Dec 2020: Christmas Time

 We spend all December getting ready for Christmas! This year we were especially excited this year! The kids are a just the right age that everything is fun!

On Christmas Eve, we had dinner, graham cracker nativities and pjs at Nana and Papaw's house. It's probably our favorite. Even more than Christmas. The kids were so so excited to build their nativities this year!

Lyla worked with Nana and had a cat herd in her nativity. 

 

Nolan and Sammy put their kinder brains to work and made a great nativity together. 

Grayson made me save a picture he saw in the Friend to use as inspiration this year. He and I worked together on our nativity. 

In our nativity play, Grayson was Joseph, Lyla was a shepherd and Nolan was a Wiseman. Tyler was the ass. Tommy was the angel, we even caught him flying. He later arrived, by sliding down the bannister. SOOO funny. 

 

 

Black Friday deals allowed the kids to get PJs AND a movie. Grayson was so excited to get ALL 14 The Land Before Time films. Nolan was excited about Sonic. Lyla doesn't care, but somehow, they chose her Pony movie to watch as they fell asleep on Christmas Eve. 

Christmas morning was great. We are still in the stage where we wake the kids up to get going. I hope it stays that way. The children were VERY worried that Santa wouldn't bring Cora something. Nolan got an old stocking from Nana's give away pile and made sure we told Santa it was for Cora. Santa did not let them down. She may have already destroyed a toy or two. 

 

 

My children have recently developed a love of games. They got some for Christmas and that is what we spent most of the break doing. Playing games as a family. I hope we keep up with it, it's such a bonding activity. My mom was here for a couple of days to join in the fun. My dad came too, but I'm always too busy having fun, that I forget to take the pictures. Most of these are from Tyler remembering to take picture like a good mom. 

After Christmas we sat around and did very little until New Year's Eve. We FINALLY finished The Book of Mormon as a family this year! It was amazing and I hope we can keep this habit in our lives! To celebrate we went roller skating and hit the arcade. Lyla never got the hang of skating, but both boys started to get it after a bit of whining. They all got tokens and loved playing the games. Each got a small prize with the tickets they earned. 

 

Next thing you know, it was time to clean up Christmas. Everything is put away and waiting for next year. 

We got together again for New Year's Eve. We had lots of treats and games. Emma shared her Pie Face Games. At one point Lyla yelled, "I'll be right back, I LOVE this game!" as she ran to use the bathroom. 

 

 

 

Around here we like to celebrate at Pacific Standard Time, the kids don't know the difference and we are all still in bed around 11pm instead of 1am. 

 

We are looking forward to what 2021 has to offer! We have new goals, new trips and new fun to make!

Until next time... Happy New Year!

Dec 2020: Tyler's Birthday

It's time for CHRISTMAS! 2020 has been so chaotic that we were SUPER excited to have all the Christmas festivities! 

We got our house all ready! We put up the tree and Tyler and Tommy were so very kind and put lights up on the house! 

 

 

 

 

We also got to help Nana and Papaw get ready for Christmas in their own way. Nana was inside decorating and Papaw was outside decorating with a new fence project. 

 

We made ginger bread houses and made good use of leftover Halloween candy! 

We didn't have much snow for most of December. It's still warm enough that the kids spend a good part of the afternoon in the back yard. 

 

One morning while getting ready for school, I heard a large crash. I came downstairs to find that my children and that puppy, TIPPED OVER THE CHRISTMAS TREE! Basically, Cora's leash got wrapped around the tree and the boys didn't think to let go. Tug of war= tipped Christmas tree. 

 

We made our cookie/neighbor treats again, this year. The kids really look forward to this and they get better a decorating every year! 

 

Tyler turned an angle into baby Yoda, it was very creative!

 

Tyler went to an auction in Pocatello, only to find out that it was virtual only. They sat in the mall and bid on items. 

 

December didn't let us down! We got a TON of snow just before Christmas break. There was enough to build a sledding hill in the front yard. The kids love it! They are at an age where they can get ready for the snow with only about 2% of help from me. It's GLORIOUS!

 

 

 

On Tyler's birthday his mom graciously watched the children while we went to Smith and Edwards and Rodizio Grill. They made swords with wrapping paper tubes. Their expressions say it all. They had a blast!

 

 

Happy 32nd birthday to Tyler. He ate a LOT of meat and got a new coat and celebrated with whoopie pies. I surprised him with new earphones. I think he had a great day! 

 

Up next, CHRISTMAS! 

Until next time...