:O

Today my boy slept until 9:20 and when he finally woke up and looked at the time we both went :O!
New Year's Eve we went on a bike ride, ate chi chi's for dinner :), Grammy and Grampy came over, watched Karate Kid, Grammy and Grampy left, it was 10:00pm, we drank martinelli in our fancy cups, cheers to the new year, kids did pop-its in the backyard. Off to bed! at midnight I was the only one awake reading, I heard fireworks, kids banging pots and pans, car alarms going off. I was happy to be in my cozy bed! :)

 

Early New Years Eve

Tonight we celebrated! (early) Jake's sister, Jenn, and aunt leave tomorrow so we moved New Year's Eve up a night! We had homemade cheeseburgers, Jake bbq them perfectly! Homemade coleslaw, sweet potato fries, sundaes for dessert, drank martinelli's and we played games...

Today we bounced!

Kate, Sierra, Bryce, Ashton, Nathan

We went and found out when we got there it was half off Friday, score! Even me and my sis-in-law, Jenn, went down the slide and raced. We had so much fun! The kids were so sweaty. Fun Fun!

The Beach in DECEMBER?

Today we went to the beach in Santa Monica. Me and the kids went with Jake's family, both of his sisters and their family's, mom, Aunt Leanne and Marne. What a beautiful day at the beach! So warm! My kids said,  "felt like it does in the summer time." The kids were in the water most of the time.

Sierra and Kate (best friends and cousins)

Ashton, Bryce, Curtis and Nathan (all cousins)

The Life of Jesus Christ

A traditon we started last year and love every minute of it... I gather pictures of our Savior from our gospel art kit, of his life and ministry from the very beginning when the angel appeared to Mary. Starting December 1st all the way to December 25th we do a picure each night, some nights we do 2 pictures. On the back of each picture is the story so we read the story that goes along with the picture and then tape it up on our wall in order.

These pictures bring such a sweet spirit to our home. When you walk in a room and see ALL these pictures of Christ you can't help but think of him. We as a family get to know and love our Savior better during the month of December and hopefully keep it with us throughout the coming year. We each have our favorite pictures, and favorite stories. We all look forward to our Jesus picture each night.

We also have a whole notebook of Christmas stories for 25 days and with each story is a scripture and a Christmas song, so after we read the Jesus picture we would read a story from our notebook. We got to have family home evening every night! :)

LA Temple

Tonight for FHE we drove to the temple. When we got there it wasn't dark yet so we went into the Visitor Center. We watched The Life of Christ, beautiful room, beautiful message. We watched President Monson's message and testimony of Jesus Christ. Then it was dark and we made our way outside. I had brought hot chocolate so we went to the car to distribute and then we walked around the temple grounds. So peaceful, beautiful, a great family night.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas was perfect! We started the day with the kids SO excited to see that Santa had come. But, we didn't open stockings or presents yet. We got ready for church and ate a cinnamon roll. I LOVED being at church for Christmas morning, what a great start to remember first what this day is all about!

When we got home we got back into our jammies and then started opening.

Sierra had made Jake and I (with Grammy's help) a beautiful, really soft, cozy blanket. We cozied under it right away. We LOVE it! and Ashton made us a coaster, so colorful, we LOVE his artwork just the same. :)

I told the kids that they did not need to worry about getting me or daddy anything but that they needed to get something for each other. I LOVED how thoughtful they were. They both used their own money too. Sierra got Ashton a dragon candle (from aunt Briana, it was found in her storage, it used to adorn her bedroom as a teenager but she never lit it, looks brand new) and a dragon mini pillow pet. He LOVED both~!

Ashton got Sierra an adorable new shirt and an S necklace. She LOVED her gifts too!

Then we played in the snow...

Went to Grandma and Grandpa's at 1:00 for linner. :) We got home about 3 and just enjoyed the rest of our day! Grammy came over in the evening and spent the night at our house. Uncle Norris and Aunt Brenna came too for a little bit. We were watching "A Christmas Carol." Briana stopped by too and Nixon stayed and spent the night. That was a good surprise, especially for Ashton. It was a beautiful day!

Merry Christmas!

Santa is coming...

Ashton was stressing when we were at Grannie's, we NEEDED to hurry so that Santa doesn't skip our house cause they weren't in bed. So we hurried. We got home and showered and the kids got in their new cozy Christmas Eve jammies.

 Sprinkled the reindeer food Ashton made in his class at school.

 Gave Santa an ooey gooey cinnamon roll instead of cookies, we think he might like the change. :)

Did our last Jesus picture. Read "The Night Before Christmas." Got cozy in sleeping bags.

And took FOREVER to fall asleep. I was worried that Santa might have to miss our house this year. The excitement was high, but FINALLY they were dreaming of sugar plums!

Christmas Eve

Chrismas Eve was busy busy! I made rolls for my mom to take Christmas day to her friend, Cheri's house. I also made cinnamon rolls for our family to enjoy Christmas morning before going to church.

 We went to Grannie's again for Christmas Eve. What was so beautiful is that I used to perform in the Nativity and perform musical numbers Christmas Eve at Grannie's house on this very stage and now my children were the one's performing! Sierra was in charge of the program and she did a beautiful job. There was the traditional nativity. Alot of singing! :)
Cousin Marshall and his wife, Whitney, were Mary and Joseph



Cousin Jessica was a beautiful angel!

 Nixon, Ashton and Nick were the Wisemen

 Cousins, Jack and Timmy, were shepards and see down below, my brother, Norris, was their sheep!

 Then Sierra, Ashton and Nixon did the symbols of Christmas.

 I read a Christmas story..."The Most Beautiful Thing" Then we sang "Silent Night", Grannie said a beautiful prayer. We sang Happy Birthday to Jesus. Funny story; when we started singing Happy Birthday Grampy asked really quiet, "who's birthday is it?" Chase said, "Jesus' birthday, dude!" I was laughing! :)
Dessert was yummy, icecream sundaes with brownies and all kinds of icecream and toppings!

Favorite part of the holidays, being with those you love most!!! So grateful!!!

Christmas with Grammy

Tonight we celebrated Christmas with my mom cause Sophi and Rich are leaving for Utah tomorrow to spend Christmas with Rich's family. We enjoyed each other, great yummy food, singing songs together, we went caroling to Grannie's neighbors together (that was a scary sounding sight!) :) Jake was so much fun, singing super loud, the missionaries were with us and I heard them say when they were walking behind me to the next house, "that guy is nuts! But, so awesome!" haha Oh, so much fun just being together!

 Lucy loved her puppets Grammy got her, she was eating them, they were so very soft! SO CUTE! :)

 The chaos begins, opening presents!

We are SO grateful for our mom, for our Grammy!

A first!

Today we rode the train!
I have NEVER been on a train before except for the choo choo train at Disneyland. My kids have never been on a train either, imagine that! Briana was going to ride the train today to come hang with us till Monday. So, we got up early in the freezing cold, looking like tourists cause we were taking pictures of everything and everyone, and bought tickets to meet her at Union Station! :)

This is us with my brother, Norris, he and his wife, Brenna, are here for the week and we LOVE it, they are the funnest!

This is mom, Sophi and her kids running so they don't miss the train. We were yelling at them to hurry from across the tracks. ;)

SO EXCITING!

Lincoln and Ashton

Sierra and Uncle Norris

Rocky, Grammy and Sophi

Me and Brenna

Here are all the kids looking at the fishies at Union Station

Mission Accomplished

Let's go home

When we got home mom treated us to Denny's! It was so so good!

Then later in the afternoon, Norris and Grannie watched the kids while mom treated us girls to a pole dancing class. Zoraya in her ward is a performer, Circus performer, she is a world champion, she is AMAZING, so strong, so amazing! It was challenging but SO much fun!!! I even held her ginormous yellow awesome snake around my neck too! When I get pictures from Brenna I will post them. Finished the day off at my dad's house to celebrate Christmas. It was a great day!