Christmas Day

The treeLiam was excited that not only did Santa bring him what he asked for, but it has a remote control!Super excited about the water bottles…can’t you just see it??

one to prove I was actually thereLiam was proud of the dvds he chose for his favorite brother and sister!Gift cards from Grandma & Grandpa Stevens!

We have a tradition of taking a picture with the gifts they got…that’s one I haven’t slacked on.  Liam in his full BYU clothes.  He is a real FAN now!

We had a great Christmas.  Every year I feel like the kids aren’t getting very much and every year they are happy with whatever they get.  I’m so grateful for them and their great attitudes about gifts.  At least if they hate anything or are really disappointed they hide it from us well. 

Jason and I didn’t get each other anything with the intention that we would go somewhere fun together (out of town) instead.  I’m still trying to make it happen…hopefully we can!  Where do you like to visit?  My only requirement is that it has to be warmer than here!  (oh, and our budget is pretty limited)

Christmas Eve

I’ve been getting a little bit lax in keeping some of our traditions at Christmas.  one of them is that I make the kids take a picture in front of the Tree every year.  Jason Jr. is not very cooperative when it comes to pictures lately so I had to put my foot down and make him do it anyway this year.  This is the silly face picture.The best one we got.I made Jason do a picture with me too, but the camera was held crooked so it looks funny.  I fixed it in picasa, but that doesn’t stay fixed here for some reason.  So, pretend it is straight. I think I know where my son gets his grouchiness about having his picture taken…We always go to the McDonald side of the family on Christmas eve.  We arrived a little early and got to hang out with Melanie for awhile.  I love this picture of her with Liam and I love that she is so patient with him even when he beats her up with his enthusiasm.  Liam loves his cousins!This is before the chaos of opening presents.  Once we start from the youngest grandchild it is complete mayhem…This is Liam wearing his new BYU hat and checking out the reading buddy he got from Grandma.  He likes to make Bigsby talk. 

We drew Easton’s name this yea and all he wanted was a moshi monster game.  Thankfully I was able to find him one within the allotted budget.  I love his face here.  He was thrilled.  Hallie checking out the Minnie Mouse we got her. 

Jason got a hoodie with headphones in the hood string…it was cool, until he lost it at youth conference. Em lucked out and got a super adorable shirt. 

I didn’t get a picture of Grandma opening her gift from us, but here she is opening something.  Everyone chipped in and got Grandpa a new TV.

I am not pictured because by the time the adults get to their turn all the kids just want to play with their stuff and run around making as much noise as they can and I gave the camera to the twins and they only got strange close ups of my hands because they were sitting on the couch next to me and didn’t want to get up to take my picture.  I didn’t get pictures of Jason opening his gifts because he did it so fast that I didn’t have enough time to turn the camera back on. 

We came home and read the Christmas story and then opened our pajamas, but slacker that I am I didn’t get a picture of them actually in their jammies on Christmas eve.  But there are some from Christmas day so that makes up for it. 

Preschool Christmas program

Nothing is cuter than a bunch of four and five year olds singing and trying to remember all the words to the songs they’ve learned.  They started out with a rousing rendition of  SANTA think BINGO, but with different words and about Santa.  Amazingly during this song Santa actually appeared!  It was fun watching the kids be so surprised (even the ones that had this same thing happen last year).  all the kids got to sit on Santa’s lap and tell him what they wanted for Christmas.  Liam asked for a

BLUE Monster truck thankfully Santa delivered!

 When they sang Rudolph they dressed the part! Liam really got into his singing this year.  Last year he was much more shy about it.  I love seeing him gain confidence and learn so much.