Cousin Sleepover

After so much fun together at Christmas, The California Cushing's got to come over for a sleepover. At the beginning of the night the girls watched "Eclipse" together...I wish I had grabbed the camera for that one! It was a definate Team Jacob win that night. They were practically drooling and it was so funny to watch! While the girls watched that movie, Colton and Wade played BeyBlade's (they played that all weekend, another Christmas favorite). Then, just when I thought it might be time to settle in, dad got all the Rock Band gear out and the kids really went to it! They were singing so loud that at a little after 11p.m. it woke me up, and this is what I found.

That morning when Uncle Jason and Aunt Verity came to pick them up at 11:30 a.m. the kids were still in pj's - the sign of a true sleepover!
and I just had to include this...this is how Alex watches t.v. most of the time. If Roxy minds, you would not know it! She just loves her Alex!

Christmas Morning

First, let me say that I never get the Christmas tree surrounded by so many beautifully wrapped gifts picture - I think I am just too tired to think about it that early. This year, now that the kids are a little older we told them that we were going to get up at 7:00a.m. to open presents. They thought that was late, but when the alarm clock went off at 6:45a.m. not a soul was stirring - Everyone was still asleep, so daddy and I decided that this year we would do the waking up!

Here is a shot of Colton with his loot and new hat (to keep his ears from freezing!). The best gift so far has to be the snow scooters!Here is Alex with one of his favorite gifts - an easel and new markers/crayons/and paint. He loves standing in the kitchen, with the apron Grandma Cindy made with his name on it, painting all kinds of masterpieces!

Dad and the kids with all of their gifts, trying to decide what they are going to open next!

After Christmas morning at our house, we were lucky enough to get to go to Grandma Deb's to open more presents (spoiled kids - I know). This year we were so excited that the California Cushing's would be there to celebrate with us! It's funny to see how intensely everyone is focused on Grandma Deb...Could it be that she has control of the presents in front of the tree?
All of the kids getting a gift from Grandma and opening it...in her big new front room! After presents, we got to have a great lunch and visit with Grandparents and cousins. It was so much fun!

Trax, Clark Planetarium and Temple Square

Every year we try to take the kids downtown to see the Christmas lights at Temple Square and as a special treat - we ride Trax downtown. Alex especially loves the "train ride". This year we bought a membership to Clark Planetarium, which includes all of their shows, so we decided to ride Trax down to the Gateway and catch a Christmas movie at the Planetarium and then walk to Temple Square. I have to say I was a little hesitant to walk with Alex up to Temple Square, but it was a great adventure!

Here are Alex and dad cozied up on the Trax train ride.
All three kids ready to see the Christmas movie and check out all of the fun toys in the gift shop...Wow, they have some pretty amazing stuff in there - we literally could have spent hundreds of dollars on really neat toys there!
Some of the Christmas lights!
Dad and McKaleigh in front of the lights and Nativity at Temple Square.
A family photo. At this point dad asked the kids if they wanted to get some hot chocolate and pie at Village Inn, but to our surprise EVERYONE declined. It had been a really long day, and I think the idea of a warm bed beat out the treats!

Congrats Colton!

After much practice and hard work, I am thrilled to say that Colton has made it into the school Spelling Bee. There were only 3 kids selected from each class and we are so excited that he made it! Now he will head on to the big league school bee that will be held in January! We are so proud of him!

It's beginning to look like Christmas

Over the last few days we have put all of "Fall" decorations away and brought out the fun Christmas decorations. I love the smells of Christmas - especially the fresh tree. We get a real Christmas tree every other year...and this is the year. We have spent our evenings watching Christmas cartoons on tv, making gingerbread houses and picking and decorating our tree! Its been so fun watching Alex, because I feel like this is the first year that he really gets it all.

I am go excited for this season...the shopping, baking, love for friends and neighbors, lights, snow covered everythings, it really is the most wonderful time of the year!

Here are dad and Alex by the tree. I let Alex pick decorations this year and they are blue and silver with blue and red and white candy canes...and of course all of the kids yearly decorations. Starting with their birth, my mom has sent a decoration every year to each of the kids. It's so fun for them to look at all of them.
All of the kids and Rox, of course, by the tree. We tried to place the candy canes up high enough so she would not eat them, and rearrange our family room a little bit to make room for everything.
The finished tree. Alex actually woke up this morning after decorating the tree last night, wandered into the office where I was reading news and said..."mom, Santa did not leave the presents under the tree." I had to explain that he would be bringing the gifts another day...late at night! He will definately be one of those kids who keeps track of the presents under the tree!

Our Gingerbread town. Every year Grandma Deb gives us a gift for Dec 1st and this was it. I really like the 5 house town much better than the one big one. Everyone got to decorate their own house and there was no contention over candies, turns, etc... it was so great!
Tired kids after the festivities!