because part of it was through the night!

 Sam says he believes in simplicity...and then he said it was a jail that the prisoners broke out of because his sides kept falling in...silly guy!

 The crowd at the table. Love these peeps!

 Luke was also fascinated by what everyone else was doing. He loves to give help and just watch them work.

 My house.

 Sarah's finished product. Quite creative.

 Kathryn and her house. She spent lots of time on this baby!!

 Seth because no 14 year old can ever do a normal pose. His house was gigantic just like his personality!!

 Natalie's house. 

 All of them lined up and done. What a fun night spent together and definitely a keeper tradition.

 Last week we went out to the South Hills to look at Christmas Lights. We have done this for 10 Christmases now and I love it. 

 We went with Brownlees and some of the kids other friends. The lights are amazing out there and we love the Christmas spirit it brings.

 Seth (promise he is there...oops, dang finger) with his friend AC, Brittany and her sister Brianna.

 The siamese twins. It is was raining and Tessa didn't have a big coat so Kathryn was sharing with her. They are the best of friends. Love Luke in the background.

 Luke and Tyler.

Sarah posing in the mountains.

Such a fun time with friends. We are so blessed!!