Christmas 2013

Merry Christmas everyone!!  I've really started enjoying the traditions we have come up with for our family.  It has made for a fun, well-rounded evening which includes some spiritual moments and some great memories.  Each year we try to remind our kids just how blessed we are and try to do something for someone else to make their Christmas special as well.  This year, we didn't have to look too far to find out what we could do for someone else!

Sara was not supposed to have her girls for Christmas.  But with the help of a "camera", the girls ended up staying with Sara. ;)  Long story, but now she was left with no gifts and no plans for the girls.  My mom had gone to Nashville for Christmas so we took in our little family and did Christmas for them!

Christmas Eve we've been ordering pizza, and then hitting up a fun family movie.

When we get home, we read the scriptures and the account of Christ coming to the earth, and then we let the kids open one present.  This year, they all received nerf guns... which followed quickly with a nerf gun WAR!!!

 We had the kids all get ready for bed, but instead of going to bed we headed out on a Christmas Scavenger hunt which also included stopping at QuikTrip for some hot chocolate, and Christmas caroling to Randy's parents and Uncle Chuck and Mary.

 

 The kids all slept upstairs again.  Addie put in a school paper that we make the kids sleep upstairs so we can look at their Christmas presents first!  That made me laugh!  They actually started sleeping upstairs because on Christmas Eve because they all wanted to be together and of course always have a hard time falling asleep that night!

 I guess I didn't take a lot of pictures the next morning.  Ashton got a new jeep.  I went around to take a picture of her in it and while I was trying to go around she stepped on the pedal and it pushed me to the ground!  It was hilarious!  I wish we had gotten it on video.

Addie also got an electric vehicle, a motor scooter.  They are both pros already and drive them everywhere.

 After all the excitement we headed over to Grandpa and Grandma John's house for breakfast.  This will be a very memorable Christmas and we are truly grateful that we were able to do so much for our family.  It gave us the opportunity to be like Christ and make Christmas was it should really be about!  Merry Christmas everyone!

Tis' the Season!

Our Christmas Season always gets started with the ConocoPhillips Christmas party.  I love how they always go all out for the family and really make this a fun family event!

It begins with games and crafts for the kids, pictures with Santa and cookies for all!

 After all the fun, we get to go into the Auditorium and have a private concert just for the employees and their families.  We were entertained this year by an a capella group named Rockapella.  They actually used to be on the PBS channel with a show called Where in the World is Carmen San Diego?

    

 This year was extra special for us.  Our concert included an appearance by a special little 5 year old!  Ashton was asked if she would go onto stage and sing with the guys.  At first they asked for Addie because they were looking for someone a little older, but Addie said no way!  Ashton agreed to go but when they called her name out on stage, she hit the floor so fast to hide behind her chair.  However, when the guy came to get her she went up with him willingly.  They sat her on a stool and asked her a few questions and then began singing Santa Claus is Coming to Town.  When they would get to the "to town" part they would put the microphone in front of Ashton.  At first you couldn't hear her very well, but she warmed up to the idea and by the end you could hear her.  But you didn't hear "to town"... she was saying "tonight".  Everyone thought it was so adorable.  She was a star!  We were very proud of her! 

We also have a special guest that comes to town to help us get into the spirit of Christmas.  Georgey the Elf was back!  He is Santa's big helper who watches over the kids and makes sure they are acting good and stay on Santa's good list.  But he gets pretty silly at times.  Here are a couple of the things we found him in the middle of when we would wake up the next morning.  Rolling down the stairs, 

 taking a bubble bath,

 tea party with the American Girls,

building some snowmen, 

 and participating in a snowball fight!

 Each year I sign up to help with class parties, but I only sign up to help with one kid per party.  Ashton got the Christmas Party.  They decorated cookies and competed against each other by decorating their teachers instead of decorating a Christmas tree.

 I also took Avery to watch Mika and Sora in the Nutcracker this year.

The girls and I went to watch Avery perform a Christmas Concert with her school choir.

And we even got a little snow before Christmas this year!  Yup, I think we are all getting in the Christmas spirit!!