A visit to Santa.

The kids were so excited to visit Santa. They each took a turn sitting on his lap to tell him what their heart desires for Christmas this year. It was fun watching Lyla visit with Santa. This is the first year that she understands what is going on. She wasn't scared at all. She leaned right in and gave him a big hug! I think all of the kids are on the nice list this year...

December 25, 2013. Merry Christmas!

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. We were able to celebrate with family and friends. We spent Christmas day at our house enjoying one another. We ate our traditional Christmas breakfast casserole and the kids spent the day playing with the gifts that they received. I'm so grateful for this time of year and that I get to enjoy it with the people that I love the most!

December 7, 2013. Christmas Stories.

I like to read Christmas stories under the light of the Christmas tree. This year we happened to do it on a night Collin and Logan were racing so they missed out on the fun! I love making memories with my kiddos!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! It seems like forever ago that we celebrated Christmas.  Life just keeps on going. But I just couldn't skip over this magical holiday. And what a wonderful holiday that we had.  I feel so blessed.  For the sake of time, I am lumping our entire holiday into one large post. Enjoy!

Here is the Christmas card that we sent out to family and friends this year! 

December 22, 2012. Grandma's Christmas Party!

I look forward to family Christmas parties each year. I know that each year my mom says it is her last year throwing this little party of hers, but I hope she never stops.  I appreciate her effort to get us all together, and I love seeing my kids participate in the traditions that I took part in when I was growing up.  We eat and eat and eat.  We read the Nativity story, and sing Christmas carols with bells.  Even Lyla got in on the action.  She reversed herself right up in line with the other kids.  So cute!

December 24, 2012. Christmas Eve!

On Christmas Eve this year we stayed home and enjoyed being together as a family.  It was such a relaxing, special day.  We held a small family home evening with each meal talking about the birth and life of our Savior, Jesus Christ. It was so neat to see the kids get so excited and reflect on the things we talked about. Also that day we watched E.T. and made Christmas trees out of ice cream cones.  The kids thought that was a lot of fun!  We also made cookies for Santa.

That night the kids set out their cookies for Santa and some carrots for his reindeer and we read our Christmas stories one last time.  

December 25, 2012. Christmas Day!

The kids must have been on Santa's good list because he stopped at our house.  He ate our milk and cookies, and his reindeer even left some special droppings out front!  Did you know that Santa's reindeer poop chocolate?!?! They do! And the kids proved it to be true.  When the kids woke up, both sets of Grandparents were here to see their excitement about what Santa brought. Lyla was in heaven going around the living room eating any snack she could find.  She also wanted to immediately get dressed in her new clothes from Santa. After presents, we ate a yummy breakfast and then we just enjoyed being together as a family all afternoon.  It was so nice not to go anywhere.  The kids could just play the day away. And our house was proof that they had a great time. It looked like a bomb went off! 

Such a great holiday season! There is nothing greater than spending time with my family.  I love them all so much.  It was wonderful to slow down and to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas with the kids this year.  Life is busy. The tree is down. And there are most post coming soon!

Christmas Programs

Both Ruby and Collin had a Christmas program last week.  I love watching these cute programs.   There is nothing better than seeing your kids sing their heart out.  Ruby had a little speaking part which she did so well on, and all on her own.  Collin learned some fun songs and I have enjoyed listening to him sing them at home as well as at the program.  I have such great kids!

I couldn't resist taking some cute shots of Ruby at home wearing her cute rudolph antlers!!

Christmas '11

Our Christmas this year was wonderful.  

The time that we spent together as a family was so special and sweet and fun.  I'll never forget it.  

Christmas was a little different for us this year ... Logan was scheduled to work on Christmas Eve and Christmas day so with permission from Santa of course, we celebrated on the 23rd.  

Although number on the calendar read wrong, it was still Christmas in our home.  

It was wonderful.

Our day looked a little like this:

the kids coming down Christmas morning

We woke the kids up at 7:00 

Grandmas and Grandpas were anxiously waiting downstairs

Sophie immediately put on her reindeer antlers that she had been saving in her bed for weeks and grabbed Jingle {we can't leave him out!} 

 The kids bolted down the stairs and eagerly assessed all that Santa had brought them.

We opened presents 

ate a yummy breakfast

and spent the rest of the day playing with toys and being together!

Collin with Bey Blades

Ruby with Strawberry Shortcake

Sophie with dolls and roller skates

Lyla with anything that she could fit into her mouth!

That night we made a turkey and feasted together ...

thinking about all that we are blessed with.

What a magical time of year that we get to be together and celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. 

Merry Christmas

Santa

Ruby wanted nothing to do with the man dressed in red from his head to his foot! 

feelin' like Christmas

The tree is up

Twinkling lights are all around
Letters to Santa are written
We've been singing Christmas Carols ... I {love} listening to Ruby sing Jingle Bells
"Elfy" our Elf on the Shelf is here ... and up to a little mischief!

There is a lot some snow on the ground
Christmas stories are being read ... sometimes under the Christmas tree

The days are being counted down
Family Christmas parties are underway

The stores are filled with last minute shoppers ... including me!
We had a visit from Jolly Old Saint Nick himself!

Christmas Cards are addressed and sent ...
and
boy is it cold outside!!

It's feelin' like Christmas!
I love this time of the year.

The Nutcracker

One of Sophie's wants this Christmas was to go see the Nutcracker ... and Logan made it happen.  He purchased two tickets for Sophie and I to go!  It was such a fun night hanging out with my girl!

She was sooOOo excited!  We dressed up all fancy like and headed off to the ballet.  She could barely contain herself when she saw the Capital Theatre all lit up with giant Nutcrackers in the window.  

We were a little early so we went across the street and indulged in some yummy hot cocoa and creme brulee! 

 Delicious!

Sophie took a couple sip of her hot cocoa and then danced around the little restaurant  showing me all of her ballet steps she has been learning in her class.

Soon it was time to head inside ... but not without some pictures!  I just love her excited smile!

Once inside she couldn't think about anything but a nutcracker souvenir.  She had a hard time deciding between a tree ornament or an actual nutcracker.  Ultimately she chose the nutcracker and it hasn't left her side yet!

I was pleasantly surprised by just how much she like the performance.  She sat and watched intently the entire time clapping along with the audience at the appropriate times.  One of my favorite moments was watching her wave back to Mother Buffoon.  She loved every minute of it!

On the ride home we sang Christmas carols and talked about our favorite parts of the night.  I love my little lady and I am so glad that I was able to spend the evening with her.  Thanks babe for putting it all together for us!

Merry Christmas 2010

The kids were so excited for Christmas this year. They just loved every minute of celebration and family gatherings. Collin woke up every day the week before proclaiming it was Christmas Eve ... he was thrilled when it actually was! Isn't it funny how a day that is so anticipated can be over in such a hurry!

We spent Christmas Eve with Logan's family ... singing songs, running around {the kids ... not so much the adults}, opening gifts and eating yummy food. After that we went home and set out cookies for Santa and some carrots for his reindeer. Then it was off to bed. Logan and I settled down to a movie waiting for the kids to be fast asleep. Sophie struggled sleeping that night due to so much excitement and even came out while Santa was busy at work. We quickly put her back to bed before she caught a glimpse of the jolly old man! However she continued waking up all through out the night.

But even with all the excitement, we had to wake all of our kids up Christmas morning. They were less than enthusiastic about the whole ordeal in the beginning. They walked downstairs, walked over to their Santa gifts and just sat there. But it wasn't too long before they were digging through stockings, unwrapping presents, and playing with toys. Both sets of Grandparents were here for Christmas morning and it is so much fun to have them over. After the gifts were opened, we all enjoyed our yummy traditional Christmas breakfast. The kids played with toys and I tried to settle down for a nap ... however watching my kids enjoy their gifts proved more exciting than actually sleeping! Although later that day I wished I had taken that nap!

After some play time we visited my parents house for a yummy lunch. Then we went to Logan's parent house for a quick visit and back home again to play some more and settle down for the night. A busy day but so much fun! I love spending time with my family. I am so grateful for them and for this time of year that we have to celebrate together the greatest gift we have been given, our Savior Jesus Christ.

Merry Christmas!

You Capture -- Holiday Magic (Light)

friendly beasts

Last weekend {right before the wave of stomach flu hit Logan and I ... the kids all had it just a few days earlier} we went to my parents house to celebrate the season with my siblings. My mom always goes all out making it a great night. I always look forward to this family party every year. Not because of the food, the company, or the gifts ... although those are bonuses, but because of the program that is put on. Mostly by the kids ... but by the adults too. This year the kids added a new song to the mix of stories and music. They were too cute! And it was super special to see them remind us of the reason we celebrate this time of year.

Jesus our brother kind and good

was humbly born in a stable good

the friendly beast around him stood

Jesus our brother kind and good.

I said the donkey shaggy and brown

I carried his mother uphill and down

I carried his mother to bethlehem town

I said the donkey shaggy and brown

I said the cow all white and red

I gave him my manger for a bed

I gave him my hay to pillow his head

I said the cow all white and red

I said the sheep with the curly horn

I gave him my wool to keep him warm

He wore my coat on Christmas morn

I said the sheep with the curly horn

I said the dove from the rafters high

I cooed him to sleep so he would not cry

I cooed him to sleep my mate and I

I said the dove from the rafters high

Next we broke out the bells ...

and sang some Christmas carols.

Sophie even had to have a red nose {just like she did for her school program!}

Then Grandma shared stories ...

and we ended the night with gifts.

Unfortunately the next day Logan and I had to miss one of his family parties because we were still sick. We didn't get to see the kids put on the Nativity.

the Nativity Scene 2009

But we are grateful to all be healthy again ... just in time for Christmas day! I can't believe it will be here in just 3 short days!