Happy New Year!

We decided we were going to have a little new year's eve shindig at our house this year. We invited some friends from our ward and we wanted to do some German traditions. I ordered these little lead things that you melt and then they tell you your fortune for the new year for us to do. It was a fun tradition that I did in Germany. Well, come New YEar's Eve, I couldn't find them ANYWHERE. To this day, I still have no found them. I think they may have gotten mixed in with garbage or something in the Christmas hubub. So that was a bummer. Then Wes started getting a bad stomach ache and Finn wouldn't nap. I almost gave up on the whole thing, but then everyone got here and we had a lot of fun! Even though I didn't have everything together that I wanted to, the most important part was just being with friends and having a good time. The kids all had a BLAST together. WE let them do confetti shooters outside. They thought it was great even though it was freeeeezing. I also had them make their own little party hats which was fun. We grown ups played some catch phrase and just chatted. We ended up putting on a previous year's countdown on youtube and calling it a night at 10pm because the kids (or was it the adults) were pretty tired. We are so thankful we were able to start the new year off in a fun way!
 

Snow!

We got a little bit of snow after Christmas. It's been a pretty dry year otherwise. Addy LOVED the snow this year and thought it was the best thing ever. Wes texted me these pictures while I was at work one day.

Merry Christmas!

I'm well aware that I'm almost 2 months behind on blogging. I guess that's what having three children, no matter how wonderful they are, will do to you. The good news is I took significantly less photos (is that good news? I don't know- we'll just say it is) in January, so when I'm done with the holidays, I'll be close to caught up!

So, where were we? Ah, Christmas.  We had a WONDERFUL Christmas. It was just the five (it's still weird to say FIVE) of us on Christmas morning.  I told Liam he didn't have to wait until his normal 7am wake up to get up. So around 2am, I hear a little voice say, "Good morning, Mama! It's Christmas!" I told him he had to go back to bed which frustrated him because I told him he didn't have to wait until 7.  We finally let them get up at about 5:30.

Christmas morning was so. much. fun. The kids were just thrilled with all of their gifts! Liam got a blue mountain mystery thomas set from Santa and Addy got a Vacuum from Santa. They got bean bags and other random things from mom and dad. They got a kitchen from Nana and Papa!  They also got lots of other fun goodies!  Wes got a personalized jersey and I got some beautiful earrings and shoes.  One of my favorite gifts was some felt balls for crafting. Everyone always thinks I am so weird for the gifts I get excited about. Wes' mom made us all BEAUTIFUL quilts that we now enjoy.  We were very spoiled!

My mom and dad came over around noontime to spend the afternoon with us.  We got more fun goodies and just had a relaxing Christmas day together. Not long after that, GG and Grandpa-Great also came over.  Around this time, Addy had woken up from her nap, but was not quite feeling so thrilled about Christmas anymore. At one point, she just layed down in the middle of all the chaos!

We had a yummy Christmas dinner and it was fun for me to host.  After dinner we played the game Headbands which Santa brought for our family. I had to take a photo of this beautiful present. I picked out the wrapping paper and told my mom I wanted all of my gifts wrapped in it. It's just SO cute. I almost hate unwrapping my presents because they are so beautiful all wrapped up. Pardon the beautiful Christmas morning look. Wes was excited to get hairties that his big man fingers can handle for when he does Addy's hair. ;) A lot of the morning was spent setting up toys. I love Christmas stockings! Addy got a beauty supply kit that she is obsessed with. Everyone become her victims, err, clients. Nana loves when Liam sings her the song, "I think You are Wonderful". We found a philosophy set with this on the box and couldn't resist it for her. A merry Christmas, indeed!

'twas the night before Christmas...

Grammy Cannon got all of the kiddos the most adorable Christmas jammies, so before we went home, we got the kiddos all in their jammies and got some adorable photos. The kiddos were so excited for Santa to come. Liam was begging to go home and go to bed so that Santa wouldn't pass up our house. I love being home on Christmas Eve with the cookies and milk, letter to Santa and all the presents out waiting for morning. It truly is magical.
 

The Nativity and The Talent Show

We decided to have the kids put on a play of the nativity on Christmas Eve. We thought it would be a good reminder to all of us of what Christmas is all about and that it would be a great way for the kids to learn all the details of the Christmas story. We decided that Izzy would be Mary, Liam would be Joseph, Peyton would be a wise man, Addy would be an angel, and Finn would be baby Jesus. Peyton declared that he didn't want to be a wise man, but that he would rather be Mickey Mouse, so we compromised for him. We got some sheets and blankets for costumes, to which Addy insisted on adding a purse to. And we used the stick horse for a donkey. The kids took their roles VERY seriously. It was SO cute and so fun. Peyton did an awesome job of giving his gift (beads) to baby Jesus and all the children tried to calm the baby Jesus when he cried. This is definitely a tradition we will continue! After that, we had the kids do a little talent show. Izzy was the ballerina, another role that was taken very seriously. She loved performing for all of us. Addy counted to 10 in spanish, and Liam did some karate stuff. Peyton didn't want to perform, so he just became a photo bomber. ;) It was a WONDERFUL Christmas Eve that was enjoyed by all.