Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve, 2014. We made sugar cookies earlier in the day so that the kids could decorate cookies for Santa.  

I think the kids ate more than they left for Santa!

Although, by the time we were finished, Santa definitely was not lacking cookies!

I love his crazy faces.  He makes the best ones!

Ms. Durrant came from Green River to join in the festivities.

We also had Wayne and Suzette's family join us this year, which was so much fun!  It's so nice to be around family--especially at times like these!

Sarah decorated a snowman.  He's so cute!

Samantha played some background Christmas music for everyone to enjoy while the cookies were being finished up.

We had to take pictures of each of their creations. (With way too many sprinkles and candy on top!)

One of our traditions is that the kids get new Christmas pajamas.  This year the kids each picked out their own.  Lindey picked Disney Princess'.

Eli rocked the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles...emphasis on the Ninja.  He put them on and then crazily showed off his mad ninja skills by jumping, kicking and karate chopping.  We were laughing so hard!  I was worried he'd hurt himself! 

Micah picked Minions.

Zander picked out and opened Spider Man pajamas.

Morgan picked soft fleece pants with a matching monkey shirt.

Ian picked out camouflage shorts. (Yes, we know it's winter, and there is snow on the ground, but he insisted that 's what he wanted.)

Traditional pajama picture in front of the tree before we head out to look at lights.

After we finished looking at lights, we headed back home to open the kids' sibling gifts.  We started opening their gifts from each other a few years ago.  It made them more appreciative of what their sibling thought about and picked out for them.  It wasn't just another present on Christmas morning.  This year for sibling gifts: Ian had Eli, Morgan had Lindey, Zander had Ian, Micah had Morgan, Eli had Zander, and Lindey had Micah.

Lindey found Micah walkie talkies. 

Micah gave Morgan a little birdie in a cage. (She wanted real birds after moving by Aunt Suzy who has birds, but Mom and Dad said, "No!")

Her bird is motion detecting and will sing songs.  She was pretty happy with it and now thinks it needs a friend. Ha!

Morgan gave Lindey a Cinderella night light.  It projects Cinderella on the ceiling and changes colors.

Morgan also found her some accessories for her dress ups.  High heel shoes, necklaces, bracelets and rings. Lindey was very excited!

Ian had Eli and gave him some new Lego sets.

Eli had Zander and gave him a Dart gun. I'd say he liked it. :)

It was so nice to visit with family and to continue with our traditions. Happy Christmas Eve!

Christmas Eve

We've spent the last few years home for Christmas.  It got too hard trying to hide everything from the kids, it wouldn't all fit in the car anyways, and we wanted to start our own traditions with the kids.

One tradition we picked up from John's family is to make your own pizza in a pie tin.  The kids LOVE this!  we just have all the toppings in bowls on the counter, give them a ball of dough, and off they go!  John and I started combing ours in a small stone so they would fit better in the oven and it wouldn't take so many batches to bake. 

Morgan started by spelling Merry Christmas with cheese on hers, then after the picture, decided that she wanted a little more than that on her pizza. lol  Always creative, sis!

The first batch of pizzas in the oven--Yum!

 Christmas Eve dinner.  John's parents joined us this year.

After we finished up our last day on the Advent calendars , it was time to open Christmas Jammies!  We let the kids pick out their own jammies this year.  They all loved that.  We also surprised them with their own Pillow Pets.  These were a hit as well.

After jammies were on, pictures were taken, we loaded up in the car and went to look at Christmas lights.  We always put the kids in their jammies before we do this so if any of the little ones fall asleep while we are out, they are ready for bed.  It works great! 

When Zander went "shopping with a cop" earlier this month, he bought all the kids a mini electronic game that he wanted them to open on Christmas Eve.  John and I bought him one too (without his knowledge) so he wouldn't be left out.  It was very thoughtful of him. :)

Another tradition we started two years ago was letting the kids open their gifts from each other. We let them draw names for who they have each year (they don't want to rotate--they enjoy drawing and not knowing who they'll have each year. lol).  We decided to let them open them Christmas Eve so that it wouldn't be just another gift thrown on the pile Christmas morning.  It means a little more when they know that their sibling picked this out just for them.  They get to play with them until bed time, and it has been a really fun tradition.  Ian had Zander and picked out this spy gear kit for him.  Zander thought it was so cool!

Micah had Ian and bought him his own basketball and some slime in a tube.  Ian loved them both.

Lindey was cracking us up as she opened her gift.  She would rip off one little piece at a time and hand it to me.  Christmas morning will be fun with her! 

Morgan had Lindey and bought her a ladybug baby doll.  (the hat lasted about 2 seconds--Lindey doesn't like hats on her dolls. lol)

Eli had Micah and picked him out a lego set and a disc shooter. 

Lindey had Eli and helped to pick out some mini cars, and a bunch of art stuff-giant color pages, colored pencils, new watercolors, and a sketch pad.

Zander had Morgan and picked her out a new Barbie that came with a little baby doll Barbie.  She loved it!  It was perfect.

Then it's time to check where Santa is on Norad, and off to Bed! :) 

Santa Clause Is Coming to Town!

Santa visits the firehouse each Christmas Eve at noon here in Green River.  We decided to take the kids so they could tell Santa in person, since we missed writing letters to him this year.  We always go early because we'd rather wait for him to come, rather than wait in line for everyone else to sit on his lap.  As we were getting out of the car, I stepped on a lake of ice and down I went.  I was holding Lindey and the diaper bag, so I was having a hard time getting back up--lake of ice with no edge in site, people.  I had to yell at John to come back across the street and help me!  Other than being embarrassed, I was fine.  My right leg muscles were pretty sore for a few days.  I must have tried to catch myself on that side, or I landed on that side.  It was one of those--one moment you are upright and the next you are on the ground wondering what just happened. lol  John was snapping pictures with his iPod of Lindey and I. She is loving giving hugs lately and totally gives the best ones.  She's a good squeezer!

 This pic was right after Santa came into the firehouse.  He always comes on a fire truck with the sirens going so the kids inside can hear. :)  Kind of fun!  Santa always sings a song with the kids and tells a story before he lets them sit on his lap.  The kids love it.  The parents--ehhhh, kind of wish he'd just get on with what he came for. lol  I guess it isn't about the parents though. :)

Zander was first on Santa's lap.  He wants a Nintendo DS from Santa.

Micah also asked for a Nintendo DS.

Ian's wish list this year consisted of a Wii, an iPod Touch, a Laptop Computer...none of which he is getting. lol  Keep dreaming big, son!

Morgan wanted a Digital Camera--hot pink of course.

Eli didn't get a chance to tell Santa he wanted an Innotab.  Santa asked him what he wanted, and since Eli hestitaed for a fraction of a second, Santa asked if he wanted toys.  Eli nodded, got his treat and was on his way.  He was a little miffed that Santa answered his own question and, "I didn't get to tell him nuffing!"  Silly kid.

Santa thought having Eli on his lap with Lindey would make her feel a little more comfortable.

He was right.  As soon as she was alone, the crying began. lol

Thanks for stopping Santa! :)