Merry Christmas!

This is the calm before the storm. Santa arrived and we made the kids wait until 7:30 to come down the stairs. We did enjoy torturing them a little making them wait while we put in our contacts and got the camera ready. But then the fun began.....

My mom always said it takes weeks and weeks to get Christmas ready and it is over in minutes. I know now how she feels. Our family room and house were so clean and within 30 minutes it looked like a tornado had hit. Megan was excited about her i-Pod and hair accessories.

Tyler was happy with his watch and Lego pile.

I love this reaction of Emily to her "giant" Webkinz and the penguin pillow pet. She was thrilled she had more stuffed animals to add to her menagerie.

The carnage. And to think it is only 8:00 am. We all had a great morning.

Tyler had a card table set up right after he got dressed to begin putting his Lego sets together. He wasted no time in getting into his gifts.

Emily and Megan ripped into their Pixos and Paperonis. We used to only watch PBS and the kids never saw commercials. They have branched out to other stations and suddenly want everything advertised. Tyler, Megan, and Emily are definitely suckers for the commercials----I guess I should say we are since we actually purchase them.

We all got ready and then headed to Grandma Grace's house for Christmas breakfast. I have been doing this my entire life and we all look forward to squishing into her basement and eating really yummy food. She even still buys presents for every grandchild and great-grandchild. I've lost count on how many that is.

Grandma and Megan after our tummies were full and the presents had been opened.

From Grandma's house it was on to Mammy's house for more presents. Tyler was in awe of Jeff's presents from Santa. Jeff got the Lego Death Star which is Tyler's dream. I told Tyler he had to be a lot older and his Lego sets were plenty for a 9-year-old. Tyler now gets the joy of watching Jeff put it all together.

Emily was in heaven when she opened her bumpits. If you haven't seen the infomercial, they are things that go in hair to bump up where ever you need more lift. They really do look hilarious in since you can see the plastic sticking out of the hair. Both Emily and Megan have been waiting months for these contraptions and Mammy delivered.

O.K. We are the epitomy of an infomerical family. Here the kids have donned their Snuggies. They were so excited to get them---and just for the record they actually use them. I have told them they can't where them outside as advertised on the box.

Megan and Emily with their bump-its in.

From Mammy's we left to eat lunch at Wendell's parent's house. They had a magic show by cousin Corbin, singing by cousins Chase and Cayden, and the Christmas story read by Wendell. We then all ate the traditional ham and potatoes for lunch. The kids always like comparing gifts and checking out the new goods everyone got.

And finally, we made it back home to have dinner at our house with Grandpa Tom, Jeff, and Mammy. Tyler was thrilled to get to work on his Legos again. The rest of us were happy to play all the new games we all got. A great day with family. I was reminded how blessed we are. Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve!

Christmas Eve finally came. For Tyler, Megan, & Emily it seemed like forever that they were counting down on calendars. The brownie elf comes to our house the last 5 days before Christmas and leaves something small which helped with some of the anticipation. We started the night at Wendell's sister's house for dinner and games. We brought the M&M game which the kids love.

We were at Suzy's house because Jeff had just had knee surgery and Chloe had just had ankle surgery. Their house right now is like a rehab center. Hopefully the new year will go better for both of the patients.

All the kids used marshmallows, candy, and toothpicks to create sculptures. They really got into it----the only problem was trying to determine what they had actually made :).

After Suzy's party, we headed to Mammy's to get exchange ornaments, play games, and earn our pajamas. In order to get their pajamas every year, Mammy has us play games to figure out which present is ours. This year we had to pretend to be Santa's reindeer and earn our antlers. Tyler worked hard at clearing the "runway of snow" with his nose.

After a lot of hunting, tossing, eating, and sculpting, we finally earned our ears and red noses. Jeff and Megan were partners again and were first to finish.

We then exchanged ornaments. Megan was thrilled to get a gymnast ornament from Jeff. Emily could hardly wait to give Mammy the ornament she had picked for her. Emily looked all over and found a dog in a cupcake and just had to get it for Mammy. When she handed it to Mammy, Emily told her the reason she got her the dog ornament was because they go to the pound together and Mammy never brings a dog home. Emily is so much a dog lover and really does ask Mammy to take her to look at the dogs at the pound.

New pajamas and reindeer antlers---must be time for Santa.

When we got home, the kids had to put out carrots for the reindeer on the lawn.

They hung up their stockings with care----

....and left hot chocolate, cookies, and fudge for Santa. What a fun night! We just love Christmas Eve!

Cubs & Chess

It seems like December went by in a flash because we had so much going on. Despite the parties, we still had pack meeting and cub scouts. The boys all got to paint an ornament at pack meeting. (Should I be so happy that most of them broke before they made it on the tree.)
Emily should officially be a wolf and a bear. She faithfully goes to all the den meetings and pack meetings. She never misses an activity and even does all the requirements. I don't think I could ask for a better assistant. Emily even will tell the boys to settle down when they get too wild.
Our other normal activity for the month was attending chess club at the school. Emily and Tyler have joined. Megan decided to join the running club. She doesn't have the patience the other 2 have. We're excited that Tyler is trying something a little social---well, that is if chess is considered a social event?.
Emily is just learning, but almost has the moves down. There are about 40 kids that show up twice a month before school to play. I guess the kids come by their nerdy-ways naturally. I'm actually helping with the math club at the school. Megan is just trying to distance herself from us as much as possible. Most of the time we are all so embarrassing to her. I can't wait for teenage years.

Christmas Traditions

I think one of the best things about Christmas is all the fun traditions that are so a part of it. One of our favorites is the annual trip to Christmas Village. I love watching the kids peer in the windows just as I did when I was little.

There are now tons of little houses all decorated in every theme imaginable. Emily always loves the toy windows and Megan likes to check out the houses that have naughty and nice lists in them. She has yet to find her name on either. I guess that is both good and bad. Tyler just insists on seeing every house.

He laughed that I made him stand in front of the soldier. Tyler told me he has a thousand pictures like this. I just said it is part of the season to have pictures taken continually.

The snow on the ground made the visit extra fun for the kids. It has been a lot of years since we have had a white December.

Another fun tradition is getting together with my roommates from college each December. This year we added to the tradition by riding the Frontrunner down to Salt Lake. We caught up with Alee and family in Layton and enjoyed the ride to Temple Square.

Tyler just loves riding the train.

Tyler, Megan and Tyler along with the Roberts crew. We walked around lights and then headed into the Joseph Smith Building for dinner.

The lights were great!

This is my favorite view---this is really what Christmas is all about. A reminder that our families really are eternal.

After dinner, the kids exchanged small gifts and then the adults traded white elephants.

Riding home after enjoying another great part of Christmas.

Christmas would not be complete without the annual bowling party with all of Grandma Grace's family tree. The evening always starts with bowling. Luckily we all stink equally at the game.

Tyler and Emily were happy for the bumpers.

Megan actually did break the mold and has a pretty good game. She beat many of us---which really isn't saying much.

After bowling we always go back to a church for the white elephant game and food. This year only the kids got in on the "Little Star" story. The adults needed a break from the junk this year.

Tyler, Megan & Emily were proud of their "white elephant" treasures.

And then of course Emily had been waiting all night for a special visitor. I bet you can't guess who she had just spotted. Yes, Santa always makes an appearance.

Megan is always willing to get on his lap for the gift he brings.

Emily just loves sitting on Santa's lap.

Tyler can't decide if he is too old or not.

Santa is just too nice.

Tyler and the boys got Nerf guns from Santa this year. They had a great time playing while we cleaned everything up. I don't even remember not doing this party. This is definitely as much a part of Christmas as stockings.

We were lucky enough this year to even have Uncle Eddie make an appearance. That completed the party.

And then, finally, what is Christmas without a gingerbread house. It makes a mess, but because it is tradition we have to do it. Yes, traditions make the season great!