Merry Christmas!!!!!

Here is Kyle with his beloved crab leg. Kyle got me the Sony Reader (that you download books on). I am super excited about it and am looking forward to sitting down and messing with it! This kids got me some very nice giftcards to my favorite stores!!! Faith and Sawyer even put in some of their own money which I really thought was sweet because Faith DOES NOT like to part with her money! We got Kyle some odds and ends-he always get the short end of the stick on Christmas. I also got him the Andre Agassi biography that he asked for. Also, here are the kids eating their Christmas breakfast of donuts.


Faith received Zhu Zhu pets and MOST of the house with the attachments (only missing one thing). This was my challenge this Christmas. The pets I found hiding behind HSM Dolls in Target (by total luck that someone hid them and I found them). The one thing came from ebay and a few others from Utah and California that very NICE friends helped me get. Friends managed everything for me except for what I purchased on ebay and the pets. I am so thankful! Anyways, they are SO fun. I can totally understand the rage for them. Faith also received her much wanted Ipod Touch. She was VERY happy!

Sawyer got a chess set, legos, pokemon cards and some books. He has been asking for an ipod (we think only because Faith has one). We wrapped up (in the original packaging) Kyle's old one (which works perfectly). He had no idea and wasn't overly exctied about it. I am so happy we didn't drop the $$$$$ on a new one for him. Sawyer LOVES legos...A LOT!!



I think Eden was most pleased this Christmas. She received a HSM Schoolhouse and lots of American Girl Doll stuff. She really wanted matching P.J.'s with her doll. She played ALL DAY. She was re-enacting many scenes from the HSM movies with her schoolhouse!






Here is Bex with most of his gifts. The front of his P.J.'s say "Dear Santa...I can explain" These describe him perfectly! Eden got this little table and chairs for Christmas for her American Girl dolls. Beckett likes to sit at the table...often.


We had a wonderful Christmas! The kids were (mostly) happy. I am now sitting in the aftermath wondering where everything is going to go. All of Faith and Sawyer's things are pretty small. Eden and Beckett's things are larger and will require rearranging to fit them in. My parents were in Texas with my brother and his family so we just had my in-laws over. We always fondue yummy meat on Christmas Day. My mother-in-law does all the work, brings it here and sets it up. It is so nice. We would be ordering Chinese if it weren't for her (I did make a couple of side dishes). This year she prepared steak and crab legs. She marinades some of it and has dipping sauces...yummy!! I messed up some of the order on my posted pics...sorry. The kids exchange gifts from each other on Christmas Eve (which I forgot to take photos of).

Christmas Outfits

This is Eden "Happy" after church with her candycane reindeer her teacher gave her.

Eden was upset about something that morning-although I can't even remember what it was. This was her "before church" look. I have to add that she was still insistent that I take her picture. I am almost positive we had the same issue last year.

Sawyer being pleasant and looking handsome.

Faith being cooperative and looking lovely.

The "boys"...although Kyle didn't have a new oufit.

This was the best we could do of all 4 kids together...what a chore! Eden was still upset and Beckett wasn't much better.

More "Before Christmas Happenings"

Eden's school program was a couple of weeks before Christmas this year. The theme was "Twas the Night Before Chrismas." It was kindergarten and 1st grade together. They were recquired to wear pajamas. Here are some pictures of Eden with some of her friends. The one little girl is, Ava, her BFF!

This is our "MADE FROM SCRATCH" gingerbread house. I don't know what got into me but I decided I wanted to try and make one on my own. I even had enough dough left over for a dog house. It looked a little shabby but was better after the kids decorated it. This is the first one I have ever attempted and I learned a few things so next year hopefully I can perfect it a little bit.

Before Christmas Happenings

Instead of a class gift exchange this year, the whole 3rd grade raised money for Toys4Tots and then got to take the money earned and go shopping for needy kids. Sawyer's class went to Kmart. Sawyer's group had $30 so they had to use their math skills and see what they could get. I think they ended up getting 6 Bionicle's. Kmart had them buy 1 get 1 half off! It was great fun!

This is Faith (at her pre-Christmas Eve sleepover) and her friends decorating cookies!

I did a lot of baking this Christmas Season...not sure why because I am not good at it and normally really don't even enjoy it. But...I got this sugar cookie recipe from my SIL and it was AWESOME! I always avoid making sugar cookies because they cause me to swear (in my mind). These were SO EASY! They were like cutting out play-dough. If anyone is interested in the recipe, I am happy to post it. You don't even have to chill them first.

Pictures

We had these photos taken in October. I put them on facebook but thought I would put them on my blog as well.

Piano Recital

All three kids are taking piano now and they had a little recital last weekend. They did really well. Eden just started and has had only about seven lessons or so and I only got the 1st 1/2 of hers recorded. I was trying to manage Beckett during Faith's performance. You can hear me shushing him and trying to get him some food and attempting to record all at the same time. They have a wonderful piano teacher

Tree

We dug out our tree and decorated it on Sat. afternoon. It is very fun for the kids and as they get older we realize that we don't have to do much. They just take over and do a great job. I have been wanting to get a new tree for a few years now. I bought our tree when Faith was a baby for $35 on sale after Christmas. I longingly look at the really nice pre-lit super fluffy trees but each year after Christmas when they go on sale I can't stand to think of getting one. I get burned out. The tree box is held together by lots of black electrical tape (note the photo). Kyle and I actually laughed out loud when he brought it up from the basement. I also always want to buy new decorations but again...have trouble looking at Christmas stuff once it is over. I always think..."maybe next year." Our tree is covered in the kids ornaments-probably 75% belong to them. I love all their ornaments-homemade and bought. They get to pick out an ornament every year and they remind me of what they were "into" that year. Time goes too fast. I felt like I had just taken the tree down and we are already putting it up again.