The Sunday after Christmas

GOTTA LOVE NEW CHRISTMAS DRESSES!

My girls LOVE theirs!!!!



Christmas Day!!!

After our Christmas Eve festivities ended, we rushed home and quickly put the girls to bed.

It took them all but 5 seconds to fall asleep.  Lucy even less!

And because Santa had done his work prior to Christmas Eve, delivery and set up were a cinch.

 

On Christmas morning the girls woke up, (we actually woke them up!) to this....

They were SUPER DUPER excited!

The girls have absolutely loved their kitchen!  Thanks Santa!
 

Once the initial shock and excitement of their new kitchen wore off, we loaded up the rest of the presents and headed to my parents house again to open them up.  But not before taking a picture in front of the tree!
 MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

It was a total last minute decision, to take the presents to my mom's, but we're glad we did it. 

It definitely made the present opening last a whole lot longer.

 

Just look at this crowd!

 One thing about opening the presents all together is that it takes a long time to get back to your turn.

The girls did amazingly well at waiting for their turn.

 I guess except for Lucy that is.  But she was having problems no matter whose turn it was.

She was just plain miserable!

 We made a huge haul this Christmas and appreciate all who gave and sent us gifts.

 

 After the presents were all opened, we had a yummy breakfast of cinnamon rolls and wassail!
We then headed back to our house where...
Lucy took a nap!  Thank goodness!
Mark, Hannah, and I played a couple of rounds Cooties and Guess Who!
(Abby stayed at Grandma's and played with her doll!)

For dinner, it was back to my parents!
We played some games and broke out RockBand!
That's right.... ROCKBAND!

 Starring: Grandma Lisa as Lead Vocalist
With Grandpa Broc, Abby, and Hannah as back up singers!

 Hilary on the guitar!

 And Abby as back-up Drummer!

Can't get much better than the family LITERALLY rocking out to the Beatles!

Talk about ultimate bonding!

 

CHRISTMAS DAY WAS AWESOME!!!!



Christmas 2012

So far we've have had a wonderful Christmas Break, How about you?

 

Ideally, we would have been in California celebrating Christmas.  I LOVE going to California for anything!

But due to circumstances beyond our control, we ended up staying home.

I was SUPER BUMMED!  Not going to lie!

 However, despite the original dissapointment, this Christmas has been one of the best since my childhood.

 

And although it would have been so great to celebrate with the family we don't get to see everyday (Miss you guys!),

We do appreciate the family we have close that can make the holidays special..

 

Here's a few of the things we've done to make this break an awesome one!.

(We have partied hard this week, so it may involve a few posts.  Just saying!)

 

AUNT HEIDI'S ANNUAL SPEEPOVER

It all began last year when Aunt Heidi decided to have a sleepover with her nieces. 

They had such a great time, it's kind of turned into an annual thing.

This year after dinner, they decorated cookies...

and watched movie...after movie...after movie!

  They were waiting for a surprise to come and had to do something to stay awake.

The surprise turned out to be my brother, sister-in-law, and nephew Broc.  Couldn't have asked for anything better.

 

The girls absolutely LOVE their sleepover with Aunt Heidi (they were packed for a week!)

And are already planning for next years!

 

While the older girls were gone, we took the opportuntiy to prepare a little for Christmas!

Santa had an extra special helper this year! 

And a super cute little helper at that!

 

CHRISTMAS EVE

 We spent Christmas Eve at my parents house with all my brothers and sister and both sets of grandparents.  With it being a monday night, I wanted it to be special, so I sorta put myself in charge of the program!  I have struggled the last few years on how to balance the fun festivities of Santa Claus and such, with the spiritual side of Christ's birth.  I want the girls to have fun and enjoy Santa, but I want them to understand and remember the real reason of why we celebrate Christmas.  While reading one of my Christmas books to the girls one night I had a few thoughts on how to find that balance, so I read the story and shared my thoughts with the rest of my family.

And then we acted out the Nativity.

 

 The Production Crew

And the Cast!

A big thanks to all my family for being such great sports!

And a HUGE shout out to the rest of our family and friends we couldn't be with!

We love you and miss you!  Hope you all had a Merry Christmas!

Abby's Christmas Program

Abby had her Christmas Program at Preschool yesterday!

But I, like the idiot I am, forgot my stinking camera!  Dummy!

So when we got home I took one immediately.  

Abby did amazing, of course (and as her mother I can say that!), and absolutely LOVED every minute of it!

I am so proud of her and all that she is learning in Preschool this year!

Next time, I promise, I will bring my camera!

Heidle Hodle's Graduation!

My little sister Heidi graduated from College last weekend.  

I am kind of in denial about the whole idea of my LITTLE SISTER graduating from College.

Pretty sure I'm not that old!

Anywho,  She did it!  Heidi got her degree in Elementary Education.

Mark tried to talk her out of it, but she just kept with it.

I know she's going make a great teacher someday!

We were able to attend one part of the graduation ceremonies!

And after it was all done, she got attacked by some very excited little nieces.

They are so proud of their Aunt Heidi!

 I'm proud of you too, Ho!

Peek-a-Boo!

 Now you see her!!!

Now you don't!!! (And I promise, she's really behind there!)

Yep!  She LOVES it!

Gingerbread Fun

For FHE we decided to attempt (and might I emphasize ATTEMPT) to make gingerbread houses.

I saw this kit of four mini houses and thought it would be fun for the girls.
Super fun, Yeah!  But totally messy and WAY more difficult than I thought.
Next year we'll know better.   We're forgetting the frosting and using a glue gun!

Aunt Heidi and Hannah had the most difficult time!

After a few hours, loads of mocking (uh...Heidi), and tons of giggles, here's how they turned out!  Not too bad...

Well at least 2 out of the 3.  Sorry Heidi!