Christmas in Nebraska

We love spending Christmas with family. This year we were at my parents' house along with my brother Jake. A fun tradition is to have the adults do presents on Christmas Eve night after the kids are in bed. We can take our time and keep the focus on taking turns opening and enjoying gifts. Then Christmas morning is all about the kids. It works out well!

We didn't take too many pictures Christmas Eve night, but here are two:

 Steve in his Superman Snuggie from the kids

Steve and I did a homemade gift for each other - he put the ingredients for one of his specialties in a box: curried coconut chicken (notice the candles as well) - instant date night!

Christmas morning was magical!

 For the rest of Christmas day and through the weekend, the kids played with their new suitcases from Nana and Papa - they filled them with toys and rolled them all over the house. We played games, ate treats, played at the park, watched Hallmark Christmas movies, and Steve and I got a date night out and saw The Hobbit. 

Merry Christmas!

December Part II

We have had a blast this month!

All piled in to Mom and Dad's bed

Ellie loves her baby

Posing with baby Dallas

 Fun at the library: We recently discovered the computers and the puzzles - it's our new favorite hang-out spot at the library!

 Happy football baby

 He looks so different without his "happy hair", doesn't he??

Hunter wants to be just like his daddy

Classic daddy/baby photo

And more Christmas prep:

One of the coolest things we did:

 Steve, Dallas and I played Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus in a live nativity at our stake center. It was cool because two years ago, when I was 38 weeks pregnant with Hunter, we were asked to play Mary and Joseph for our ward Christmas party. It was a night in Bethlehem, and we walked around asking to stay in different Inns - we were turned away. It was a really neat experience. Then this year, a friend of ours was in charge of the Olathe creche exhibit, and they always have a live nativity outside on the church lawn. They try to find a couple with a new-ish baby, and we fit the bill. Dallas was just nine weeks old or so when he played baby Jesus. I feel honored to have been at the right stage twice to play Mary.

Look what Santa left under our tree

We made sugar cookies...

and gingerbread men.

 We decorated a gingerbread train.

 We had a family nativity - Hunter was Joseph, Ellie was Mary, Husker Pig was baby Jesus (because when I tried to put Dallas in as baby Jesus, Ellie threw a fit...); Steve was the narrator and the angel, and I was a wise man.

 Hunter loved his headpiece - he wore it around the rest of the night.

I really just wanted a cute picture of all three kids in footie pjs by the tree. This was one attempt:

 It makes me laugh every time I look at it :)

The miracle is that all three kids are looking - success!

On Christmas Eve, we joined my sister Joni and her family, my brother-in-law Dan and two of his boys, and my Mom at Bounce U. The kids were free to run around between the two rooms and the various bouncy toys to their heart's content. And we had a blast!

It was a fun-filled month of Christmasy activities and celebration leading up to Christmas day!

December Fun

We have been having a blast getting ready for Christmas! Ellie and Hunter are even more fun this year than last year. They are super in to every single thing exciting that comes with it being December :)

I made an advent calendar for the kids. It's made out of toilet paper rolls...it doesn't quite look like the one on Pinterest. But it works and the kids love it! Each day, we read a scripture, do a winter activity, and the kids get the treat found inside. The treats are Hershey Kisses, Rolos, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and Smarties. During family prayer yesterday morning, Ellie prayed that the treat would be chocolate, NOT Smarties. Ha ha! Her prayer was answered.

So far, here are some of the activities we've done:

 Stuck winter window clings on the windows

 Made and hung paper snowflakes

 Wrapped presents

 Wrote letters to Santa and mailed them to the North Pole

 This was the first we'd heard about Ellie wanting ear buds for Christmas...she has since told Santa in person and two other people that she wants ear buds...Oh, and "Ellie got run over by a reindeer"?? How clever! I don't know that she's heard that song more than twice ever, but apparently it's made quite an impact :)

Did a winter craft

 Made homemade ornaments

Had snowman pancakes for lunch

And we visited Santa - two different times. The first time, Steve took the two big kids while I taught piano lessons at home.

 Hunter was having no part of sitting on a stranger's lap; so Steve jumped in the picture with the kids.

When we all went together this week, we were able to get individual photos with each kid on Santa's lap, as well as one with all three! But...since I can't get any of them to orient properly, you'll have to imagine for now.

 After visiting Santa and while eating candy canes - so no real smiles, but obliging kids for yet another photo...

Then the kids rode the carousel as well.

So far, we're loving December!