Christmas 2012

I made the kids get dressed in their Christmas finest on the 16th.  Knowing our family as a I do this was the only Sunday that they were worn.  Everyone decided to get sick and only Tyson, Taylor, and I were well enough to go to church on the 23rd.

Aren't they darling? I know I am a little biased but they really do clean up nice :)

Christmas Eve we put on the traditional new pj's. Thank you Grandma DeMille!  She always finds the CUTEST pj's out there. The kids love them!

Almost as much as they love making crazy faces.

Here is the tree and living room with "It's a Wonderful Life" on in the background.  I don't think I have ever sat down and watched it and now I don't think I ever will.  Why is there so much shouting in that show? Everyone was screaming all the time, I had to turn it off, it kept waking up the baby while Jason and I were trying our hardest to put presents out as quietly as we could.

The living room before the madness.  This year I was really restrained from the huge purchases I usually do.  Before the job problems came along I was all set to black friday shop for amazing ride on toys.  I always wanted one as a kid and was so excited to see the kids faces Christmas morning when they come downstairs and have their own mini cars and jeeps.  Jason and I decided they would be a waste of money anyway and that we should save up for real ride on bikes like ATV's since we live with deserts all around us.

Tyson was up at 5:30am and woke everyone up.

Taylor waited patiently until we got everyone to the living room.

 Hayden was really into unwrapping presents this year.  I love when they finally get it.

 Tyson asked for the 4 headed dragon from ninjago and was so excited to get it. Sad side note, I bought it after Thanksgiving at Walmart with an awesome coupon. It was the last one in the store and had a weird hole in it. I didn't think much about it and was so excited to get it at a good price. Well Christmas morning the boy goes to put it together and it is missing bag 1 and 7. So sad! We have now been to Target and Walmart and both stores are out of it. Toys R Us has it for $70 more than I paid for it. So sad :(

 He did get the green ninja, a ninjago watch, and the ninjago samurai set so he still got to put legos together the rest of the day.

 We have outlawed make up in our house but I couldn't resist getting this chapstick set.  It was on a major sale and she loved them.

 Ryan got a gloworm from our good friends the Mays.  It was such a thoughtful gift and she was amazed at the light up face.  Too funny!

 Hayden loved her princess stroller.

 She gave Dad a huge and spontaneous hug.  She is our most affectionate child and it always surprises us how cute she is.

 The aftermath, my favorite is finding unwrapped presents under all the garbage and toys hours later while trying to clean up.  Tyson's highlights were, legos, rollerblades, and a life size set of bowling pins and ball.  Taylor loved her chapsticks, rollerblades, earrings, and Aurora barbie doll.  Hayden's favorite things were her new pinkalicious roller skates, baby stroller, and real purse.  Ryan got a talking Minnie Mouse, Gloworm and new clothes.  Jason got a new chair for his computer and his favorite Tommy cologne.  I got the fanciest sweater jacket (if you see me in it, please still talk to me even though I will be very fancy), the most amazing calendar hand crafted from Taylor, and a "Mom" necklace from Ty that is too precious to wear :)

 We got these fun suckers as stocking stuffers.  Isn't that hilarious?

 The kids had to try on the skates and roller blades.

 Being the genius I am I forgot to buy the kids any protective gear so this first attempt at skating was very dangerous and short lived.

 I think each one of them landed on their behinds at least once.

 Jason made his annual egg, sausage, and hash brown casserole breakfast which was super yummy.  Then we went to a movie after getting all cleaned up and dressed.  For dinner we had ham and potatoes where Tyson told us he hates ham.  (After Thanksgiving on the farm he has been very worried about eating meat )  Super fun day!  We hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!!

 

Fun Saturday

The other day we went to Floyd Lamb State Park after hearing so many wonderful things about it.  It was like stepping into the twilight zone.  My parents took my family there when I was little.  I think it was one of the last family outings we went on before their divorce.  It was trippy.  I had forgotten all about it and seeing all of those old buildings brought back weird memories.  I'm sure I got on Jason's nerves with all of my, "this is so weird" comments.

 Tyson is rarely with out his football these days.  As a side note, Tyson came down with this shirt combo all by himself and was so cute about it.  He really is self conscious about what he wears and likes to look "cool".  I am in for a fun ride with this kid!

 Ryan is such a trooper with us dragging her everywhere.  I guess you have to be, being #4 and all.

 They had quite a few roaming peacocks and one very fat and annoying rooster that roamed the park.

 We did a little football kicking.  Taylor is the designated holder.  I'm pretty sure Tyson dubbed her this.

 The problem is she is a punk.  Right when he went to kick she pulled a move straight out of Charlie Brown and ruined Tyson's day.  Just look at her evil little smile!  Punk!

 Tyson was so upset he had to go and pout for 10 minutes.  This didn't stop the action though.

 We laughed and laughed at this gazebo.  It honestly looks like someone made it for children and didn't make it all that well.  It is featured on the list of "attractions" to visit while at the park.

 We turned a corner to see the water and all of a sudden it was like feeding time at the pond.  The geese and ducks came running and totally freaked us out. 

 We got out of there ASAP, but Hayden had to run up and yell at the ducks one last time.  Her little fists crack me up, she is so fearless.  I wish I could get in this girl's head, I bet she really thought that if they yelled back at her she was going to hit them.  She is such a nut!

 Then we went to the strip and saw the Bellagio.  Hayden was Amazed!

They have the coolest things to see in their garden, this bear is totally made out of flowers!  Here was Tyson's and Taylor's conversation: Taylor, "Wow, this is cool!"  Tyson, "This is beyond cool, it is awesome!"

After seeing the garden we went outside to see the water show.

Super fun day.  We thought we were a pretty active family but I guess we need to start taking the kids out more.  They were totally amazed at all they saw. 

December 12x12 attempt

I was so excited that I remembered to do a 12x12 this month. I was so gung ho and then the day got away from me.  I only took 9 pictures the whole day but I figure 9 is better than none :)

 Frank the elf hid in the bathroom this morning. The kids were super bummed they couldn't find him and then Taylor had the genius idea to look in the bathroom.  I love that I am that super annoying person who even decorates the bathroom for holidays.  Just love it.  I even laugh to myself while decorating it.

 Frank the elf brought wipe away boards for the kids to play on.  Tyson likes to play tick tack toe with Taylor.  She thinks she knows what she is doing but he beats her every time.  Gotta love big brothers!

 Not too much breakfast eating happened this morning due to the elf's gifts.

 Ryan loves to sit and watch the kids at breakfast, it is the only way I get to eat my breakfast.  They are all busy at once and it has to be my favorite part of the morning.

 After dropping the carpool off at school and preschool.  Hayden got in her daily dose of Dora and had a snack.  You may think that I posed this child with a bowl of carrots to earn good Mom points but no, this girl is obsessed with fruits and vegetables.  I offered her a zinger and she choose frozen vegetables.  Just plain weird I tell you!

 After picking Taylor up from preschool we headed out to Costco for some major shopping.  I am HATING this Christmas shopping season!  If you saw a lady pushing this around wouldn't you be a little kind and sympathetic?  Not these shoppers, it seemed like everyone was going out of their way to block everywhere I was trying to go and if I had to maneuver around one more person trying to get a freaking snack I was going to lose it!  It is just awful out there!  Plus on the way into the store this old man tells me I have my hands full and it looks like I have another "one in the hanger".  Who says these things?  No dude, I have four kids and I have decided to keep 10 pounds from each of them just for fun, if it's any of your business.  I can't wait to be old and get to say crazy things to random strangers.  I guess that is one of the perks of getting old :)

 The rest of the day was a blur, hence the lack of pictures.  We did go to Tyson's school winter wonderland.  We stayed all of 20 minutes.  The kids made cards.

 Then they decorated cookies.

We did have snowcones which were really good.  We tried the winter wonderland snow cone made out of blue raspberry syrup, coconut flakes and sweetened condensed milk.  It sounded freaky but ended up being really great.  I think even though it wasn't a full 12x12 it does show a great glimpse into how some of our days speed on by.

December happenings

This year we have decided to do service for others.  We have chosen 12 different acts of service and the other day we did our first.  The kids and I walked around our neighborhood cleaning up trash.  I don't know if my kids need to get out more or what but they loved it! 

 They would get so excited to find trash.  Tyson was awesome and did 75% of the clean up himself.

I really thought we would find a ton but I was really impressed with our neighborhood.

Tyson started practice for his flag football league.  He is loving it.  This was his first practice.

I love this picture, he was of course timid to begin with.

They ran little passing and catching drills.

Sorry for the blurry picture but this is the only one I got of him catching. 

They also did high knee drills and sideways gallops.  (I don't know the technical names)

Tyson did amazing!!  He has been begging to play football for forever.  He wanted to do tackle football but I am not ready for that.  I want him to actually know the rules of the game and how to play before worrying about tackles.  Plus, I know I would be that Mom who took the kid out for tackling her baby :)