Christmas 2011

Christmas morning the girls were in our room promptly at 7am. (We have a rule. That is the earliest they can come in) JR went downstairs to turn on the Christmas tree lights and Christmas music. He has all the kids gather at the top of the stairs before he invites them to come down.

Here are JR and E opening their stockings. Notice the clementine orange that is the toe of each of our stockings. All the girls wanted footy pj's this year. They love how warm and cozy they are.

This year the girls each got a DS game. R has been begging for this particular game and was thrilled to receive it. 

S and Mom chilling as the presents are opened. We are comfy in our new Christmas pajamas too. 

H with her panda pj's and panda mittens. 

R with the monkey hat she has been wanting. She wanted it so bad she called the lady and ordered it herself. 

We were able to have a relaxing morning. Then we went to church for a chance to remember our Heavenly Father and the great gift of his son Jesus Christ. Later, my brother, sister and their families came over for Christmas dinner. We had stuffed pork loin; spinach, pomegranate, orange salad; squash, apple bake; green bean casserole; rolls; cheese potatoes; homemade eggnog; peppermint ice cream; and the desserts from the night before there were so many left. Before everyone left we played Christmas Bingo. My favorite prize we added this year is that everyone had to hug JR when they won. This was hilarious since now that a lot of the cousins are 13-8, or tweens, they have become kind of awkward around adults. GB, who is 5, looked at them and said, "What is the big deal? I went and hugged JR without anyone chanting." We would chant the winners name until they were brave enough to go hug JR. GB didn't need any encouragement to hug JR. He took off running full force at JR. Even though the girls are too cool for us adults they still like a lot of the little kid prizes we had in the bowl instead of taking a more mature prizes. I love those crazies!

Needless to say, JR and I fell into bed exhausted at the end of the day, but we felt it was well worth it for all those smiles. Do you know what we did the next day? We had Christmas all boxed up and put away by 11am! (Thanks Uncle Rock for inspiring that tradition with JR)

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve, we went to my sister's house. We had a lovely meal. Then, we were able to skype with my parents as the kids put on the Christmas story. AB and VJ were the narrators. E, JJ, and KB were the Wisemen(or Wise Guys as they like to be called). SJ and GB were Mary and Joseph. TB was Baby Jesus. EB was Samuel the Lamanite. S and R were angels. NB, RJ, and H were shepherds. My parents even stayed on while the girls all played their Christmas pieces. This year we had piano, trumpet, and flute. There were simple pieces to advanced and even a few duets.

After we arrived home we opened our Santa balls. This is S's 1st Santa ball. She loved her "Ho Ho" 

 S was reluctant to destroy her Santa ball, put loved the toys inside.

 Daddy being nice and filling every one's balloon.

All smiles at the end of the night. 

Christmas Cheer

Here is Buddy, our elf on the shelf, that moves around it day and keeps an eye on the girls behavior. I didn't have any problems getting most of the girls up in December. They were always up and ready to go search for Buddy at the crack of dawn.

Here are all the girls cuddled up to watch The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. 

Carls

Carly, is our friend/babysitter. She has stayed with the girls when we went on Trek and when we went on our babymoon. The girls and her hang out together just for fun too. My girls love her and think she is basically one of the coolest people in the whole, wide world! This Christmas she made the girls hats. These are the outfits the girls were wearing when she gave them the hats--she knows them so well she chose colors they were wearing. H's hat has a black brim and black pom poms to look like a panda.

S already had a hat I just bought from my friend Sarah; she just wanted to be in the picture with the girls. Plus, she is cute. 

Spreading Holiday Cheer

Recently, my girls were able to participate in a Christmas program at a Retirement Center. Our friends, Keri and Christy, put together a lovely musical variety show. Children and youth participated sharing their talents through singing, violins, trumpets, and the piano.

E kicked off the night playing a duet of Jingle Bells with her piano teacher.

H played We Wish You a Merry Christmas.

R played a duet of O, Come, All Ye Faithful and the crowd sang along.

We loved the opportunity to meet with the residence and hopefully brighten their holiday season.

Guess Who is Coming For Dinner?

Grandpa Mike and Grandma Jill were able to come and have dinner with us on Sunday.  Since we never get to spend Christmas with them(seriously, only once in 2000) we decided to make it Christmas dinner. We had ham and all the works. The girls chose the desserts: apple pie for Grandpa Mike, and peppermint ice cream for Grandma Jill, plus hot fudge sauce for them.

Luckily, we had just been to visit them at Thanksgiving so S remembered her buddy and cuddled in.

Grandma helped the girls decorate this years gingerbread house. I think it turned out adorable.

 Yes, this picture is out of focus. R took it of H right when they were done. It has been hard for the girls to keep their hands off it this year.

Before Grandma and Grandpa left that night we read two Christmas books: Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree, a family favorite from my childhood

and The Three Christmas Trees.

Even though we only saw Grandma and Grandpa for a few hours this trip, it was a treat. The girls are so excited because we get to see them for a couple of days next month as well.

Christmas Tree 2011

Every year we go cut our tree. I think it is JR's favorite tradition. Our tree farm closed down 2 years ago. We didn't love where we went last year. This year's farm was better. There were even farm animals you could feed; such cute little piglets. Still, not quite the same quality of trees. All that said, we had a great time going together, searching for the perfect tree and cutting it down.

(Poor S, her hat is over her eyes)

Blast from the Past

I was looking through some pictures. Here are all the Christmases I have since I received my camera.

Christmas 2006

  Christmas 2007

Christmas 2008 

Christmas 2009 

Christmas 2010

Bring It On

So I have decided getting ready for Christmas is a lot of work. Good thing I have my hard workers to help me. That makes it a lot more fun!...Oh, and for your viewing pleasure, a family picture that the kids poised. Yeah, branches covering the face doesn't work that well. BUT they got to climb a tree and they were trying to help.

Thanksgiving 2011

 We had a great Thanksgiving holiday. We went to JR's parents. Everyone came over the first night we were there. The next day JR, his brothers, and Dad went golfing. Jill and I took the girls to get their nails done. Then we took them to a trampoline place called Sky high. Thursday we enjoyed a yummy feast, played Bingo, and went to the movie "Arthur Christmas". Friday, Jill and I took all the girls shopping. That night most people went to Jake's play-off football game. I took Riley and my girls out to In-n-Out and to see the muppet movie. Saturday, we did some more shopping. The girls went swimming because it was so warm. That evening everyone went to dinner at the Melting Pot, except H, S and me. H was sick and we stayed with her. I was bummed when I got home. I realized I never took any pictures, but as I was unpacking I found a treasure. I had the girls get their pictures taken in a photo booth at Sky High. Thanksgiving was fun--being with family and soaking in the sun.

H's 7th Birthday

H celebrating her birthday with a red velvet cupcake, her favorite.

We didn't get around to opening S's presents until H's birthday. It was a little like Christmas morning. We laughed because H was playing with S's present and vice versa. Too funny! 

A Whole Year

The very beginning. At the hospital the day S was born.

Getting ready to head home. All the girls have worn this outfit home from the hospital.

Daddy's Heisman pose

My Blessing day with sisters, Grandpa Mike and Grandma Jill

My 1st Christmas (card picture)

Grandpa Tom and Grandma Maggie before they left on their mission

Morgan and me the polka-dot twins

Cute girl

Great Grandma Lala and me

H and R taking me for a walk

Sitting in my bumbo

My 1st snow

My 1st St Patrick's day

My oldest cousin, Jake, and me

S's 1st Easter, with Uncle Randy, ET, and G

Visiting the Redwoods with Grandma and Grandpa on their mission

1st Fourth of July

All dressed up for Katie's wedding in July

A bright summer day at the Space Needle

S with cousin K

Yee-haw, Cowgirl! 

Blowing out the Candles

 Eating up the cake, yum.

The birthday girl