New Year's Eve

We had a really fun New Year's Eve this year. We ate munchies at a friend/neighbor's house with other friends.

 Then we went outside and hung out and played with sparklers and fireworks. We had no fireworks this past July because there was a ban since it was so dry with this drought, so people from neighborhoods and homes all around were going crazy all night.

 None of my kids burned themselves with sparklers this year. Yea.

 It was a perfect weather night too.

 The fireworks got really exciting when one tipped over and started shooting fireballs in all directions while we all screamed. Then Aaron kicked it away. It was pretty funny.

 After we got all of our kids to bed and others tried to get their kids to bed, we sat outside with our baby monitors on the driveway and had a fire and played a game. While sitting on the driveway some other neighbors set off some fireworks and one tipped over and also tried hitting us. Much excitement.

Such a bad picture with my phone...

 There were fireworks all around us throughout the night that people were setting off. It was fun to see them in the sky in all directions. At midnight we saw the best firework show. We stood in the middle of the street watching the sky light up for quite awhile in every direction. I tried to get a picture with my phone but it did not do it justice what so ever. And our kids slept through it all!

We stayed up too late. But while we sat out there with Jessica and Alma after everyone else left, waiting for the fire to die, we saw several floating lanterns (like the ones in Tangled). That was pretty cool. They were coming from the neighborhood next to ours and floating in a line over our houses.

A little extra

My kids have no idea what it is like to put money into these things.

 This was funny to find one morning...

 If Daniel ever sits down or lays down on the floor, or somehow one kid climbed on his back, then they all join in. Addie didn't jump on this time.

Bikers

Some of us got new bikes for Christmas and they were all so excited to ride bikes together. They did lots and lots of bike riding during the Christmas break. Even on the cold days. 

Parker also learned how to ride his bike with no training wheels. He just decided he wanted to try it. Staucie told him what to do and so he just did it. We are proud of our little bike riders.

 They love riding with their dad.

 Bensen is so happy to have his very own "big" bike.

Christmas Day

Yea! Staucie couldn't wait any longer for Christmas to come. And Christmas was on Sunday and church was at 9:00am so we went to church before opening presents. It was only an hour on Christmas day, but then we ran to finish our 12 days of Christmas before going home. Staucie was not excited about that. :) Then we went home and put our jammies back on and ran down the stairs!

 Addie was content to sit on her sit and spin. I got it from a friend who didn't need/want it anymore. Perfect timing for Christmas. She likes it.

 Addie and her loot. She loved her Gerber Puffs. She hadn't had them for months and pretty much ate almost all of them while we opened presents. We tried to put her down for a nap and she refused to go without her Puffs. Daniel got her to let him put the lid on though.

 Bensen was so excited about his gun. Too bad the picture didn't turn out and I couldn't get him to take another one.

Cheese.

 Daniel's parents helped us get this thing for the backyard. I wanted something that Addie could safely climb on. Someday we will get something bigger (Staucie). They do love playing on it in the backyard with the neighbors.

Bensen was so excited to get a bike! Daniel also got a bike and they all enjoyed riding bikes a lot together.

Staucie loves Clifford right now.

And she got roller skates! Yea!

And, yikes, it is us!

We had a lot of fun being together this year. It was nice and relaxing to be at home with only playing to do. I am grateful for the Savior Jesus Christ and this wonderful time of year we get to spend celebrating Him and His birth.

Christmas Eve 2011

We spent Christmas at home for the second time since we have been married. I was sad to not be able to go to my parents' this year because I miss them a lot. But it was nice to not have the stress of traveling. Daniel was home with us for about a week and a half and it was so nice to just hang out and play with the kids. It was a nice break for all of us.

On Christmas Eve we played outside in the morning while the turkey cooked. Then we had a turkey dinner with our good friends, Caleb and Tami and their boys (at their house). We had our feast early in the afternoon and they had the table nicely set with cute name tags. It was nice to have the meal with good friends and to have help eating the food since our kids don't care about it, except for the rolls of course.

 When we got home, the kids opened their jammies. They were very excited because they did not remember this from the previous years. 

 Addie would not sit with the other kids in front of the tree. She just wanted her daddy.

 And apparently, I was there.

We had baths and put on our pajamas so we could watch The Santa Clause and eat popcorn. We put out cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer. Staucie also had some reindeer food from school to sprinkle on the lawn. Then we read a Christmas book and put them to bed.