Christmas Morning

We had a very fun Christmas. John loves this holiday and he does everything he can to make it memorable - thanks for all your hardwork John - I love you.

Jack loves all things legos and he got plenty of them this Christmas.

Jacee is starting to transition from toys to clothes and older things for Christmas...I'm not ready for this!

Maddie with her new purse/shoes/headband/outfit/doll.

BonJovi tickets baby!

Christmas Eve Tradition - it's official

We have now had our Christmas Eve Tradition of making "gingerbread" houses for three years in a row - so it's official - it's a tradition!

Grampa Brent was able to make one with us this year. Luckily our kids care more about the making part because the eating part was out this year - the candy was a year old! Still fun and oh so cute.

Christmas Picture

Here is our annual picture in front of the Christmas tree. I must say - Love my kids!

Reindeer

We went to Thanksgiving Point this year to see the Light Extravaganza and to feed the reindeer.

Even though the children called them, held out straw and food pellets - the reindeer would not come to them.

No worries because we got to go to the bakery afterwards for ice cream and hot chocolate floats.

Luckily it was very warm inside and the ice cream tasted yummy.

Jack showing off his missing tooth.

Even now, when I look at the following picture, I burst out laughing. It is the best timing I have ever had in my life. Right when I snapped this, both Jacee and Maddie started to sneeze. Priceless!

We had a great night and is now on our list of new Christmas Traditions - we'll see if we make it two years in a row!

Trim the Tree

This is just going to be an overload of pictures of the night we trimmed our tree. It is so fun that the kids are old enough to remember our ornaments and get excited when taking them out. Wow - we are the parents creating the traditions for our children. Will our children think it just happened or will they realize we do it consciously to help create lasting memories for them. As a child I thought it all just happened - now I know how hard my parents worked to make a wonderful life for us. Thanks mom and dad.

Mr. and Mrs. Clause - as Jack put it.

I want to kiss you Mrs. Clause!

Stockings go on feet of course!

Luckily we have just enough for every one to have a pair.

And a tree skirt...

...perfect for twirling.

Yep, this one too.

Our special ornament. It is the last one we put on right in the front and center of our tree - it was Jack's turn this year.

Maddie has broken more ornaments than the other two combined - I think we've talked about it so much she would only put on ornaments that wouldn't break - which isn't many on our tree.

Jack was quite particular when placing his ornaments.

Jacee was in charge of it all!

I love this one. He is such a sweetie.

Now that the bustle of the holiday season is over - I can sit down, go through some pictures and blog - more to come!

A Cousin Christmas

WARNING: If your name is Jennifer Brewer - STOP reading now!

Boy, I wish our family liked each other. If they did, we might get together the first week of December for our annual Cousin Christmas Party.

If we liked to be together, we might compare how big the kids are getting - even outgrowing their moms.

If we liked each other, there might be some smiling.

If we liked each other, we might enjoy being with three generations under the same roof.

If we liked each other, we might enjoy sharing our sugar cookie masterpieces.

If we liked each other, we might let the little ones use almost ALL the sprinkles on one cookie.

If we like each other there might be kissing and frivolity in the kitchen.

If we liked each other, we might smile instead of look tired and grumpy (just showing you it wasn't all fun and games Jen).

If we liked each other we might like to listen to stories about how Grama stole Ricey in the fourth grade when his girlfriend was out of town.

If we liked each other, we might not care who looks taller in all the pictures.

If we liked each other, there might be some hand holding in front of the Christmas Tree.

If we liked each other, we might be happy whenever anyone gets a 12 during the Christmas Tree Game.

If we liked each other, we might like to get close for pictures.

If we liked each other, we might not eat our cousin's m&m's.

If we liked each other, we wouldn't have spent so much time in the garage trying to bust open the holiday burrito/submarine (can you guess this is what Uncle Steve was in charge of - notice the array of weapons to choose from behind Jack.)

If we liked each other, we might take a break from frosting to smile for yet another picture!

And if we liked each other we wouldn't compare what hot chocolate mix-ins were the best (hmmm, no pic).

Yep Jen, we just want to assure you that we don't like to be together and party was no fun at all!

A New Tradition

I think we've started a new tradition of "Gingerbread" Houses on Christmas Eve. We've done it twice now, so I'm counting it as a tradition. Jacee is very creative and has alot of intricate ideas.

Jack wanted it to be realistic - he had trees out front, a sleigh and santa and a doorknob.

Maddie was pretty funny. She discovered that the inside of her house was hollow so...

...she could fill it with candy! Once she found that out - the decorating was over and the hoarding began! She did fill it to the top and then she could lift a corner of the house and sneak a piece of candy to eat whenever she wanted. Worked out rather well.

My New Favorite Christmas Thing

I have a new favorite Christmas tradition - and it may be hard to beat in the years to come...just prepping myself that it may not get any better than this...

We might have "borrowed" my mom's mistletoe that has been hanging in the house in Burley since I can remember. We hung it up and explained to the kids the tradition of getting a kiss if you are standing under the mistletoe.

Well...now, multiple times a day, Jack will stand under the mistletoe and call out, "Mom - I'm look where I'm standing!" And I promptly drop whatever I'm doing and run over and give him a kiss. I love this little guy!

A Christmas Gathering

We're pretty lucky to have an ok family - ok they are pretty GREAT! I love getting together with them. We had a little impromtu gathering because Michelle and the kids were coming to town (no, she is not Santa...) and so we - gathered! The first pic is of the now famous Christmas Burrito. You just never know what Uncle Steve is going to come up with...it is usually fun, loud, a bit rowdy, and the favorite of the night.

Here is Michelle withe new little Lizzy Beth (Elizabeth Brinn). I can't believe how small Lizzy is at a month old and how great Michelle looks - some things in life are just not fair!


Jacee and Maddie decorating the sugar cookies. Good think we were at my house this year because it was just a free-for-all with the sprinkles!

Uncle Steve and our "tween" McKell. He is always pesting someone!

Wy-honing with her cookies. She loves coming to her Aunt Julie's house!

The big girls were the first to finish decorating and the first to finish eating!

Like I said - free-for-all with the sprinkles. I'm pretty sure there are cookies in there somewhere...


The obligatory group shot.

And the crazy group shot in front of the tree. Thanks everyone for helping and contributing the a great conversation! (PS - Jen it wasn't that great of conversation - in fact in was quite boring - you missed nothing!)

Jen happened to call right when we were all getting together - she only called four more times during the next two hours!