Merry Christmas

Get ready for Blog overload! This Christmas will go down in Christmas history! (like all other Christmas'...)



This year was our year to spend Christmas Eve at my parents house. Ever since I can remember we have had a big family home evening, where we gather round and tell Christmas stories, share talents (as kids we would sing, but now we are left with lots of talent from Dusty and Uncle Kurt, and very little talent from the rest :)), and then we would act out the Christmas story. This year Roc was baby Jesus, Porter was a wise man, and Trace played double duty with a Shepard and then a wise man. The rest of the "family night" didn't go as it usually does, but we had lots of laughs, and had a great night! There is nothing quite like being home for Christmas.
After the rest of the extended family left, we had our families Christmas. Chad and I got the greatest gift... Dates for a year. Each month we will open a new envelope that will tell us what we get to do. (They even have arranged babysitters...them... when the dates require one!) I'm sure I'll be posting about them each month.
The boys got to open presents that night too. Dusty and Kelsey had our families name, and they gave the boys puppets! It was the perfect gift, and we got to have a fun puppet show. They also got fun things from my mom and dad. We can't wait to play with them all each time we go to their house.

Trace got a huge work bench, and porter got a hunting game and Super Mario Cart for the Wii.

Kelsey made us all hats...

After a fun night a Grandpa and Grandma's, we came home and headed straight to bed. We were lucky enough to have my mom and dad join us for Christmas morning... It's going to be hard when my brothers have kids, and I have to share them. We made Santa cookies earlier in the day, and left a carrot for Rudolph. Christmas Morning was so fun. I made them blankets from us, and Santa left a ton of gifts!

After a fun filled morning of opening presents we headed over to Grandpa and Grandma Hansen's! Christmas morning at the Hansen's is unlike anything you could imagine. Steve loves it, and does a great job at picking out the best gifts for everyone. These pictures give a glimpse of what the family room looks like when we first see it. Everything is wrapped... even the monster big gifts, and the room is full!! This year I was surprised with a camera, and tons of other fun stuff. Chad got more hunting stuff then I could ever imagine he could need... but he says he needs it all! Porter got a super cool robot, and Trace got a fun interactive video game. All the boys got new Camo... Can't wait for a picture of them all in it. What a fun Christmas!

I guess I can start the count down for next Christmas! I love it...

Christmas Pictures

Here are a few of the pictures we took yesterday. I will work up a Christmas card and post it soon.

Zoolights

Happy Birthday Grandma Hansen! For Janet's birthday, Steve took the whole family to zoolights and then out to dinner. We knew it was going to be a super cold night, but we decided it would be a fun adventure anyway. I packed everything I could possibly think of to keep the boys warm... (I must say I was pretty proud of myself for being so prepared!) Porter and Trace both wore all their snow clothes. I even took Roc with us. I dressed him as warm as I could, and then wore my baby sling under all my winter clothes. He stayed toasty warm, and so did I! All the animals were on their best behavior. I think I saw more action tonight then ever before. I guess those wild animals like the cold nights. The monkeys are always my favorite, but tonight they were extra fun. Their was a cute little baby that was jumping and playing with all the older monkeys. Porter was a little nervous of the bear because he was walking closer and closer to us... he said, "this is not good"!

Neither of the boys complained of being cold all night. I think the only one of us that got cold at all was Chad... I wasn't in charge of his gear.

Now that I've told you how prepared I was... the truth is that with all the gear I remember, I did forget something really important. My Camera. These are a few pictures that Amy got with her camera before her battery died!

What a great night!!! I hope this can become a new tradition. Thanks so much Steve for a fun night out... We loved it.

Mom's Christmas Brunch

This year mom decided it would be fun to have our family Christmas party in the morning. We all met at their house at 10am for a big breakfast and lots of fun. What is Grandma's party without Jolley old Saint Nick? Even Santa got word that the party would be during the day this year! He showed up right after breakfast, and read a dinosaure Christmas book to the kids, and stayed around for lots of pictures...

Bunch more pictures with Santa

The whole Gang

After Santa left we read a neat story about being yourself. Then we painted rocks to remind us of the story. My kids love to do projects at Grandma's house.

Our Master pieces. I'm not telling which ones are mine, Im not proud!

Another cute picture of my baby...

Kids Christmas Party

Last year we started drawing names for all the friends in the neighborhood. It worked so good that we decided to do it again this year. The kids have so many great friends... Just another thing we have to be thankful for. Here are some pictures of the party.

Porters gift exchange... Porter had Camden, and Max had Porter.

Traces gift exchange... Trace had Lexi, and Poppy had Trace.

Growing up my favorite game was always the candy bar game. There is a big pile of candy bars in the middle... you role a dice and if you get doubles you get to pick a candy, or still someone else's. I guess the kids weren't quite big enough yet though... We had a few tears shed when the candy they wanted got stolen! Maybe next year we will come up with a better game.

Trace got two Nerf guns. Trace was so excited to play, he started biting open the box. Him and Porter have already had a bunch of fun with it.

Porter got Indiana Jones Lego's! So much fun.

Just a cute picture of the boys hiding together... They were playing hide and go seek.


And a random picture of Roc...

Swimming

On Tuesday night we took the boys swimming. I'm not usually one to love swimming in the winter... but the boys love it, and it has been a long time since they have gotten to play in the water so I decided to take them. Chad can't swim with his shoulder, so him a Roc hung out on the side of the pool and watched!

Porter loves the big yellow slide... Even Trace kept saying he wanted to go "din" (again). Trace and I would go first, so that I could be at the bottom to help Porter just in case he needed me. After I had gotten dressed, Porter wanted to go one more time... I was a little worried, but agreed to let him try. (knowing that I might have to jump in and get my clothes all wet!) He did great... and I stayed dry. Good swimming boys!