Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! We made it to Mattawa and had a great time celebrating with family. Everyone was home this year since it was my parent's turn for Christmas. The food was yummy, the presents were fun and we laughed lots. 

We had the kids act out the nativity and Chelsea took her role as Mary very seriously. She didn't crack a smile. It was adorable. Baylor even put his arm around her at one point. So cute. 

My Mom was so excited for her silhouette and my Dad liked his clothes and shoes we got him. The kids all loved their gifts from Grandpa and Grandma. I love the mess their is afterwards, all the boxes and tissue paper. 

My parents did a swag bag for us like they do on Ellen or talk shows. So they put together some of their favorite things and then presented them to us. It was so fun. We cheered and high fived like they do on Ellen in the audience. haha. Kyle and I got a miter saw from my parents so now I can't wait to get Kyle to make my new kitchen table! :)

Christmas Morning

The kids were so excited on Christmas morning. We told them they could get up at 7am. Kate woke up first and woke up everyone else who were still sleeping. They loved their presents from Santa. Then we had bubble buns and scrambled eggs before opening the presents under the tree. Then we got ready, played the Wii U more, finished packing up and left around 10:30am for Mattawa to do Christmas day there.

The roads were great. The pass was open. It had been closed for almost 2 days prior so we were so glad to hear it opened late Christmas Eve. Phew. There has been so much snow over the last few weeks. It was beautiful to drive through and see all the flocked trees. Pretty views for Christmas Day.

Christmas Eve!

Christmas dresses and Church outfit! Got them at Gymboree and I loved the black and white stripe with the red. Preston's bow tie made him look cute too.

The day before Christmas Eve we went to a local Church that puts on this Bethlehem experience. I thought it was amazing all the work they put into it with the booths, characters and animals (they had camels!). Kyle and the kids were not as interested. It was hot and dusty b/c of all the sawdust on the ground and very crowded when we went. So it wasn't a very fun experience, but I still appreciated all their efforts. 

Christmas Eve!

Kate opened the main Christmas Eve gift...a Wii U and slowly all the kids started realizing what it was. They were excited. That's what they've been asking for.

We had a alfredo pasta dinner with salad and breadsticks for Christmas Eve and cranberry/raspberry drink in fancy glasses in candlelight. 

Kate played Christmas songs for us on the piano. She learned the three I assigned her in a week and did a good job.

In Christmas pajamas and all ready for Santa to come!

December Happenings

Teaching Chelsea selfies when she's young. 

Chaperoned a field trip for Preston's class. We went and saw Elves and the Shoemaker in Everett. It was a silly show and the kids laughed a lot. 

The kids' school did a PTA activity at the local roller skating rink so we went and took some friends. Lindsey did pretty good for her first time! She found a friend from school there so she skated with her some. Kate is a pretty good skater and had fun with her friends.

Our Christmas decor and tree

Snowflake Lane

Finished the coral pillows for our bedroom. And made a coffee filter wreath for above the bed. Sara gave me that idea and I liked it way better than what I was going to do which was a collage of pictures and artwork from Hobby Lobby...I was overwhelmed with what to do so this was MUCH cheaper and simpler. Except I think I put waaayyy too many filters on mine because it took forever to make it and I used 3 packages when you usually use 2. haha.

For our December Relief Society activity (I'm in charge of planning them, that's my calling still) we went to a local Women and Children's Shelter and did an activity with the kids there. We decorated christmas sugar cookies, read Christmas books, did a Christmas craft and sang Christmas songs. The women and kids liked it as did the women from Church. It was a great thing to do this time of year. We will for sure do something again with them. One of the mom's from the shelter got teary eyed when we started singing Christmas songs. That's when I knew it was all worth it. Oh and another mom said "what a perfect way to end the night."

The kids had their Christmas concert. Here is Kate with a few of her friends. 

Lindsey got to decorate gingerbread houses at school so a friends' mom took this picture for me. 

Chelsea's friend Mikilah came over for a playdate. They were having fun dressing up and dancing.

I liked our front porch this year because I got these trees on clearance last year after Christmas so I was happy when Kyle helped me set them up and get some lights put up outside on the plants. We didn't have a ladder tall enough to go any higher so maybe next year we will. 

A wind storm knocked off this chunk of a branch from one of the trees that hover over our house. It scared us because we were watching TV and then all of a sudden we hear a crack and this huge thing hits the house. I thought for sure the tree went through the roof so I darted upstairs to the girls room, but all was well. Then we went out to the back deck and saw this. Dumb trees.

Chelsea was cracking us up with her mermaid costume and her belly. 

Preston got an award so we did this little face painting thing for it. Oh the adventures in scouting. Preston actually didn't want to do it, but others were doing it so he did. Funny kid. 

Chelsea had fun in preschool because they got to decorate Christmas trees and then they got these reindeer headbands. So cute!

Our gingerbread house this year

The singles ward does a toy drive and has Santa come visit. We went last year and made sure to go again. Preston was determined to tell Santa that he wanted 3 purple mixels for Christmas. Kate was at basketball practice during this and was fine not seeing Santa so we went without her. They had some activities and treats for the kids to do in the gym.