Christmas Morning

When Bella woke us up at 7:30 this morning she informed us she knew Santa had been here because the milk was gone! That's about all she could see from the hallway without going into forbidden territory.Santa had been here. And what does daddy say? "Go back to bed, it's too early." Bella was about ready to burst into tears, so I had to quickly inform him that on school days we're LEAVING at 7:30, it's not too early, and most families of little kids are up at 6:00 a.m.
They were so happy to see the treasures they'd asked for. A "littlest pet shop" stuffed animal (you can play on the internet) for Bella, and a "puppy with pink ears" for Sofie.
Reed didn't care about the big gifts sitting unwrapped in plain sight. He went straight for the wrapped gifts. This would be why there weren't any under the tree until last night!

Sofie loved her new sleeping bag, and Bella got a bike.

Reed loved his rocking horse.

Bella is sure that Santa fills the stockings, because Mommy and Daddy
would NEVER give them that much candy.

They always get toothbrushes and toothpaste in their stockings. This year they were all "Tooth Tunes". Bella & Sofie have brushed their teeth at least 3 times today, they love them so much!

Then they had their big surprise upstairs - they can't believe it!
A fun bouncer to put in the basement and jump ALL winter long!

The gifts were fun to open. Adorable matching jammies for the girls from Auntie Di - love those cupcakes!
Every time Reed unwrapped a book, he would take it over to daddy and have him read it. He took his time opening presents, but had a ball.

Sofie loves her new baby, complete with a car seat. She hasn't put it down all day.

Bella tried out her new cupcake maker on dessert tonight. She frosted cupcakes for all the kids.

Reed loves his new ASU hat

It was such a fun morning, and relaxing day.

Once Jeff got the drive and porch shoveled, it got even better! We finished off the day exchanging gifts with Grandma and Jane & Aaron. We had a yummy dinner and we were glad the storm let up enough that they could make it over.

Another storm is moving in, I just hope I can get out and go shopping in the morning!

Christmas Eve

We had the pleasure of spending Christmas Eve with Grandma Susan, in her beautiful home. We had a fun night with Jane & Aaron and the kids, and the many activities Grandma had planned for all the little ones. After a delicious dinner, the kids started on their dessert.
They each got to make their own snowman out of mini donuts, donut holes, pretzels, peppermint patties, mini Reese's peanut butter cups, and mini M&M's.
They had a ball making them, and kept constructing them until they were covered in powdered sugar. (Hmmm . . .maybe that's what precipitated this snowstorm!)

We love our cousins, aunts, uncles and Grandparents!!

The kids all gathered around to hear Grandma read "Twas the Night Before Christmas". During the story there was a loud noise outside, and we heard some jingle bells. When Grandma went outside to see what it was, she found a small Santa sack full of presents!
She had called Santa on his cell phone and asked if he could stop by the party. He was too busy, so he dropped a little bag from his sleigh while he was flying over for the kids.

The kids loved their new PEZ dispensers.
Then Grandma gave them each a little Christmas present.
Reed got a fun animal book. The girls all got matching baking sets with aprons.
Then I gave my kids each their traditional Christmas Eve gift.

I made the girls matching nightgowns, and Reed some puppy pajama pants.
Then we headed home, for there was much to do before going to bed. First we had to write Santa his note, and leave him and the reindeer some snacks.
Because we don't have a fireplace, we had to put the magic key on the door so Santa could get in.

Then it was bedtime, and it was so hard to fall asleep.

December - part 2

On Bella's last day of school she had an assembly. It was just for the students, but the parents that were volunteering that day in the classrooms attended. All the kindergartners and first graders sang "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer" in English, and then in Spanish. It was so cute, and they did a great job.
On Monday night we had an extended family Christmas gathering, with Jeff's cousins and aunts and uncles. It was so much fun, as always, and the kids loved participating in a Nativity.


We also had an opportunity to go to Temple Square to see the Christmas lights. We went at the beginning of the month, before it got too cold, and before the crowds hit. It is such a beautiful setting for lights, and they do such a fantastic job lighting up everything.
The kids loved it, the adults loved it, and we all felt the warm Christmas spirit that only Christ can bring.
It was a great way to start off the month. As always, we love attending fun activities like this with Jane & Aaron and their family, and Grandma Susan.
Merry Christmas everyone! We hope you had a wonderful Christmas season like we did. We have loved visiting with you over the phone, seeing you in person, and receiving your Christmas letters. We miss you all when we are far apart!

Snow anyone?

Snow? Oh, we have lots and lots of it. It's all been too wet to build snowmen with.After one of these many snowfalls Jeff was out shoveling. Reed was insisting on going out with his daddy (as he often does). So I bundled him up and sent him out. He was a bit hesitant at first, but quickly grew to love it.
It was hilarious watching him follow Jeff around. My favorite photo I took of them is blurry - but I think you get the picture.The other day Bella went sledding with her little friend Mikayla. Typically her friend can stay out for 3 hours. Bella came back into the house after 30 minutes. After being sent back out by Mikayla's mom, she lasted another 30 minutes and was done. She told her mom, "I guess I'm just not a snow kinda gal". But yet when she came home, she told me over and over again how much she loved sledding. She's hilarious.

And today, on Christmas Day, this is the storm we received.It was so, so windy, snow just clung to every little surface. It was crazy how you couldn't see hardly anything because the snow was just blowing everywhere. It almost looks like there are little reindeer tracks on our porch.

December - part 1

This is a recap of many things we did this month. We had so much fun, and were so busy. I would hate to not have the photos in my journal.The month started out with a trip to the Ballet (or as Sofie calls it, "the Bella - way"). The girls were completely enthralled and mesmerized. It was put on my a dance company that Janelle (a little girl we carpool with) dances with. They do it every year. This was the first year that she was eligible to perform in it. You have to be at least 8 years old I believe. So I took the girls with Jessie (another carpooler) & Samantha, her little sister. Lolly (Janelle's little sister) was there with her family as well.It was called "Molly Mouse's Sugar Plum Debut". It was the music from "The Nutcracker" and it was darling. The costumes were excellent, and the dancers did such a great job. We can't wait to go again next year. Both girls are still talking about how much they want to do Ballet now.Here they are with "our little star of the show". Janelle is next to Bella, holding the flowers.


Next up was a holiday concert with the West Valley Symphony. They had a choir join them for the performance and it was awesome. If anything got me in the holiday spirit, it was this concert. I was all excited about Christmas after the concert. My friend Chantelle plays the cello, she's in the last photo, upper right hand corner.Where else can you see the Grinch and Santa together? They played "You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch", and the soloist sounded just like the one on the movie. It was cute and both of them handed out candy canes to all the kids. The do concerts a few times a year, I can't wait to catch another one!

Sofia had her preschool program. She did a great job with all the little actions to the songs, and singing so well.
It was based on the story "Twas the night before Christmas". She had a line to say, which was "As I drew in my head and was turning around, down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound."
She always has fun with her little friend Samantha, and they love going to school together.Her teacher Ms. Beckie is fabulous as well. We love all the hard work she puts into running a successful preschool.

We had a playgroup and a surprise guest showed up - SANTA! And he had the first gift of Christmas for each 0f the children.Needless to say, mine were a bit reluctant to sit on his lap. Like most children, they like him from afar. Unfortunately the only one I got of Reed is blurry. It's okay, it's not like he's smiling or anything! And in most of these photos, Sofie has a funky smile. Oh, it's such a great age for smiling.