Christmas activities

This year we went for a ride on the Santa Train in Boulder City.  Mark of course Loved all the extra attention!  It is interesting to see all the things they have for people in wheelchairs.

 They had a fun Santa and Mrs Claus.  Everyone who works on the Santa Train are volunteers. It only runs for two weekends and you have to get your tickets weeks in advance.

 This is the picture we sent out in our Christmas cards.  Everyone looked at the camera and looked somewhat decent. Miracle!

 We have had the funnest time with this little guy this year.  We bought him at Hallmark and he comes with a book explaining what he does.  He is an elf who watches what the kids do during the day and then flies back to the North pole and reports to Santa on how the kids acted.  So every morning he's in a new place and the kids have to find his new watching place.  When you get your new elf you have to decide a name for him, let me introduce you to Frank the elf.  I have never laughed so hard as the first time Tyson prayed at the dinner prayer that Frank will tell Santa that they've been good.

 I took it a step further and had the elf bring a surprise for the kids each day.  I only brought him and the surprises out for the twelve days of Christmas.  I had bought tons of crafts and activities for the kids last year on 90% clearance, so each morning the kids would find the elf and the craft he brought for them right below him.  The kids would make the craft and then run over to Frank and show him.  He became a very special person in our house.

 We made snow globes, posters, pixos, zuber, play doh, necklaces, ornaments and 4 sets of foam scenes.  It was really a ton of fun.  Our morning routine was: find the elf and immediately do a fun craft.  Then, eat breakfast.  The glue gun was constantly out :)  The kids really miss old Frank and can't wait til he comes back again next year!

We love real trees and the kids loved going to the lot and picking the perfect one.  A free candy cane was also pretty awesome.

Tyson loved putting the star on the top of the tree.  He really got into the whole Christmas thing this year.

I love decorating the tree.  Not so much having my picture taken while doing it though!

This was a display at the Santa Train.  Isn't it awesome?

I will blog our Christmas soon :)

Tyson's 5th Birthday

My baby boy turned five not too long ago and here are the pictures from his party. 

 We had his party at a place called Flip-n-Out.  It's everything a five year old boy could want.  Trampolines everywhere, blow up jumpers, and slides.  It's like they've gone into the mind of a 5 year old and created this place.  Tyson had a BLAST!  I hardly have any quality shots because the boys were everywhere.

 We ended up inviting like 14 boys, it was wild.  I just kept inviting and inviting.  He is my only boy and the oldest so I got a little carried away but I figure I'm allowed to.  It was that or bawl and bawl about how big he is :)

 Tyson's favorite part of course: the presents.  The other boys just mobbed him and it was really funny.  They were so excited to tell him which present they picked out just for him.

 At home with the loot!  He still has a couple of presents he hasn't even gotten to yet!  I was thinking of wrapping them back up and giving them for Christmas but then he is too old to be fooled anymore.  My baby... (add sobbing sounds here)...I remember when he was born...(louder sobbing)...I can't believe he is so big!!! (hysterical sobbing)

Oh...so sorry you had to witness my breakdown.  I am so glad Tyson is part of our family!  He sadly runs the show over here.  He is spoiled rotten and I know it.  Just when I think I am not buying that kid one more thing or taking him to one more activity, he flashes those dimples and he gets everything he wants.  When he is not being the spawn of Satan he is the greatest boy.  He is such a big helper to me, he cares for others and is so smart.  I am excited everyday that I get to spend with him and am so thankful Heavenly Father chose to let him be part of our family.  Happy Birthday Tyson!!!

Thanksgiving

I am finally blogging our Thanksgiving.  I don't know what the deal is with the picture order so everything is a little crazy.  This year we went to Cedar City to be with Jason's Great Grandma and Jason's parents.  A week later we made Thanksgiving again at our house.  We love having apple cider with dinner, the guys laugh and laugh and think they are getting drunk :)

 When we got to Cedar this was the temperature.  I threw an actual hissy fit and wanted Jason to turn the car around!  (If you can't make it out it says 9 degrees)  Honestly who lives in 9 degree temperature on purpose?

 Jason's uncle was HILARIOUS!  Some of the kids were trying to go down the hill and then he ran into the garage and found this shovel.  He tried to get Tyson to do it but this was as close as he got.

 Taylor and her cute little smile.

Tyson loves chicken drumsticks so he Loved the turkey drumsticks as well.  Tyson is in love with KFC chicken.  He calls it chicken with the bones hanging out.  Here is a common conversation in our house, "Mom, can we have chicken with the bones hanging out for dinner?"

Mark, loving his second round of Thanksgiving.

I love that the kids will wear these hats and do these activities I have for them.

Isn't she the cutest thing?

Here are two of Jason's uncles. Too funny.

We had such a fun time in Cedar City.  It's nice to see the snow for a little while and makes me so grateful when we come home to the desert :)