END...ice skating, LATE night, Christmas Eve & Christmas

25: CHRISTMAS has ARRIVED

This is where we will be for the next 8 days.  I hope the kids are excited.  They each received new luggage, new shoes and a new jacket.  I think it will be a blast!  Wish us luck.  (Thank you to the helper ELF for the letters and banners).

Love you ALL and MERRY merry CHRISTMAS.. xoxoxo

each bag is packed.. we are ready to leave.  See you all soon!

DAY 24: CHRISTMAS EVE

Today was a very busy day, but everything was accomplished. PHEW!  We had  Christmas Eve dinner with the Dunroe side at Shelly and Mike's house. Dinner was yummy and it was fun to just hang out.  The kids frosted sugar cookies and played together and then we did a present exchange.

After a few hours, we came home to do the new PJ gifts and the kids were dying to have Sean and I open the presents they had made at school so we did.  We also talked about the birth of our Savior and the real meaning of Christmas.  I love that they are starting to understand the true meaning, at least I hope they are. 

 READY FOR BED!!

 I sure love my little rug rats.

The school gifts.  Jayson has asked me several times over the last few weeks if I wanted to open his gift yet.  He could hardly stand it.  It was the cutest plate ever.  We are going to take turns eating on it.

 Rylee wrote her own Christmas story.  It was adorable.  I will have to journal the story when I have a little more time.

DAY 23: LATE NIGHT

I LOVE this tradition!! We are going on 4 years now.  On Christmas Eve EVE, we stay up until midnight: watching movies, and eating pizza, popcorn, and LOTS and LOTS of candy. Then, we all have a big sleep-over in the living room (okay, usually I sneak into my bedroom, but it is right there so I still feel like I am a part of the group :)  This year Sean introduced my kids to Star WARS.  They all loved it.  We watched Empire Strikes Back and they can't wait to watch the rest of them. We also watched a Christmas movie and Judy Moody.  By 11:30 Rylee was out and Jayson was struggling to keep his eyes open, but he made it until midnight. It is so fun.

DAY 22: ICE SKATING

Sean had sprained his ankle earlier in the week, so he hang out with Jackson in the bleachers and watched us.  The kids LOVE ice skating and are always so afraid in the beginning and then think they are actual pro's by the end. We had a great time!

DAY 21:  STORY NIGHT

I was gone to Dinner Group this night, so Sean read the kids a new Christmas Story.

Snowman, shopping, wrapping--repeat, game night

DAY 17: SNOWMAN

The kids made these snowman. They were so cute. Since we have only had one day of snow and couldn't do it outside, we had to improvise.  Sean and I were also able to sneak out and do some last minute shopping.  It was nice and the crowds weren't too crazy.

DAY 18: Wrapping & Visit with friends

We were going to go to Temple Square this day, but Sean's back has been sore lately (on the brink of going out)... so we stayed home and wrapped some presents and then had a visit with some friends.  I love the lights on Temple Square, but I'm not a fan of being cold!  Hopefully we can still make it sometime before Christmas.

DAY 19: Name drawing & Shopping

The kids love to draw names and shop for each other.  It worked out well this year because Tayler and Jackson have each other and Rylee and Jayson drew each other.  After Sean came home from work we divided up.  I took Jayson and Tayler and he had Jacks and Rylee.  We kept bumping into each other.  I usually TRY and let them find something and pick it out all on their own-- unless of course it is way expensive or something they secretly want, not necessarily the person they are shopping for (that did happen a few times).  Jayson would say "but mom, I really think Rylee would love this"  I just had to shake my head.  At the end we were successful and the kids are excited.

DAY 20:  GAME NIGHT

We delivered a few presents to different homes and then came home for games. 

 Oh MY.. Jackson's newest thing is picking his nose and here he is in all his glory.. we laughed so hard.  What a dork!  He also had to model this headband which is his new obsession.

 Jayson had a fun Christmas party at school today but when he came home he discovered that his reindeer ears had been mixed up with another little girls and he was so sad that it said "EMILY" and not Jayson. IT was a huge deal to him.  Thankfully, he has an awesome dad who made him a whole new set.  Phew.

It is crazy to me that Christmas is at the end of this week.

Hope your preparations are going well! xoxox

SNOW FUN, GAME NIGHT, COOKIES

DAY 14: PLAY IN THE SNOW DAY

It actually snowed-- finally!  My kids were excited from the moment they woke up.  Wednesday's are busy, but as soon as dance was over Jayson and Rylee suited up to head out and play.  We were all going to make a snowman, but Jackson had no desire to go out with them (he must be my kid).. so we stayed in and watched.  It was too dark to make a snowman, so they made snow angels and had a snow ball fight.  I am amazed how long kids can stay out there.  I guess if you are bundled up.

DAY 15: GAME NIGHT

Okay, I have to laugh that this was on the agenda for this night.  Last year this was one of our favorite nights.  We had a blast playing games together, but his year Tayler had a double header soccer game so I guess it was game night--just in a different way :)  She had a game at 5:00 and then at 6:30 so we did sneak out to grab a bite to eat together.  Tay's team completely dominated in both games.  It was fun to watch.  Sad that I didn't get any pictures!

We will have to do our REAL game night still before Christmas.

DAY 16: COOKIE NIGHT


I showed my kids a different variety of cookies we could make, and these are the one's we settled on.

Sean has been gone all week getting his coaching license for Soccer. I am glad he will be done after tomorrow.  It has been a long week!

I can't believe that next weekend is Christmas.

by Candlelight..

Day 13: Candlelight Dinner

Tonight was dinner by candlelight.  Tayler picked this as one of our activities and it sounded fun so we did it.

 I found all the candles I had and we left on the Christmas lights throughout the house as well.  Dinner was Chicken Cordon Bleu, rolls, corn and sparkling cider.

The kids were crazy and laughed every time they missed their mouth.

Jackson spilled his drink all over himself so that is why he is stripped down.

p.s. I have no idea what I was talking about last night (w/no snow in the forecast??)

We got a ton today!  It is a winter wonderland now. 

Tayler's 4th grade class is going skiing tomorrow for their field trip.  Perfect timing for the snow.