Thursday, December 23, 2010

Christmas 2010

My kids got out of school on the 22nd of December for Christmas Vacation. The next day we headed down to Utah for a Christmas dinner with my family. Everyone was able to make it. We had the party at my brother, Anthony's house, in Roy, UT. This is us eating a delicious ham dinner. We ate to the glow of the fireplace and music in the background (on the TV ;) Thanks Anthony & Jeanie! We had a great time!
After dinner the kids dressed up for the annual Nativity. It's so fun to watch them even though some think they are too old to be participating anymore. Can you believe that? It's sooo much fun and you never out grow fun, do you?
Courtney & Alex make the cutest Mary & Joseph. Just look at how much they love their baby Jesus, awww...
Now these two shepherd boys don't look too thrilled about the situation. boo...
Now that's what I'm talking about... a look of wonderment and awe.
Family enjoying the spectacle...
Finally, the long awaited exchanging of gifts. What a way to end the party and the evening. We actually ended up driving back home late that night because we wanted to be home on Christmas Eve and Day. So that was the shortest trip we ever made to Utah, there and back in one day! But so worth it! Since we didn't get home until 2am Christmas Eve morning, we slept in and then Ron made us all a big nice breakfast. A little later that day, we went out for frozen yogurt at this new place we have been wanting to check out. It's called the "Orange Leaf" and it was really cool. Good selection and fun atmosphere. The kids all really enjoyed it. They especially liked the mural on the wall with all four high schools in IF represented on it with their mascots hiding throughout.
Afterwards we went and saw Disney's Tangled. Courtney and her brothers have been anxiously waiting to see this movie. But we decided to hold off and wait until Christmas Eve to see it so we would have something fun to look forward to and do together. I couldn't believe how busy it was that day! Every showing of Tangled sold out that day and on Christmas Day! It was a really cute movie. I thought it was funny at the end when she cuts her hair and it turns brown, Jordan said, "Why did she do that? Now she's boring!" He has a thing for blonds ;)
After the movie we went and saw Christmas lights at our two favorite houses. They put on quite a show set to music. It was awesome!
Then we came home and read a Christmas story that Courtney got the night before from her cousin, Ryan. It was called, "A Christmas dress for Ellen" and is told by Pres. Monson. I love this story and can never read it without getting too emotional, so Tyler read it to us so we could understand and enjoy it. Then the kids got to pick one present from their siblings to open and also a present from Mom&Dad which was new PJ's!
Once we were in our soft new pajamas, we ate pizza and watched "A Christmas Story". Then all four kids slept in Tyler's room on the floor.
They like to track Santa all night long and see each stop he makes around the world via the Internet. It's pretty cool. Tyler found the website a few years ago and the kids have made it tradition ever since.
At 5:00am exactly, all four kids came in our room, flipped on the light and started singing at the top of their lungs, "We wish you a Merry Christmas". Needless to say, it was a short night and I was kind of out of it, but I managed to get some pictures.
Notice it is still pitch black outside and we are all done opening presents and the kids are busy playing with their new toys. Tyler finally got his own cell phone. He swears he is the last kid at Sandcreek Junior High to get one! He was a happy kid!!!
He also got this solar power kit that you can make your own toys with. This is his creation catching some rays.
Now Jordan was on Santa's naughty list for a short time there, but he really put forth the effort and did some major sucking up in hopes for this new IPod Touch. He was one really happy kid!
He also liked his new snow flat hat so he can be a punk not just indoors but in the cold too! He also got these cool snow pants that look like denim. He has been wanting those since he saw the guys in the Snow Board Championships sporting them. Aww yeah!
He may try and be a punk, but he is still my sweet little Jordan!
Austin is always starving in the mornings. Good thing I set out our Christmas sticky buns the night before so they were ready first thing in the morning!
After his tummy was full, he enjoyed his toys more thoroughly. Jordan gave Austin a Flash flat hat so he could be a punk 2! How thoughtful...
But his favorite was this remote control that can go in the snow, water or just about anywhere and flips over and keeps going. He also got this fun ramp to go with it.
Courtney got an American Girl doll and a double stroller to hold her and her doll from last Christmas in. fun..fun..
She spent most of Christmas day listening to her new boom box. She has a few of her own CD's that she likes to listen to on my stereo in the kitchen. Mainly when I'm cleaning the kitchen and listening to my music, she asks to put her disney princess CD in and takes it over and never returns it. She just sits on a bar stool in front of the stereo and sings her little heart out to her captive audience a.k.a, me. Now she has her very own and can listen to it all she wants in her room.
She also got this pretty princess dress with a tiara and a mini matching dress for her doll. I have caught her several times looking in the mirror and twirling. What a girly girl.
I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas too!

2 comments:

The Freed Family said...

Looks like you had a great christmas. Courtney and her matching doll are very cute. That must be one of the just like you dolls from the AG line. Love the long wavy hair. You guys did tons of fun things on christmas eve. I think I need to plan that day out better.

Abby Annis said...

Your family is so cute! Looks like your Christmas was a lot of fun. :)

Love the look of your blog!