Dear Santa ...

The boys carefully planned out their treats for Santa this year. They were quite concerned that they didn't know his very favorite cookies so they opted for putting out a smorgasbord of options. They also included this bell that Connor found when we took pictures with Santa. The boys were getting into a bit of a heated discussion on whether the Santa that they had their pictures with was the real Santa or a helper Santa. They just couldn't decide. So when Connor found the bell they devised a plan to find out the truth once and for all. They would leave the bell for Santa and if he took it, then it was obviously the real Santa.
Thank goodness I was privy to their plans. Santa did indeed retrieve his bell and was even kind enough to leave them a note thanking them for returning it to him. It turns out it was one of Rudolph's bells and he had been missing it. Thank heavens it was returned!

Connor was thoughtful in his letter and made sure to let Santa know that Uncle Garyn would be there so to please leave him a few gifts, and thank you for the gifts from last year. He was so concerned with being polite and pleasing Santa that he neglected to ask for anything!
Gage had his brothers help, oddly enough I think there are only a few of those items that Gage actually wanted, the others he was tipped of on by his brothers.

Tate painstakingly wrote several letters to Santa, each one growing larger than the last. In the end he left out all three letters for him to peruse. He even, as an after thought, included a thank you on the last letter. But my favorite line is "I was good this time." Compared to last time?

When he was pleased with his letter writing he conceded to helping his little brother with his list. Gage's list looks a whole lot like Tate, just covering all his bases I think. I love Christmas with kids, it is so much more magical and I just love to see their expressions and joy in giving and receiving. Merry Christmas kids!

Christmas Eve PJ's

Each year we get new pajamas for Christmas. It was probably my favorite tradition growing up, snuggling up in my new warm, fuzzy jammies and spending all of Christmas day comfy and cozy. So our kids enjoy this tradition as well. We got home from Temple Square and they went running in to the house to find their new jammies. McCall really didn't care for them or the pictures, she just wanted to go to bed. So off she went while the boys posed away for the camera, they are getting more difficult to photograph - sneaky little bugs.

Christmas Eve at Temple Square

We did our annual trip to Temple Square to see the lights this year. Brrrrrrrrrrr..... I was surprised at how cold it was, this was probably our fastest trip to and from the lights. On the plus side, because it was so cold there were not any people out begging, doesn't that sound like the Christmas Spirit? We were all too cold to really spend much time. But it was fun to get there, see all the lights, but my favorite part are all the nativities. Gorgeous! And it helps remind us of the true reason we celebrate this season. Next year we will bring hot chocolate.
After the lights we gathered at our house to eat crepes. Mmmm, Garyn stayed with us for Christmas and treated us to french crepes, complete with berries, whipping cream and all the fixins'. I could do that again!

The Christmas Spirit

I am so very grateful for this time of year when we celebrate the Saviors birth and His gift to us. He lived His life for us and gave His life for us, that we may all live again with him eternally. I can never thank Him for all that I have been given and blessed with all because He was unselfish and loved me enough to live and die for me. I know He lives, that He loves me and through Him all blessings come. May we all remember the reason for this season and take time to give thanks by reaching out to others, taking time to teach our children, family and friends of Jesus Christ and how He chose to live His life to lead, guide and direct ours.


The Christmas Spirit

Family Christmas Pictures

Wow, why are kids so hard in pictures? I love doing family pictures, but inevitably at least one child is un-cooperative. In our case, we had four. Connor couldn't seem to keep his hands still and out of his sweater. Tate fell asleep on the way to do the shoot and when he woke up he was NOT happy at all. It took quite a while for him to warm up and actually smile. We won't tell you the threats that were made! Gage couldn't sit still for the life of him, if you can see all the pictures like a movie it would appear the child is dancing. McCall was cold and grumpy and didn't want to look at the camera or smile - but given the circumstances I was so pleased with how the pictures turned out. Emilie is the best!

Gingerbread Mania

We had so much fun making gingerbread houses. This year each of the boys got to make their own, still undecided on whether this was a good idea or not ... but fun nonetheless. Tate was the most meticulous as always. Connor was interested in making patterns and eating. Gage just wanted to see how much candy and junk he could possibly fit on his before it collapsed. Wow, those things can hold a lot of sugar!

McCall was already in bed for the night so I attempted to make hers, I had special pink candies and everything. In my mind it was going to be the cutest gingerbread house ever, and it was - but only in my mind. Ryan assembled it for me as I helped the boys out with theirs. Then I started decorating - cinnamon toast crunch shingles for the roof, pink m&m walkway, wreaths in the windows, icing icicles, such a beauty. In the middle of my decorating Gage paused from stuffing his face with candy and belted out, "Mom, your gingerbread house looks like a disaster!" For the life of me I could not understand what he was talking about, I thought it was looking good!

At that point it was time for the kids to get to bed. We tucked them in and did our nightly routine and Ryan and I headed back out to the kitchen to clean up the mess.

Lo and behold my gingerbread house had split in two and really was a disaster. Not sure how that happened, perhaps the superior engineering by Ryan?

Santa Claus is coming ...

Well, actually he already made it! The boys were so excited to get to see Santa and let him know what they are hoping for under the tree this year. McCall was not so very excited! She threw a fit and cried the whole time, so not a lot of pictures of her this year :)
Connor was VERY observant trying to find out if this was the real Santa or just a helper. In the end he just couldn't decide! He noticed this Santa did not need a pillow to stuff his suit, he DID have blue eyes, but the beard was fake ... hmmmm... his little mind was just a working. He watched very carefully when Santa left to see how he left, but Santa eluded him and left without a trace - which led to him finally deciding that it must be the real Santa and that his sleigh must have been up on the roof the whole time and he snuck away on it.
I love the believers!