Christmas 2011

We had a great Christmas. We truly have been blessed. Here's the lowdown in pictures!

Seth got tools for Christmas--he loves to build

This is Damen's fainting pose, he got nfl madden 12--he loves football

Kenna got a baby doll

Seth gave Kenna a tent -even moms can fit in their to take naps and the kids never even think to look inside the tent

Kenna gave Seth a Utah jersey--we are hoping its just a phase and he'll grow out of it (Utah thing that is not football)

Railey gave Damen a watch

I got a camera case for our new camera

Steve got a much needed new wallet

Mom got a mess to clean up after all was said and done

Railey got all outfitted with princess dresses. This one was from one of Grandmas old dresses and the crown was from Damen

You got to love Bop IT

Seth is all about giving. I think he gave something whether a note or a board that says I love you or whatever to everyone in the family.

The girls got aprons

The dress that Mrs. Claus made for Railey because as she put it Santa can't sew only moms know how to sew

Kenna's princess dress (she's not big into getting her picture taken. She was playing peek-a-boo here.

The kids always write Santa and he always writes back

We had a great Christmas. We went to church, had yummy leftovers, played with everything and then went and visited Ben and Darci's families. I think this year I was more focused on Christ and his gift to us than I have been in years past and because of it I truly felt Christmas this year and hope to continue to feel it. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Twas the night before Christmas

Normally on Christmas Eve we get the house all ready and then towards the evening we get together again with the James' but we did things a little different this year. We decided to have a nice quite night at home. We had the best Christmas Eve ever! I made a nice big dinner and had the table all set with our china and goblets with salads on a salad plate when I called everyone up to dinner. They all tried to turn the lights on when they came into the room until Steve pointed out that we were going to have dinner by candle light. I'm thinking we should do this every night!!!! The kids were so well behaved and used their best manners, ate all their food, didn't complain and were complementing me on the dinner and telling me how much they loved me the whole time. It really was so nice. I can honestly say that there was an amazing spirit in our home and I want to find ways to have it there more often.

We served them their dinner after their salad but held off on desert until later since everyone was full. We quickly but quietly (no none wanted to disturb the spirit in our home) cleaned up dinner and then Steve came walking over with a gift for me that he and the boys had gone to pick out earlier. At that point Damen hollered out in a deep, loud, low voice, "The First Gift of Christmas" (just like in the Polar Express). It was a camera!!! The kids broke mine on Monday. So I was very excited! It took a minute to calm everyone down again and then we read the Christmas story. After they each opened up some new jammies. While I ran to the store to get a new memory card they all ran downstairs to watch some old Christmas movies we have made for the James and Bailey and Hoopes families as well as one for just us. They loved it! I think it's time to make some more movies. After treats and calming the kids down and checking the Santa Tracker a few more times we were finally ready to hit the sack. It took no time for the kids to drift off to dream land. It was a wonderful night and we look forward to this new tradition for years to come!

Kenna all ready to help me with dinner

Eating our yummy treats

Kenna licking her plate (just like her dad)

The kids reading what they wrote to Santa

Tickle match on the floor

Their Christmas notes to Santa

Dad reading How the Grinch stole Christmas

One last look at Santa tracker. At this point he was already past Brazil and moving up into the New York area. Another tradition the boys have is sleeping in the office on the blowup bed (normally grandma and Grandpa are in their bed) so they had to do it again this year. Earlier in December Seth was writing a paper about traditions and wrote this down but wouldn't tell everyone the reason (so they can track Santa) because he says most everyone doesn't believe in Santa in his class. How sad! I can say that ALL our family believes in Santa! Oh I love the magic of the season!!!!!

James Christmas Party

We had the James family party the other day. It was a lot of fun! We decided last year that we were not going to give presents to all the kids but instead we were going to go and do something fun and put our money towards a memory instead of a dollar store present. Lets just say I think we all enjoyed that a whole lot more. My kids are still talking about the party.

Susan planed for all of us to go to Classic Skating in Orem. The kids loved it. My kids had been a couple of times thanks to the ward party up at Classic in Salt Lake but this time they didn't spend the whole night on their buts but were on their feet most of the time. Even Railey did great thanks to the skates she got for Christmas last year and all the practicing she did the days leading up to the party (once she found out we were going skating she wore her skates non stop). Even Steve was able to join us for an hour before he had to slip off to the temple (he's at the recommend desk for the next 6 months and couldn't get away)

Most of the time I was pushing Kenna around on her scooter but when I would let go and she would do it herself this is what would happen.

I did manage to finally get a good picture of her sitting up on the scooter (6 shots later)

Railey couldn't wipe the grin off her face the whole time we were there (well until we left and then she was screaming because she didn't want to go)

Damen tried out the roller blades and thought that was more fun than just normal skates

once again Kenna tipping over

After skating we headed over to the church for a yummy dinner and to play ball and make ginger bread houses. I don't know if the game of speed was a bigger hit than the gingerbread houses or not maybe it was a toss up but that game went on the whole time we were there. I think all had fun with both

Kenna mostly contributed by eating the candy and speeding the decorating process up a bit (less candy to put on the house!) It was funny we were just wanting to get the house done so once it was assembled we started putting candy on. Well several kids came up and got after us because we were already decorating and hadn't waited the 15 minutes their parents told them they had to wait. Oh well in the end we probably all finished about the same time.

After the houses were built we exchanged gifts amongst the siblings and then Grandma handed out her candy bar to the kids -- youngest to oldest. I didn't get a picture of the girls but I thought the ones of the boys were cute. She's telling them how much she loves them (I think).

We had a great time and look forward to it again next year. Thanks Susan for all the work you put into it. The kids really did love all of it.

First Real Snow

Last night for FHE, Steve was being a little late getting home so while we waited for him we decorated some gingerbread cookies. I have never really made them for the kids, because I was unsure they would like them. But they gobbled them up and wanted more. I'm glad--because I love them, soft and chewy!


Today we actually woke up to a little snow on the ground. This was the first real snow of the year or at least the first to actually accumulate anything. So it was all we could do to keep the girls inside until about 9:30. But then Steve took them out to build a snowman which was a welcome blessing for me since I needed to work on a few Christmas things for Railey. So here are the pics of them having fun in the snow.

Railey came into the office a few minutes ago (a few hours after building the snowman--he was melting at a good pace) and told me that I needed to go turn the air up because her snowman was melting. I just kind of laughed and didn't think much of it, except that it was funny, until she said sorry my I broke it, referring to the thermostat cover that had just come off. I asked why she had taken it off and she said she was just trying to turn the air up. I quickly had to explain that that only controlled the air in the house and that if she wanted to change the temperature outside she needed to go and tell Heavenly Father to turn the air up. I didn't check but it wouldn't surprise me if she went right then and said a little prayer for him to turn the air up. She is so worried about her first frosty melting!!!

Tradition continues

Friday we continued our tradition of going up to Gardner Village and seeing the elves. This time though we decided to have dinner up there too. Oh their fried avocados and tomatoes are amazing! But the place truly is beautiful during the holidays. Everything is lit up and magical. The kids run from one place to the next trying to see all the elves and laughing at the little displays. This year Steve took the girls into a doll shop and I was going to take the boys to the candy shop but ended up trading Steve since I didn't have my wallet. Railey and Kenna did love the dolls but when they heard that everyone else was at the candy shop they were more interested in that. Steve was good enough to get them each a large all day sucker which they were done sucking on before we got home but I will say this there wasn't as much contention on the drive home (can't be with a mouth full of sucker).

It was a fun night. Steve volunteered to just take me and leave the kids home but I just couldn't do it. There is something about just wanting to be with my kids during the holidays and spend as much time together as a family as we can making and keeping traditions!


The kids had to take a picture under the mistletoe and Dad volunteered to be the recipient of all their kisses!

All the kids with their suckers.

Yes we most likely will go back again next year and the year after that and the year after that.....