Christmas

 

We were blessed to have a fabulous Christmas this year.  The kids didn't get us up until 7:15 and so we started down the stairs at about 7:30.  Santa was up first and he brought blades or skates to the kids (We told Santa that Callie didn't need anything this first year).  I was pleasantly surprised how happy and excited the kids were about the skates.  The rest of the day was a blur.  I took barely any pictures, but here are a couple.

 Callie loved her new little dolly.  We had yo be VERY vigilant about keeping the wrapping paper off the floor.  She is moving now and as soon as she heard the crinkly noise she was off and trying to get to it before someone threw it into the trash.

 

Annabelle is easy to shop for.  I had a lot of fun this year.  The unicorn is a pillow pet, one of 2 things she REALLY wanted for Christmas.  I bought her the doll so I wouldn't have to share my American Girl doll from my childhood.  I suppose it would be fine but I have a good memory of my mom telling me that I ruined some of her favorite childhood toys and I wasn't ready to let that begin.  Notice the Barbie's pretty dress?  I found a lady who makes barbie clothes and the sells them for .25-$3.00 an outfit.  I spent about $30 and got A LOT of things.  At one point on Christmas we were dressing up her dolls and Annabelle asks, "Who gave me these clothes again?"  When I told her I did she jumped up and gave me a big hug.  That made my day!

 Rywan was the first one awake and was SO excited to go down stairs, but patient as the others woke up.  Ryan got a really fun K'Nex toy that he and I put together later in the day.  It even can walk around.  His favorite gift was a family one, a Harry Potter Wii game.  I did hear Ryan say, "I'm bored" at one point in the day.  Luckily I reminded him of all the toys he got and he happily went off to find one to play with. 

 Nathan gets harder and harder to buy for for Christmas.  His list this year had tings like an Iphone, a laptop, and a DSi-all things that were not only out of our budget, but things that I don't think he needs.  Luckily he loved the magic kit and Lego spaceship he got.  He loves a computer game, "Minecraft" and I am sure I could have gotten away with just letting him play that all day.  it would have saved me a lot of money.

 

 

 

 Greg also got blades and so they were all outside trying them out.  I have some old ones that I look forward to using some day when I am not holding Callie.  There were a lot of falls, but luckily no one gave up.

 The Zhu Zhu pets were a HUGE success.  The three older kids got one, but even Callie loved watching them race around the kitchen.  Now all Ryan wants for his birthday is more pets and a track for them to battle in.

Christmas night we went to the annual cousin party and then a bunch of Greg's siblings came to our house afterwards.  The families with kids left around 9:30 and we put our kids to bed and then stayed up until 11 with those without kids.  I am glad my house was chosen to par-tay at so we could hang out longer.  I love Greg's siblings, even though they hate when I play games with them.  For some reason I seem to always win.  Even when I try not to.  The day after Christmas was my cousins' family party.  We played, we ate, we kareoked and we danced.  I love seeing and being around so much family. 

And now Christmas is over.  Decorations are starting to come down and a new year is approaching.  Life seems to just zoom faster and faster as I get older.   We still have this whole week with Greg at home.  Hooray for the holidays!

Laser Tag

 

On the Eve of Christmas Eve I took the kids to Trafalga for some laser tag and rock climbing.  I was surprised how much fun Annie had, how much fun we all had.  The arena is a bit under construction but part of it was open and I am glad we tried something new.  Nathan was the only one to go climbing, maybe Ryan will go next time.  I love having these passes because it is great to have somewhere to go for just an hour and feel like I got my money's worth.

 

 Annabelle LOVES her sister.  Callie LOVES her sister.  They give each other the cutest hugs.  Annie always wants to take pictures together.  I thought this one was pretty cute!

THE Snow Fort

Here is what Greg and the kids did yesterday.  It was quite impressive.

 

 

 

 And after convincing them that they could not sleep inside the fort they settled for eating lunch.

Just a Couple More Days

I can't believe that Christmas is almost here.  It doesn't feel like it.  Everything is mostly ready.  But, I just don't feel as excited as I think I should be.  Oh well, I am the mommy and I suppose it is all for the kids.  I am excited to see them open their gifts.  Even to see Greg's face.  I hope that everyone is as happy as I was to buy the things for them.  Here are some more fun things we have done this holiday season:

 I am so thankful that Greg loves the snow.  He is out there again right now with the kids building and playing while I happily stay indoors.  On Saturday they built this snow mountain and the two snowmen.  Nathan was very proud of the one he did on his own.  Unfortunately it rained the next two days, completely destroying the masterpieces.

 Later on Saturday we headed to the big party we have every year with Greg's family.  It is always lots of fun.  This year we were even all healthy.  There are a bunch of cousins for everyone to play with.  Here the girls were all being spies and crawling under desks.  When I tried to get their picture they just hid.  Of course Annie gave me a big smile.

 Greg's family is a group of amazing singers.  This year we went caroling like they used to do years ago.  They all can harmonize and pick parts and, wow!  I love listening to them and pretending that I am helping a little. 

 With Pam's connections we always get to have our party at an elementary school.  It provides lots of room and fun toys for the kids to play with.  Here are some of the boys having a blast (I love that they are exhausted after all of this play.)

 

Callie was a trooper.  We had her take a little nap and she ate well.  She even let Grandpa hold her without crying.  Everyone kept commenting on how smiley she was.  Now she has a bit of a cold and isn't too smiley, but we know she'll be all smiles when she feels better.

 Grandma Pam made these fun pillow slips for the kids.  They were all really excited to put them on their pillows.

 Before Callie got her cold we moved Annie into the boys room for the week.  My goal was to let Callie "cry it out" so she wouldn't wake up at night anymore.  Now, with her cold, I feel bad letting her cry.  But, Annabelle is loving being in the boys room and reading with them late into the night. (9pm is as late as I am willing to go).

 Nathan would read all night if we let him.  I love that my kids love to read.

My cousin, Sarah, and I have been working on this project for most of December.   The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints puts out a magazine for kids every month and in the December issue of The Friend it had a cut out tree with cut out ornaments.  On each ornament was a scripture.  The idea was to read 1 scripture a day until Christmas and put an ornament on their little tree each night.  Wanting to make something spiritual that would last longer than one year Sarah and I decided to make salt dough ornaments that can go with the scriptures.  Since we didn't finish them until yesterday I tried to do the whole thing in 1 night for Family Home Evening.  It was getting a little long so we just let the kids hang the ornaments while Greg read the story of when Jesus was born.  My hope is to find a little Christmas tree that will be just for these ornaments and next year we will do it one a day until Christmas.  It was a long project, but really fun.  Growing up Sarah and I always talked about living close to each other.  I am so glad that it actually happened.

 With only a few days left I am sure we will have more fun adventures and happy and crazy moments.  For those wondering where our Christmas letter is and if you weren't on the list this year.  Don't worry.  I haven't gotten to it.  It probably won't happen this year.  Having my fourth baby has been all about letting things go if they are not necessary.  If you are reading this blog than you know more about my family than you probably care to.  You have seen picture after picture of the kids doing one thing or another.  We wish you the merriest Christmas and hope that you feel of the Savior's love for you this holiday season.  Know that we love and cherish all of our memories with you and are always wishing we could find more time to make more.  Much love, Greg, Emily, Nathan, Ryan, Annabelle and Callie.

Counting Down to Christmas

A few years ago my parents gave us a fun house with little doors to open until Christmas.  In the past we have put candy or scriptures or activities in the doors.  The kids voted to have activities again and so we have been busy.  Luckily some activities were things we were going to do anyway, while others I have to come up with.  Since I haven't blogged in a while here are a whole bunch of pictures of what we have done:

 We went to a live Nativity and got to sit on the camel.  Annie was a little hesitant at first, but then she wanted her turn.  Inside the church they had at least 100 Nativity's on display.  Some were from other countries.  My favorite was from Jerusalem and it was carved all out of wood.  We also picked up some Sub for Santa cards while there and the next day went shopping for the kids we picked.  Annabelle had picked a girl who wanted Barbies, it was a little hard for her to realize they were not for her.

We decorated a Gingerbread house.  The frosting was SO messy.  I had it all over my fingers.  Notice the top three initials on the house?  No, we are not supporting the National Rifle Association.  I hate guns and can't ever imagine having one at my house.

 We made yummy candy cane cookies.  At least we attempted to make candy canes.  The kids were having a hard time and were making just big globs, so I decided that since we were going to eat them all I didn't care and they could make whatever shape they wanted.

 This is Christopher Pop-in-kins.  He has come to spend December with us.  He is Santa's helper who moves around every night and watches our kiddos.  Then on Christmas Eve he will report back to Santa if the kids were naughty or nice.  They all love finding him in the morning, but Nathan is growing up and like to call him "Fake Poppy."  We try to tell him that he better believe or Santa won't bring him anything.  Luckily I found a cool website that has Santa send the kids a video email.  He talks to your kids and knows all about them.  Nathan was mesmerized, and so were the other two.  I think it maybe helped his believing, at least a little.   Here is the link: http://www.portablenorthpole.tv/home

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My kids LOVE to make snowflakes.  They are getting really good at the process.  Ryan brings them home from school sometimes that he made all by himself.  We also made the little candy cane reindeer.  Quick and easy is all we can do some days.

 At our church Christmas party Santa made a visit.  The kids waiting in a long line and were excited to sit on the big guys lap.  Callie even sat and didn't scream.  I love how excited Nathan was about the candy.  He is obviously growing up and know what the good part is.

 Every year Grandma Pam hosts a cookies with Grandma day.  She has all of the cousins (Callie stayed with us) and they make cookies, play games and eat lunch.  Greg and I got to go shopping and out to lunch.  It was a fun time by all.  And even though Callie didn't get the greatest of naps, she was great and loved those Red Robin french fries as much as I do.  I hated this picture of Callie but they were being stinkers and so we didn't take any others.

 The boys are both in piano this year and I have loved watching them get better and better.  Ryan played "Go Tell it on the Mountain" and "Santa Clause is Coming to Town."  Nathan played "Silent Night" and "Pat-a-Pan".  They both did amazing and we are so proud of them for all of their hard work.

 

 The library hosted another Fancy Nancy party.  Annabelle and I went without Callie this time.  We made these fun sparkly glasses like Nancy wears in one of her books.  Annabelle loves dressing up, and I love being girly with her.

At Annie's preschool she has color days.  Can you guess which day this was?  Annabelle wants to get as much of the color on as possible.  She is also wearing reindeer antlers if you look closely.
So, as you can see, we have busy getting ready for the upcoming holidays.  We have watched lots of Christmas movies and read lots of Christmas books and sung lots of Christmas songs.  We are continually reminding the kids about what Christmas is all about and the joy of giving and about the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  The kids love the story of baby Jesus and Mary and Joseph.  We are so blessed in our lives because of Him.  I loved how at church they emphasized to the kids that Jesus was a gift to us and now it is our turn to give him a gift.  Gifts of love and caring and serving.  What a special time of year this is.