Christmas Morning

Christmas Morning

Kids really do make Christmas so much more magical. It was Shay's first Christmas so naturally she didn't really know what was going on but she sure love to eat the tissue and wrapping paper. The boys we awesome, this was such a fun Christmas with them. They were old enough to really get it! Their eyes would light up and they would scream! It was so fun to watch. We usually have smaller Christmas's, we were both raised with modest families when it came to Christmas and we've followed suit. We of course get them presents but we truly try to keep it in check with was a healthy amount and what is not overwhelming on our budget. This year we didn't open any of their grandparents and birth families gifts until that morning so it was quite a magical sight under the tree with all of that waiting for them! Everyone was so sweet with their gifts, they were personal to the child and their interest and I think that's exactly what a gift should be.  They were also spoiled by the ones that love them and they loved it:) 

I truly, truly love my family! They are my center. I don't know where I'd be without them circling me day in and day out. Christmas helps you slow down and really enjoy that quality time!

Christmas Eve

For Christmas Eve this we decided to spend a quiet evening at Cookie and Bills. We had an AMAZING dinner and the kids loved watching movies and playing with Grandpa! It was a great start to Christmas! Family is so important and we loved sharing our evening with some of our favorite people!

(I've decided not to take my nice camera out on personal events anymore... too many kids... too risky. So the pictures are less than lovely but my oh so cute children make up for it:) 

Meeting Santa

The Jordan's (shay's birth family) invited us to "This is the Place" right before Christmas and even though we almost froze, we had so much fun! We had never been there before and it's such a neat little place at Christmas time. All these cute old houses have different activities for the kids, there's a live Nativity and of course Santa himself! The Jordan's are becoming like family... they are so good with all of our kids and support us 100%!  Shay's Annie actually got proposed to that night with all of us there. It was so special. We are so very happy for her! I was so bummed I forgot my camera on such a fun night:(  Stephen took this for me with his and sent it to me.

My kids crack me up in this!  I love them!

Tree Photo's

The night we put our Christmas Tree up I wanted to get some pictures of the kiddos in front of it. All was going well when we were doing the ones with the light off, but then when I asked them to sit and smile.... Aiden wanted to do the exact opposite (see in pictures 4 & 5... lovely isn't he:) So I excused Aiden and Mason said "why stop mom, lets dance!" and so he did!  That kid cracks me up! About an hour later Aiden came up to me and said "okay, I smile by tree for 5 mins!" so I got a group shot and before I could get a single of him, he was done... again! ha, ha. Oh well! 

 

Annual Christmas Party

Every year in December we have a family Christmas party. This year I hosted it. There was SO much going on that these are the only pictures I took :(  We had a cute Santa craft that my sister's brought for the kids to do, they loved it! Then we had yummy soup, bread and waaaay to many desserts! The kids watched a Christmas movie and the adults chatted! As always it was so fun to be with family... every year it just gets bigger and bigger, there's at least two new kids a new!

The Riverwoods

During December (yes, i realize it's January. It's a new year and i'm already behind!) we met up with our good friends and went down to the Riverwood's in Provo for FHE! It was chilly but it was so fun! We ate dinner, walked around and saw the lights, visited Santa and took a carriage ride! We're so blessed to have such great friends!