Christmas Eve & Christmas Day!

We spent Christmas Eve at Dave's parent's home with his extended family. As always, it was really fun with games and great food. The grand kids always look so cute acting out the nativity. Except Hailey, who thought her adorable star costume was a torture chamber. There is something wrong with my good camera...it's been acting slow and blurry. 

I keep trying to capture a picture where all 4 kids are looking and smiling. Below is another attempt. I ought to let myself stop trying but, I can't. 

William, Andrew and Joe

 The cousins: Joe (12), Liz (7), Ashley (4), Hailey (2), Andrew (6), William (3), Callie (10) and Katie (3 months).  

Santa Came! 

I only decorate the top half of the tree on the years when we have a two-year old. 

Stockings too

Ashley woke up first at nearly 8am. She and I headed downstairs together. Hailey was talking in her crib next, so we brought her down and Andrew surprised us by sleeping the latest. He came down about ten after 8. They were all so excited! They had so much fun with their stockings and spent a long time with just those things, then we ate breakfast, then we invited Nana and Papa to come join us as we opened lots of presents. 

Of all the things they got Andrew's most favorite gift was probably the castle from Grandpa Bob. Ashley most loved her larger than life Rudolph Stuffed Animal and Hailey's favorite is probably her little buggy car. Runners up might be Andrew's bow and arrow set from Ashley, Ashley's Merida doll and Angus Horse and Hailey's pull along musical dog.

After that, we headed to Grandpa Bob and Bonnie's for more fun and presents. Then, a nice afternoon at home and Hailey even got to have her happy nap time. 

~

We spent Christmas Evening with Dave's family. The kids had a ball opening presents and stockings and being with each other. 

 Hailey got the world's largest pillow pet. Ashley got one like this last year but, Hailey's new dog is even bigger somehow! 

Andrew loves being with Joe! Andrew can't get enough of his older, boy cousins! 

Hailey and William: our thumb sucking, blankie loving kids! William is actually just 9 months younger than Ashley but, he loves to play with Hailey most. 

So lucky to have cousins. I'm so grateful for another wonderful Christmas, and especially grateful to spend it with our four children in these magic years!

The days between Christmas and New Years were sometimes a great rest from everyday business and sometimes sad and long, filled with sick kids and parents too. Poor Andrew and Ashley were pretty sick for a few days. Poor Dave rang the new year in all by his lonesome while the rest of the house slept. But, 2012 was a great year to celebrate and I just hope 2013 is more of the same! Happy New Year!

More December

One weekday in December we decided to go to Temple Square that night. I loaded the kids up and we headed downtown to pick Dave up from work, to save on time. Before I left the weather turned nasty and while I was driving it got worse and worse. We knew it wasn't the best idea but, we hadn't had another day to go and we decided to try. What amazing luck! It was cold but, the rain and wind completely stopped and we had decent weather the entire time we were outside. The best part was that the bad weather meant no crowds and we were practically alone! Here are some phone pictures. 

See, no crowds!

 Andrew and Ashley have shared their bed for a long time now. I usually make a pillow barricade between them once they've fallen asleep but, this night I forgot. 

Dave has taken Andrew and Ashley each skiing separately two times so far this year. Ashley has learned so much! She spent the first day refreshing her skills on the bunny hill and the next time hitting the big lifts. She loves it and it's really fun for me to watch her videos (since I won't be skiing this year with Katie in tow) and to hear how people gush over such a tiny little girl whooshing by. She has great turns and a great attitude. She seems to do especially well right after a hot chocolate break. Andrew is speedy! He won't wait for anyone, which is why Dave has to take them separately until Ashley is at his level. Dave took him to Alta and then Brighton. At Brighton they skied all afternoon and into the night ski time. He just couldn't get enough. He is fast and fearless, and if you don't remind him to turn he would just go straight down from top to bottom! 

Some Pre-Christmas Fun

Our first snowman of the year! 

(Not that I helped... it's too cold out there!)

A December Sunday After Church

Poor Andrew is such a good sport! He tries hard to smile even though he hates wearing church clothes one extra minute and he is stuck holding the crying baby!

Playing games at the annual Grandpa Bob and Bonnie Christmas Party

I always say it and it's true - My kids LOVE their cousins

The cousins in their new jammies

Mac, Damon, Ashley, Andrew, Ethan, Katie, Adam, Hailey and Alyssa

Making our Gingerbread Christmas Tree that looked more like a volcano!

Random Cutes: Katie fell fast asleep laying on Ashley's Giant stuffed dog named Hawkeye

After Church on the last Sunday before Christmas - my precious, precious little ones

Even the babies smiled for this one

Zonked out on a lazy Christmas Eve afternoon

Happenings Lately with the purse camera

Dave's work party was at the Gorgoza Sledding Park again this year. It was so much fun and such a perfect warm night! We left the baby girls home and had a blast with the big kids. This year Ashley was brave enough to go on the biggest hill, though she wasn't quite up to the height requirements, luckily, they don't check. Most of the time a family holds on to each other's tubes and go down as a group, which is what makes it so fun. Andrew cracked us up by wanting to go on the biggest hills all alone several times. Talk about growing up.

 The real Santa and Mrs. Claus visit this party each year, while all the other Santas we see are regular people in costume. It is always such a treat to visit them after hot chocolate and such.  

Andrew and Ashley took a session of swimming lessons at the rec center with Andrew's friend Luke too. The lessons were about the worst possible instruction I could imagine but, in these cold months it was great to get out of the house, have fun in the warm water and get a little exercise too. These pictures are so bad because the pool is so warm it's a steamy sauna for everyone not swimming and their cameras too. 

 The very best part of the lessons was that they were at night and Dave could come after work and swim with Hailey most of the time. She was timid to start but, by the end she was having fun in the water and getting more comfortable, so long as she didn't get cold. 

The best part was definitely open swim

 And the big slide that Andrew can go on now. 

 And...Andrew started Jr. Jazz Basketball. Dave is the coach and we have a great little team made up of Andrew's buddies. So far it's total chaos all through the gym but, they are learning a bit and having a great time too. Here they are working on a passing drill; Andrew is in the red shorts.