Christmas!!

Christmas morning is always exciting, loud and full of laughter! I woke up at about five thirty and just layed in bed and watched a Christmas Story waiting for my kids to wake up! They didn't even wake up till after seven thirty! What the heck! Without Papa here to get them up at six, we just let them wake when they wanted. haha... We told the kids they had to stay at the bottom of the stairs and sing Jingle Bells, that's how we would know they were awake! They sang their little hearts out while we waited for Josh and Ash to witness the main event!!

Grant got exactly what he wanted.

Aliya got something she didn't even know to ask for, but really wanted!! :) Santa knows all!!

Landon asked all year for a guitar for Christmas, but then when Christmas came around and it was time to write his list, he asked for a pocket rocket. I am not sure Santa even knows what that is!!

This was Penny's Christmas present. She is not allowed in our bed, but we came to check on her and there she was sprawled out on the bed looking at us with her puppy dog eyes. Not even Neal could resist!

Josh and Ash (and baby Ellie)!!

Nana and Papa got the kids Mario Cart for the Wii! Landon couldn't wait to play!

After our morning, we went over to Neal's Mom and Dad's and did all of our fun Christmas traditions over there! This was the only pic I got from their house! haha...

We then went home and I got to work on Christmas dinner! Jas and Katie got sick so it was just Josh and Ash and Neal's Mom and Dad!! It was a great Christmas this year! First one in years we have not spent with my parents. I was really sad and dreading it, but it turned out to be a great day!!! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday! It was a great end to a great year! Looking forward to two thousand ten where my oldest turns ten (AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.......) and my baby turns five (DOUBLE AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA). There are some possible major changes for our fam coming up in the next year. Very excited and very nervous at the same time!!
Happy Holidays!!

Christmas Eve!!

We had a fun little family Christmas Eve. We sprinkled Reindeer dust so Rudolph would know where to go and have something to eat while he was waiting for Santa!!

We checked Santa's exact location throughout the whole day on Google Earth!!

Got some stylish jammies from Mom and Dad and opened up our sibling gift!!

Grant made a special gift at school for his family and couldn't wait for us to open it!!

Made some yummy treats!!

Daddy read a Christmas story before bed. The boys made beds in Aliya's room and they had a sleepover together. So fun!

Wrote our letter to Santa and put out the cookies we made and some milk! Those sure look yummy. Santa is very lucky!

Don't mess with Katie!

On the weekend before Christmas I invited some of the fam over for cookie decorating and taco soup. Yum Yum!!

Good job Neal!

Like I always say, this is the little sister Aliya will never have! She absolutely adores this little girl.

Hi Trey!! I almost caught him looking at the camera to smile. Dang!!

You should be thanking your lucky stars we did not deliver any of these cookies to any of you! There was a lot of licking knives and sampling of cookies going on!!

Okay, now who are the kids in the house?? haha...

Don't mess with Katie!!

Snow!!

The kids trying to build a snow fort! It may take awhile!! :)

Snow angels!! They are having a great time in the snow!

Still Frozen!!

Tonight we went to The Festival of Lights out at Tuacahn. It has been an annual tradition every year since Aliya was little. There is a live nativity and a ride on Old Salty!! Sadly my Mom and Dad have not been able to join us the last couple of years, but we still have a good time even though we wish they were there with us!

Here's the gang! Frozen to the bone! We picked probably the coldest night! It started to snow during the show! Yay!

Pretty sure Neal can't make a normal face in any picture. It's his goofiness that I love about him!

Cute girls!!

I love these boys!!

Trying to stay warm!

We even saw Santa!!

Grant asked for a bike!

Caydence put in her request!!

See, I told you! All I wanted was a smile! :)

There is Trey's smile!! Love him.

Say cheese!

Haha...

This is the third try!!!

On the way to Tuacahn!!

Thanks everyone for coming with us and being good sports during all my crazy picture taking. I am trying to be better about taking pictures!!

Baby Bagel!!

I had the opportunity to go to Seattle to meet my newest niece, Mabel! She is absolutely adorable and beautiful and sweet! Misty and Ty did good! The kids were really disappointed they didn't get to meet baby Bagel (hehe..), but I was so thankful for the opportunity I got to spend some time with them. Lo and I had a great time together. That girl is sweet as sweet can be! I miss them already and can't wait till they come to visit!

Thanksgiving!!!

We had a great Thanksgiving. It's awesome, all I have to do is get my house ready for everyone to come and my Mom does the cooking. That's my idea of a great holiday. haha..:) It was great to have everyone over. We were missing a few, but we still had a great time with lots of food (my Mom outdid herself. So Yummy!), family and of course noisy kids, minus Grant who was sick with the flu :( !! Everyone always asks Aliya to sing, so of course she sang, despite the fact she gets so nervous in front of family! Two hundred people, no big deal, but a few of her family members and she is terrified. haha... Go figure!

Here is the gang!!

Pretty Mama!!

Ashley (in her comfy chair so baby can be comfortable), Katie and Caydence!

I kept trying to get Trey to smile at me, but he just wouldn't!! He has such a great smile!!

Tickling worked, but couldn't quit catch it on camera!!

Aliya and Caydence are always working on one project or another! Whether it be a play or some art masterpiece! They have so much fun together! She is the little sis that Aliya wants so bad!

Beautiful Alex!!

Grandma and Nana!!!

Aunt Jenny and Uncle John. Great picture!!

Landon and Papa having fun with the camera!! They take a ton of pics and get some pretty cool shots! Best pic of the day!

Landon is such a cool kid!!

We are pretty lucky and every year we get two Thanksgiving dinners. I don't have any pics from Neal's Mom and Dad's, but we had an awesome dinner with an awesome message!! The kids had a great time scooping up the leaves and jumping in them. It makes for a busy day, but I wouldn't have it any other way!! We have so much to be Thankful for! I have the best kids in the world. They keep me on my toes, but I wouldn't change them. I have an awesome husband who keeps me laughing!! Thanks to everyone for making it such a great and memorable holiday!