CHRISTMAS MORNING!

SANTA CLAUS CAME!!! The kids waiting at the top of the stairs...ready to run down!

And Santa delivered a WII...

After the kids had opened all of their presents the last one was a envelope with a scavenger hunt throughout the house and ended in the backyard to this...

A NEW TRAMPOLINE!!! We have since put the net around it but Benson was TOO TIRED on Christmas Eve to put it up!

And the aftermath...

All I wanted for Christmas a Vitmamix blender...but I was totally convinced I wasn't getting one...I really needed a new phone and Benson had given that to me early...so I wasn't expecting much on Christmas...imagine my surprise when I let Nate open my LAST gift and it was a Vitamix!!! I can't believe Benson tricked me! I was so excited and I have used it everyday! I love it...and my new Blackberry too! I must have been really good this year because I was super spoiled! :)

I always battle with myself of living in the moment and trying to capture the moment with pictures...I didn't take very many pictures of Christmas and I can't believe I didn't take ONE PICTURE of that night with my family...but we had a fabulous time! We are so lucky to live by both of our families and spend time with them on Christmas! I feel so blessed!

Sleeping under the tree...

One of my VERY favorite Christmas traditions is sleeping under the Christmas tree on Chritmas Eve EVE!...this year Benson blew up a huge air matress for us! But we all watched a movie ("A Christmas Story") ate yummy treats and slept under the tree!

CHRISTMAS EVE

We spent Christmas Eve with Benson's family this year! After a yummy dinner and lots of playing outside the kids acted out the Nativity! Sammy was Mary (and sang a solo of "Mary's Lullaby" I was so nervous for her...but she did great!) and Carson was Joseph! My 2 boys were 2 of the 3 wise men...and Lucy was going to be baby Jesus but we decided to use a doll...then the whole time all she wanted was the doll and cried for the "baby"! The whole gang after the Nativity

Then we had a family talent show! Sammy played the piano, Ben did magic tricks, and Nate & Derek danced for us...

Time to decorate cookies for Santa...

Lucy stole some cookies too...

Maile & Sammy...

Nate, Luke, & Carson...

Hannah & Ben

When we got home we discovered the Elves had some and left jammies & a note for the kids..

Aunt Reagan made some reindeer food and Lucy was SCREAMING with delight while throwing it in the grass...

Cookies for Santa...

Sammy wrote Santa a note (and he wrote a note back that she got the next morning!)

All ready for bed...the kids were SO EXCITED for Santa to come!!

The annual gingerbread house

We finally put together our gingerbread house...the kids were so excited! This is one of my favorite Christmas traditions! We had Taryn (for a cousin sleepover) and she kept saying "this is the most fun I have had in years" too funny. I know only I probably will think this is funny...but I was trying to take a picture of the kids with the gingerbread house once we were done...and Nate was making the most hilarious faces...cracks me up!

Phoenix Childrens Museum

I seriously think this museum is the BOMB...if you have never been...go! Except...its kinda expensive...so save your money...then go! My kids LOVED it! We started out at the huge climbing structure...that they could have spent HOURS on this thing...so awesome!

Then we went to the bike riding...so cute!

And they LOVED the fort room...

My kids LOVE arts & crafts...Mason thought it was torture....

I reluctantly let them paint the castle...

And Lucy LOVED the noodle forest...I wish I would have taken a picture of Ben & Mason getting put in time out for TEN MINUTES by one of the museum workers for running through this thing...I thought that was a little harsh!

Nate sat at this ice cream stand forever handing out cones to all the kids passing by...

A quick picture on our way out...Lucy was ready for a nap and I was done chasing her...but really my kids could have stayed forever!! So much fun!

Remember that one time we had a Dog??

So, Benson & the kids have been BEGGING me for a dog and I am NOT INTERESTED! Earlier this week, a little dog showed up at Benson's work and had been hanging around for a couple of days and Benson felt sorry for her...so he decided to bring her home (gasp..I know)! The kids were SO EXCITED!! They played with her...decided to name her Sophie (other name pics...Oreo & Princess Lea)! I even went out and said hi to her and took some pictures! But the kids kinda scared her a little bit...

And Lucy (the biggest dog lover of all) was trying to pet her (she would say "nice, nice") and was trying to put cones on her head...

So Benson told them to give Sophie a little space and just let her get used to the yard. So we went inside for a little bit...and Sophie dug a hole under our fence and got out! Benson loaded up the kids and drove around to look for her...but no luck! Poor Sophie!

Oh well...I guess Sophie didn't want a home!

And now when my kids say they have never had a dog...I can correct them...because we did have a dog...but it was only for an hour!

FIELD TRIP!!

Ben's class was going on a Field Trip to the Broadway Palm Theatre to see "Aladdin" and I got to come along as a chaperon!! Ben was SO EXCITED...and so was I...I got to spend the whole day with my little buddy! Here's a picture on the bus of the boys in my group... And the girls...

My kids I was in charge of...aren't they so cute?!?

The kids were SO EXCITED to order their own drinks and get their food...and they could eat as much as the wanted...which turned out to be only one plate full!!

The play was pretty cute, too! And it kept the kids entertained...such a fun field trip!!

Christmas Sunday

Santa

Last week we headed to Bass Pro Shops to see Santa...they have a great little set up...and free pics with Santa! Lucy seemed excited while we waited in line and pointed at Santa and said "ho, ho, ho"

There was little tables set up for the kids to color and write letters to Santa...not sure why Ben and Sammy chose to share a chair...

Sammy showing her letter (not sure why it looks like she is crying)... She is asking for a Snowglobe that lights up OR plays music & a map of the North Pole (???)

Ben's letter...he wants a wii, a ball, and an "Indiana Jones kit"

Lucy wanted NOTHING to do with Santa and screamed her little head off...but the kids put in their requests (Nate wants a monster truck and Lucy wants a baby doll)!

And then we watched the fish for a while!

Super fun and FREE night :)

melty beads

Wednesday was a half day and I just happened to notice these little melty bead kits at Michaels...decided to pick a few up to keep the kids entertained! Ben was very into making his Santa.. In typical Nate fashion...he was done in like 2 seconds and ready to move on to the next thing...

Ben, Sammy & her friend, Ashlyn could have made them forever...so much fun!