Christmas 2014

We took the boys to the live nativity and Noah was absolutely riveted. It was beautiful evening for it. After we took the kids to Tim Hortons and they picked out a donut and we shared some hot chocolate. After that we went and looked at a few Christmas lights. The boys LOVED it all. When we got home we did a tree ornament and then after Noah went to bed, Ty and I made an ornament for the tree. It was such an amazing evening as a family.

 Ty won't eat cake or cookies, but he loves donuts.

 Michaels coworker Sarah came over for a haircut before her holidays and brought us some gingerbread men to decorate. Noah loved snacking on all the sweets. 

 The boys opening their Christmas Eve pjs.

 Noah was really into opening gifts this year.  

 Our little family photo. Wow that flash brings out all the different reds. They looked more alike in person. :) 

 Watching Disney Collector on YouTube with Grandpa. haha Ty's favorite.

 Christmas morning! Aren't they the sweetest?

We got the kids a slide for Christmas... to be used indoors in the winter and outdoors in the summer. They LOVE it. I bought it hoping it would encourage more play downstairs with all the toys and so far it's been working. They spent an hour downstairs this morning. 

We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with Michael's parents. Then we went to my Moms for Christmas and ate subs and opened gifts and got to talk to Breanne via Skype! She looked so pretty and happy. It was so fun. It was really nice to just relax at Mom's house and eat food. Boxing Day we went to my Dad's and did gifts and played games ALL DAY...  except when we were eating our delicious ham meal. The kids all played downstairs for most of the day and I felt like a real adult telling the kids to "get downstairs" ha. Oh the memories of being told that 1000 times at family gatherings. "Go play with your cousins"....

 Noah crawling right in to get his gift. 

 The boys got a firehouse for Christmas and they love it too! 

 Ty asked Santa this year for Hungry Hippos. I was not wanting to have that game because it's loud and theres lots of pieces, but then I found a mini one and the marbles are enclosed. Ty talked about getting Hungry Hippos for Christmas for a long time and Christmas morning he woke up and said "why didn't santa bring me hungry hippos?"... we told him Santa took his gifts to G&G Mendenhalls and we said "Santa might not have brought you Hungry Hippos, Ty". So when he opened his gift from Santa he said "I toldja so. I toldja Santa would bring me Hungry Hippos... I knew it" haha... He wasn't even excited (though he was happy). He enjoyed telling us we were wrong. hahaha it was funny. 

 Noah started crawling out of the playpen at my Mom's house on Christmas day and eventually fell asleep in Michaels arms. So sweet. 

Ty and Maddy watching a Christmas show. Probably Frosty the Snowman because Ty is obsessed. He loves all the Christmas songs. 

 Noah playing a fun game with Grandpa. Up and down, up and down. 

I took lots of photos at my Dad's. Theres always lots of people to photograph, though we were missing lots of the family this year.

 We finally had a kid table for the meal. It was awesome and the kids sat and played here for about a half hour before we started the meal. 

 Sweet little Aiden. 

 After opening gifts. We wrapped Ty in leftover duct tape from Dans excellent gift wrapping to Becky. 

 Probably watching Frosty the Snowman again. haha!

 Relaxing and visiting.  

 Making a gingerbread house and tree with the kids. Ty, Maddy, and Sean sure loved it. 

 Michael "helping" haha.

 Cassandra with her usual plate of leftovers that she says she will eat later but never does. haha

 Becky and Cass' beautiful icing job on the tree. And Cassandra posing for the picture.

 G&G Parker were so involved in the decorating. 

 Noah falling asleep again. How cute!! 

We played lots of games. Rummy cards (can't remember the name), the Man game, which, as you can see the men dominated in. Becky, Phoenix and I were out first and Michael proudly won the man game. It's a fun game, if you are a man. haha. We also played a wrapping paper social game I brought, and Becky had a super fun game called Follow the Lead which we all got super into and there were tons of laughs!! Definitely my favorite game that day. I especially love all games so it's heaven for me to go out to my Dad's and Kristi's and play games with everyone. Heaven.

This Christmas I was on a high. It was definitely my favorite Christmas I can think of. I was constantly feeling so happy and I loved all the family time and seeing my kids open their gifts that they loved, and playing with their cousins. It really was exactly how I love spending our Christmas holidays. We are so blessed to have SO much family and although it was busy, I still felt like I got to relax and enjoy it all. I also have especially enjoyed this Christmas season because I felt a lot more emphasis on my Saviour than in years past. Doing our 25 days of Christ I was able to feel the spirit in our home, reading the Ensign and reading stories of giving and of Christ. Our Christmas sacrament meeting was full of beautiful words and musical performances, and most importantly going to see the Nativity with our boys. It was so spiritual and amazing to think our Saviour was born in such humble beginnings. I am so thankful for his life and example to me.

a hosted party.

This year I hosted a party for my close high school friends. It is the 4th year we have done it and it's always so fun to see everyone and to visit. There's always new additions and we always have so much fun.

I love these girls. I was so lucky to have amazing friends in high school!

December so far!

This is the best time of year and more now than ever before because we have our two boys to share the excitement with. We've gone to some Christmas parties and enjoyed the holiday traditions. First up was our ward Christmas party. There was a delicious catered meal of roast beef, a short program, and then a family dance. We love the dance party and Ty loved dancing so much. The kids also got to see Santa!

 Aiden loved Santa!

 Ty's face when he saw Santa. He was awestruck. He has been wanting to ask Santa for Hungry Hippos for a long time and finally got the chance. The other day we were driving in the car and Ty said "I love Jesus... I love Santa.... OH MOMMY, I forgot to tell Santa that I love him!!" He was so sad he never got to say I love you. It was pretty cute. 

The next few pictures are awesome. Santa was talking to Ty and Noah was trying to get a good look and finally Santa turned to Noah and then Noah lost it. He was terrified.

 We've been playing lots of Wii with Cassandra and her boyfriend Glenn. Super Mario all night long. It's serious stuff.

The kids got to make gingerbread houses at Grandma and Grandpa Mendenhalls one evening. Ty had been begging to do it. This is them having them for breakfast one morning. There wasn't many candies left and Ty was even resorting to licking the icing off the house. haha

 

Ty had a joy school Christmas concert at St Therese that I only got video of. He was so cute and they kids did a nativity as well. We have also been doing our 25 days of Christ- an ornament each day of the month until Christmas Day. Ty loves the videos and pictures. 

 This was taken at the Parker Christmas Party. The turnout was not as good this year due to a crazy storm that night but we had so much fun, as always.

Sisters!!

 Ty and Dad. He sure loves his Dad.

 This December has been amazing weather. It's even suppose to get up to 9 degrees this Saturday! The kids have even played on the trampoline a few times this month. 

Becky also hosted a Christmas party which was lots of fun. Good food, and we did a white elephant gift exchange where we brought useful gifts from our home and there was all kinds of awesome stuff given out!! We sure love going to Christmas parties. We even made some treats to hand out the other day and I even got all my Christmas cards out before Christmas came! ha! Ty also got to write Santa but just like last year he was sad when he put his card in the red mail box to send away because he realized he wouldn't get it back... Hopefully he enjoys his reply from Santa!

Michael gets the whole week of Christmas off so we are excited to spend time as a family. I'm hoping to take the kids swimming because they LOVE going lately, hand out some more goodies to friends, have hot chocolate and watch some Christmas movies. We also get to Skype with Breanne on Christmas!! We are so excited to visit with her!