Twas the night before Christmas....

December 24, 2010

Tonight we have some fun traditions with our kids. We read the Christmas story as a family, then we review our goals and what we wanted to do for Jesus the year before and make new ones, we open one present (always pj's), put out our reindeer food outside on the snow, write our letter to Santa and put out cookies, and then we let the kids have a sleepover together! It's always a fun filled night full of great excitement!

Justin and Megan sprinkling reindeer food.

Katie, Justin, and Megan in their new Jammies and showing their reindeer food!


The kids all in Megan's room settled in for bed. They didn't fall asleep quickly but they sure had fun! They were so excited for Santa to come! I love these kiddos, what a lucky mom I am!

Making Sugar Cookies for Santa!

December 23, 2010

Today I promised the kids we would make sugar cookies for Santa. Here they are working hard!

Justin, Katie, and my nephew Ryker!

Katie, Justin, Ryan (eating his cookie), and Megan. They turned out soooo great!

Ryan loved the tree. He was constantly pointing at all the decorations, throwing the balls like real balls, and going "choo-choo" to make me turn on the train (or he would just bring me a piece of the train to turn it on)!

visiting Ogden!

December 2010

Every year we take the kids up to Ogden to see the lights and all the Christmas houses. The kids have such a great time. We go to dinner first, then visit Santa, and walk around and see all the houses and lights. Below are some of the pictures of us while there.

Our family!

Katie and Megan by one of the house villages.

The kids with Santa. The kids were really cute but Santa did throw me off a little he would ask them what they would like and then say "anything else" (I just sat there thinking isn't that enough Santa)?" So we had a few surprises but they were all really cute with him.

Megan and Katie by the Ogden sign.

The kids were running ahead of us and pretending to be trees. They would hold really still then when we got close to them they would run ahead laughing. They were really cute.

Family Christmas get together!

Dec. 19, 2010

Each year on the Sunday before Christmas. We go up to Robs parents and get together with all of his family for Christmas. We have dinner, each family does something (we sang etc), play music, exchange presents, and play! It's a nice way to see everyone and celebrate Christmas and make Christmas day more open to do what you as a family want to do together. It was really fun and the kids love it.

Our family performed up on the house top (all 3 verses) Mom, Katie and Megan sang and did the actions, Justin played the piano, Ryan danced, and Rob played the guitar! Great job kids!

all the kids playing music

Megan


Ryan playing music

Katie

Justin and uncle Scott playing the bells

Megan & Katie they looked so cute together!

Family Christmas party!

Dec. 18, 2010

Tonight while rob painted my bathroom( my Christmas present was he would paint for me, yippee) and since I can't be around the paint fumes anyway I took all the kids to my family party. They had a good time. We ate, sang, talked, and danced around!

The kiddos!

Mom and Ryan!


Katie showing off her lovely new fingers! OLIVES!

Justin

Katie and Megan dancing with their snowflakes!

Justin and his cousin Jackson!

Making Gingerbread Houses!

Dec. 17, 2010

Today we had our neighbors over Kol and Kaleb and one of Justin's friends chase to make gingerbread houses with us. The kids look forward to this every year. Mostly to eat the candy but we had fun too!

My kids working hard!

Kaleb and Kol frosting away and eating too!

Ryan with his house and some help from mommy!

Megan and her house she did this all herself!

Katie and her candy land house!

All the kids and their houses!

Justin was so into his project he had 2 plates decorated . It was really unique. I was impressed at his dedication! They all turned out great and most of all they had fun doing them! Yeah!

Katie & Megan's dance recital!

Dec. 11, 2010

Today was the girls dance recital they have had so much fun doing dance together this year. They danced to Roley poly the polar bear this year and they looked so great. Megan could hardly wait...she kept asking me "mommy, when do I get to go up on the stage"? They both did a great job and they were so cute. They are in a ballet/tap class and look so forward to it every week!

Katie and Megan
The girls on stage dancing. Katie is the 3rd from right and Megan is 2nd from right. I told them to stand together so I could film them better.

Again Katie 3rd from right and Megan 2nd from right.

Megan and Katie after. They got these cute necklaces. Santa came and helped hand them out they thought this was so cool.

Megan, Katie, Ashlyn, and Brinley. Their cousins dance at Tiffany's too so here are all 4 of them after. We were glad they were all in the same show! Good job girls you all looked and did great!

Joyschool Christmas

Dec. 9, 2010

Today was the preschool kids Christmas program. We did it at my house and they all had so much fun.

Megan giving me the card she made for me.

the kids singing songs!

The kids acting out the nativity story. Megan was the angel! Katie filled in for her for a time since she was sad for some of it but the kids did a good job!

Acting out the story! After they were done they made rice Crispy wreaths for everyone there and talked. It was really fun!

The live Nativity!

Dec. 2, 2010

Tonight I took the kids to go and see the live nativity in my brother and sister in laws stake. I had heard how amazing it is but never been. Rob had to work late but it wasn't a super cold night so off we went. I went with Rochelle and her family so my kids thought that was really fun. Below are some of the pictures. This was such an amazing way to start off our Christmas holiday. It really brought the true meaning of Christmas into our home and helped the kids get a live interpretation of a miraculous event. I think it's a tradition we will definitely continue.

Ryan and Megan! They were all so patient since we had a really long wait to see everything!

Kelsie and Katie waiting in line!

Justin loved playing in the fire pits along the way a true pi-rho!



Madeline and Megan

Megan Katie and Brooklynn

Justin feeding the camels. They had all kinds of fun animals. Sheep, donkeys, goats, camels, llamas, etc. the kids loved petting and seeing them all!

Mom and kids dad was at work so we went with our friends!

Paying our taxes!

Seeing baby Jesus and the city of Bethlehem. This was such a neat experience I really think it brought the story to life for the kids they always hear the story but this was a way for them to really live it. It was so neat. Worth the wait!

Oh so silly...rub a dub dub 2 kids in a....sink!

Nov. 2010

today I found Ryan and Megan playing in the sinks together. Megan even put on her swimming suit. They love to play together.

Megan and Ryan in the sinks!

The kids with their coats and hats on backwards.