Christmas Festivities!

Lots of fun this Christmas!  We got to spend the weekend with both families!  It was our year with the Johnsons so the majority of it was there, and then Sunday all of the Poulsens got together for a gift exhcange and gifts from Grandma and Grandpa Poulsen!  Here is an overview of our wonderful holiday! 
Christmas Program at the girls' school:

Mexican Food night at Wayne and Dora's-Everyone made a mexican dish and it was quite a feast (this is a portion of it!  The other cupboard was full as well:

Bryce and his cousins enjoying our yummy mexican food:

More cousins enjoying their feast:

This year we just had the cousins exchange gifts.  Crazy, goofy girls ready to open presents:

Grandma and Grandpa Johnson gave all of the kids a candy lei and told them the rest of their present would come after all of the adults got back from Hawaii.  They want to buy all of the grandkids something in Hawaii.  Here are the kids with their Hawaiian candy leis.  Tyler, Parker, and Conner:

Lindsey and Malorie:

Bryce and Carter:

We also enjoyed a little sledding at "Boy's Town" while we were at grandma's:

Christmas Eve brought the traditional gingerbread houses.  This is one of my kids' favorite parts of Christmas.  Some of us did it as teams and some worked alone.  Here are the results.  Brett:

Tiffany and Kallie(the love shack):

Conner and Bryce (Santa's workshop):

Malorie (the elf house):

Mitch and Tanner:

Cari and Alexa:

Lindsey:

Justin and Natalie (getting a little carried away with the icing-haha!):

Christmas morning was fun at home.  The kids woke up about 7:30.  They have to wait until everyone is awake and then line up youngest to oldest and can go out and see what Santa brought after Brett has got the video camera ready and make sure Santa really came.  This is what we found from Santa (plus a couple of little gifts to each person with their stocking).  Conner-Big Game Hunter for the tv:

Malorie-Littlest Pet House:

Kallie-Barbie Doctor with babies:

Bryce-Truck and trailer with a little ranch set:

Brett and Tiff-Warm big blankets:

Here are the boys enjoying a mean game of Big Game Hunter:

We also got a foosball table for our basement as a family gift:

Each year we draw names in our little family.  We have a $5 limit and the kids love finding a gift for someone else.  Here is what was given:  Brett had Bryce.  He got two hotwheels and snowman cotton candy:

Conner had Kallie.  She got a scarf, lip gloss, and clip-on earrings:

I had Malorie.  She got 5 pair of earrings and a calendar for her room:

Bryce had Conner.  He got a calendar, sweethearts, and bullets for his nerf guns:

Kallie had me.  I got red fingernail polish and M&Ms:

Malorie had Brett.  He got a pillow and mints:

Sunday we went to my parents' home after church.  We had yummy soup and did our exchange gifts.  Lindsay's family had us and everyone loved what we got from them!  Thanks Rob and Linds and girls!  Grandma and Grandpa Poulsen gave all of the adults fun gift cards for a date night!  It was awesome!  Here are the kids ready to open their presents from Grandpa and Grandma. Ready, set, go!

Cute blankets and stuffed animals for the little ones and big warm blankets for the big kids:

Also, cute pjs for all of them!

What a great Christmas and a wonderful time of the year to reflect on the birth of our Savior, to learn to give to others, and be with family!  Two more days and Brett and I are off to Hawaii for 10 days with the Johnson adults!  My parents are terrific people to keep our kids while we are gone!  Hope everyone enjoyed their holiday!

Naughty or Nice?

Who's been naughty or nice?  I guess we will see in 4 days!
The girls' school had a Polar Express activity last week at school.  All of the kids got to wear their pajamas and the principal read the "Polar Express" book and gave each kid a "train ticket".  Then Santa came and brought them all a bell and told them 3 rules he watches for all year long...

• 1.  Brush your teeth every day.
• 2.  Share and be nice to others.
• 3.  Listen to your parents and teachers the FIRST time they ask!

Kallie KNOWS that was the real Santa that came to her school.  She shook her bell all day long and said "I BELIEVE!"

She keeps reminding Bryce if he fights with her Santa will bring him a lump of coal!
We had a ward Christmas party and our Orr Christmas party this weekend!  Santa came to both!  The kids loved sitting on his lap and telling him what they want and letting him know they have tried their best to be good this year!
Conner..."Yes Santa, I am still going to sit on your lap this year!  I have tried to be good most of the time and you can just surprise me this year!"

Malorie..."Santa, I would like a Littlest Pet House and maybe some littlest pets if you have some of those to go with it!  Oh, by the way I LOVE chocolate!"

KAllie..."All I want for Christmas is my 6 front teeth so I can chew carrots...oh wait, I can still chew them with my back teeth!  Never mind Santa, I would like a barbie doctor that comes with little babies and a rocking chair to rock the babies in and a little bed to put the babies in!  I have been counting down the days!  I am SUPER excited!"

Bryce..."I will try to be as big as I can be and not cry on your lap! Okay Santa, I have been telling my parents that you can surprise me and get me what you think I would like.  But now I want a remote boat with little jeeps in it.  I haven't seen one anywhere, but maybe you can find one.  I guess if not then you can bring me what you think I would like!"

Bryce..."Hey look Mom, I did it!  And I didn't even cry!  Now can I have my bag of candy and get off of his lap?"

Bryce..."I can't leave this stage!  Santa is fascinating!  I wonder if any of the kids will cry when they get on his lap!  I am going to watch some of my cousins and see!...

Bryce..."Nope, Lizzie didn't cry, but she sure doesn't like Santa!"

Bryce..."Nikida must be big...she didn't mind Santa at all!  Good thing I didn't cry...I am bigger than her!"

Bryce..."Taylie is NOT a fan of Santa at all!  Poor Taylie!  I should go give her a hug...well, maybe later!  I like watching Santa and the kids on his lap!"

Bryce..."I already sat on his lap last night mom and told him what I wanted!  Why do I have to do it again?  Fine, I will do it for the candy!  Look I made it again without tears, even though my heart is beating a hundred miles a minute!"

Merry Christmas everyone!