Merry Christmas - 2012

We definitely had a good Christmas this year!  After much excitement and waiting for what seemed like forever, the day finally came.  The kids anxiously went to bed the night before just certain they would never be able to go to sleep because they were just so excited!  But to sleep they eventually went and the next morning they were so thrilled with all of their presents!

I have to admit that I took very minimal pictures this year - but it was nice to be involved in actually watching them instead of worried about taking the perfect picture.  Here are some we took right after they opened their stockings.

Zach was thrilled about his new pocket knife and lego set.  Santa decided that maybe he was old enough to be responsible enough for a pocket knife - of course that was proven false a few hours later when he used it to saw into some paper wrapping instead of just peeling it off with his fingers.  The pocket knife is now in the garage awaiting him to get just a little bit older and responsible!  But he was excited none-the-less.

Hailey was excited about all the new earrings she got as well as the glitter headbands.  For some reason, Santa lost count as he was getting earrings and ended up getting her around 30 pairs!  Yes, this was one happy girl.  At least now she can't complain that she doesn't have very many!

Tate was happy about his cars and Sesame Street characters.  Show us what you got Tate!

Now show us again so that we can see your face.  Much better - except what are you eating?  Is that a sucker at 8:00 in the morning?  Guess he was excited about the candy in his stocking too!

After we opened up all of the other presents, we took some pictures of each child with all their loot!  

Zach got a kindle, remote control car/helicoptor, shirts, lego, gift cards, and much more!

Hailey got a kindle, princess skateboard, umbrella and rain boots, doll, shirt, gift cards, and did I mention a few pairs of earrings?

Tate got a basketball hoop, remote control Thomas train, TAG junior reader and books, tractors, and a table and chairs set.  (Notice the wink?  He's just learned to do this and I happened to catch it on camera - so darling!)

Yes, we had a wonderful Christmas!  There is nothing like watching your children get excited and enjoy Christmas morning.  We wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and hope it was good for all!

Temple Square

One of my favorite traditions around Christmas is to go to Temple Square and see the lights.  We decided last minute one Saturday to head up that evening to walk around and see everything.  We had dinner in Salt Lake and then rode the Trax train into downtown.  I'm always amazed at how much work goes into the spectacular lights of the trees on Temple Square.  I once heard how many man-hours it takes, and even though I can't remember the exact value, I remember it blew my mind.  Good thing I only have to put them up around my house!  But the effect is completely amazing.

Here's a picture of the kids in front of one of the trees.

At some point Tate wanted out of the stroller to walk.  After about 20 steps and getting surrounded by a crowd full of people, he wanted back in.  But in the middle of that, we did stop for another picture in front of the star he was so anxious to see (it's behind the kids at the top of the pyramid of stars in the shape of a tree).

After only about half hour of walking around, the kids were ready to go.  I think they were more excited to ride the train than seeing the light - figures.  Oh well, at least we can say we went to see the lights, even if it was more of a run-by than anything else!

Christmas Rice Krispie Trains

A few days before Christmas, Nana and Papa came to visit for the afternoon and evening.  Nana brought down a bunch of fun things to make a rice krispie train with!  The kids were so excited and couldn't wait to make their trains.  

Nana spent most of her time helping Tate.  He loved the M&Ms and wanted them all over his train!

Hailey was very methodical and did a bunch of different colors and put a bunch of different candies all over hers train.

Zach used only red and kept calling his train "bloody."  Ah, the mind of a 9 year old, everything revolves around gore and destruction!

Here's Tate with one of his all finished.  He was quite proud of it.

Hailey worked and worked and worked.  I think she was the last one done and far past the other two.  She definitely is a finisher.  All of her train cars were very intricately decorated.

Zach paused for a bit and then came back to work on his again, I had high hopes that he'd choose another color, but alas, he picked up the red and went back to to "bloody" decorating.  

The trains turned out so great!  Thanks Nana and Papa for coming down and helping us do such a fun activity!  We had a fun time decorating and eating them!