Christmas Fun

Getting the Tree: We took a little trip to Days Market again to pick out our tree the week after Thanksgiving. We found a cute crooked tree and took it home to decorate. We made it a special night by getting some donuts at the bakery and making a little night of it. "O Christmas Tree" 

 Family Pic in front of the tree

 Blain hiding in the tires used to hold up the tree

 Say "Donuts!!"

Temple Lights: We chose a cold, windy, and rainy night to go see the temple lights in SLC with Em and Ted. We ate at Golden Coral first then caravaned over to temple square. The lights were beautiful and the special spirit you can feel on the temple grounds made the cold and wet worth it.

 Cotton Candy for dessert

 All bundled up in the Ergo 360 - so glad she could be facing outwards to enjoy the lights too

 Em and her family - Marie was so funny while we were taking this picture. She was doing a booty circle dance thing so most of the pictures of her were fuzzy but this one works :)

 Happy family and silly Chloe

 Daddy and Avenlea in front of the floating lights

Letters to Santa: The kiddos wrote their letters to santa early in December and have been so excited to see if Santa will bring them what they asked for! We made a little fire and let the letter go up to santa through the chimney and fire magic.

 Zeyta's contribution was sitting cute and quiet in the swing while we tended the fire and helped write letters ;)

 Blain wrote his own name and drew a picture of the Slinky that he wants for Christmas

 Two cute girls coloring their letters - when we asked Avenlea what she wanted for Christmas she said very clearly "ipad". That made us both laugh because Chloe piped up right afterwards that she wanted to change and ask for an ipad too. We had to explain that Santa only makes toys for kids.

 We took a video of each of them sending their letters into the fire

 Chloe with her letter that she wrote all on her own!

 Cute picture of her teaset that she is asking for

Fake Christmas: Since we are going down to mom's for Christmas this year we decided to do our own presents early. Last Saturday we let the kids open their gifts from us. It was a fun day and now they have been playing with their new toys and presents non stop.

 Love my family

 Chloe opened a trapper keeper for her papers and pens, a crimp and curl doll which she has already learned to braid hair with, an umbrella, emergency books, and a dollhouse with some barbies and a horse to go with it!

 Avenlea opened the dollhouse and immediately claimed the table and chair set for pablo, duck and elmo. She also liked the blanket that came in her doll carrier, a puppy in a crate, and a pink helmet.

 I got nate a pair of insulated much boots for hunting and a powerful corded drill. Nate got me an iphone which has been fun to use to take pictures because we need to get the number part figured out after going to Target for the starter pack/sim card.

 Blain practicing with his new roping rope and bull head. Nate has looked up a couple you tube videos to help with the technique and they both seem to be enjoying it. He also opened walkie talkies, bug catcher and bug books, and a dragon jewel

Custard: Our elf custard has been having fun this year hiding all over the house for the kiddos to find each morning. He has brought 2 new stockings because Blain misplaced is last year and it is Zeyta's first Christmas! He turned the babies' pictures into funny ones and even found a way to hang from the ceiling! Chloe wakes us early and comes in to tell us where she found Custard, and even Avenlea has found him first a couple times!

 Custard with his incriminating pen

Cute twinners!

We can't wait to head out to California for Christmas on Saturday!!!