Christmas Day

MERRY CHRISTMAS! We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and continue to have a wonderful new year! We feel so blessed to have such wonderful friends and family. We love you all and thank you for all you do for us!
We had a very nice Christmas day. Lily was in our bed and woke up at 7. She wanted to get up so we went and woke up Max, crazy I know. The kids had a nice time playing with the kitchen and a tool set left by Santa. We had a big breakfast and around 9 Max asked if we could open presents. I love the kids at this age, they want to play with everything they open, try it on, watch it... Christmas lasts so much longer this way! Here are just lots of random pictures of our day at home... My mom gave all of her girls darling home made aprons and a book called the Christmas Apron. I love thoughtful, meaningful gifts like this!
All Max asked for was a Handy Many tool box, he has been asking for it since he was 2... so Santa got it for him this year.

Max mentioned around noon that Lily was the only one of us dressed...

I thought the superman costume with the cowboy accessories was funny. He is smart in being able to use everything at once!
Please notice the picture with the tight PJs (oops got them too small this year!) with the cowboy boots and spurs, while shaving! He is a true cowboy now..heaven help us...We did a lot of laying around...Lily would have watched princess movies all day while holding her new princesses..

Around 3 we got together with the same friends from Christmas Eve. It was such a nice day. We were spoiled with way to many gifts. My favorite part of this year was the song Silent Night. My kids learned it, just by hearing it often I guess.. they know the Sarah McLachlan and Josh Groban version the best (my 2 favorite albums of Christmas music that I own). It just melted my heart every time they would sing it... Lily often says, "oh my favrit song mommy, my favrit!" It is sweet to hear them sing such a sweet song. (yes even sweeter then when they sing the Black Eyed Peas, I Gotta Feeling...)

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. I just felt/feel so blessed this season to have all we have and the wonderful people we have in our lives!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve day was spent relaxing, enjoying the 75 degree weather and cooking. Max spent as much time as we would allow sawing wood...

We had some new friends come over and enjoy a turkey dinner with us. Our friends were here for the holiday without family so we spent it together. It was a really fun night. We planned on the kids watching a movie while we played games, but we ended up talking all night instead.
They also brought sparklers to add to ours. The kids were in heaven Here are the kids ready for The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. They have 2 kids, Gabby is a few months younger then Max. Max calls her his Princess, he started calling her that back in October. She refers to Max as her Prince.

They left around 8:30 and we opened Christmas PJs. It is one of my favorite traditions from my family. This year they were even Christmasy... all 4 of us (Brian humors me well ) ;) We ended the night watching Santa on Google Earth. If you didn't know you can track him, it is really fun to see! The kids were very excited about it.

a few days this week

We went to Bounce U with a friend of mine from school and her 4 year old niece. Lily called it "Bounce Me"

Max and Lily played inside and out...they had me set up their tent for their "camp out" but really he was just telling his sister what she should be doing.. he is hitting the 4 year old bossy stage, she usually listens.
We did some crafts...we used a whole bottle of Elmer's glue. Cheap entertainment?

We don't get to use fireworks on the 4th here. But now they are allowing us to do it this holiday season. We have had a few nights of fun so far!

HAPPY 35TH BIRTHDAY BRIAN!

Crazy to me that my husband could be so old! But he is as wonderful now (maybe better) then the day I married him. He is such a wonderful man, husband, father and friend. I hope he had a nice weekend of celebrations! We went out one night, had a family dinner one night and then went to lunch on his actual birthday followed by ice cream cake. The kids had a great time celebrating. Here they are at our favorite restaurant at lunch. Joes Farmgrill. It is wonderful and gives you 10 bucks free on your birthday.
I put this picture of the kids walking in leaves to show you all that we do have fall here...it just comes around Christmas time.. but it is still wonderful. I love fall, it is one of my 4 favorite seasons!

Mesa Temple Christmas Lights

Matt was here for a day before he flew home so we took him to see the Christmas lights. I only take the pictures to remember. You can't even attempt to capture how pretty it is!

PS I just wanted to point out or maybe remember the December that I wore sandals to the see the Christmas lights. Not because I was crazy but because it was 65 degrees..Matt was in shorts.

a few daily moments

It is good it has been nice weather, this poor car needs an oil change often... Max is always building or taking apart or fixing...
We made gingerbread men from a kit the other day. The kids have loved that story lately. Isn't it great that you can see those kinds of videos on Utube!

This picture is just because...

Bass Pro Shop

I went with my friend, Micky, and our kids to a bounce place the other day. I did not get any pictures worth keeping. It was right next door to Bass Pro shop. We went in to see the fish. Little did we know, they have the best Christmas set up! There were games and crafts and the BEST Santa! He was great and they give you a picture for free and free kids meals! I took this one while standing there, not knowing they were going to give me one.

Church Christmas Breakfast

Our ward party was a breakfast this year. We still aren't mentally prepared for this weather and didn't bring jackets and it was outside. But by 9:15 it was 70 degrees and perfect! Crazy and perfect for December! I do really love the winter weather here! There was a special visitor, which Max noticed immediately was different then the one at the Y. They are so observant so young! Lily wanted nothing to do with this Santa. But she was fine with him holding her hat so she could ride the pony.

Gingerbread houses

Friday night we had the Grays and Stephanie over to make Gingerbread houses. This was the first year Max and Lily wanted to help. It was fun watching their excitement. It was a good night and is nice to have good friends.

Lily was having so much fun. I put frosting all over and she just stuck m&ms and sprinkles everywhere. The whole time saying, "I'm doing it!" Next year the other little girls (Lexee and Gracie) will want to help more! Kids grow so fast!

Santa at the YMCA

Lily wasn't scared as long as Max was with her. Max was soooo excitted! He of course asked for items we had yet to hear of... Lily just sucked her thumb. Lily was very excited that her vest looked like Santas! This santa was great. Even brought the boys a car and the girls a coloring book. They ended the party with cookies.

It's so hard being a boy

Max LOVES to work and build and act like his Dad! Please notice the pants tucked into the cowboy boots and the gun holster... This is from "Stony Davis" a cowboy movie my parents introduced to him. Lily often just calls Max "stony" when he has on any cowboy attire.