Christmas Morning 2011

Before extended family came over to celebrate Christmas Day with us, we opened presents from each other.  The kids liked the Tervis Tumbler I got for Aunt Lisa and wanted one of their own, so I surprised them with one.

All personalized with thinks they like.

They each got a Kindle reader from us also.

Grandpa Lonas sent us money, so we picked out a gift from him for each of the kids.

Luke worked hard to master his Ripstik & still loves it.

The girls got a Squinkie set and some cash to pick out what they wanted.

Shawn wasn't left out.  He got smelly, disgusting pretzels that I rarely buy since we all have to suffer when he eats them.  :)

Leah with Daddy and his honey mustard & onion pretzels.

The kids played with their new toys briefly and a little more when everybody arrived.  There was plenty to keep them occupied.

Christmas Eve 2011

Thanks to Leah starting a blog, I'm going to steal her blog post about Christmas Eve & Christmas.  With her help, maybe I'll be caught up someday!  Her Christmas Eve post is below.

Send her an email if you want the link to her blog or for her to email you whenever she posts something new.  Her email is:  cat4leah@gmail.com

On Christmas Eve my grandma did a lovely Christmas party.  We helped her decorate the house before the party.  We opened wonderful presents, talked, and had a feast.  There was a whole lot of food!

The Gilberts came the night before.  We also had Aunt Lynn, Uncle James, and Savannah.  We had a special guest, Great Grandpa B.  (I think he should be called Totally Awesome GRANDpa!!!)

Carter got a card game called, "Sleeping Queens" so most of the kids played it.  Later, a surprise Santa came and delivered some other presents.  We were totally spoiled!  Aunt Sue's family came when Santa was there.  It was funny because they read Carter instead of Cruz on the tag.  When Carter opened it, there was Cruz's little baby clothes for Carter.

At the end we went to go look at Christmas lights with the Poston family and the Gilbert family. We had a great Christmas Eve!!!

Getting Ready for Christmas

We did a few fun things to get ready for Christmas.  (I'm sure we did more, but if I didn't take a picture, I no longer remember!)

I guess this first picture isn't exactly getting ready for Christmas, but it involved lights that are only around during the Christmas season, so I'm letting it sneak in.  Aunt Sue gave us tickets to enjoy Zoolights at the Phoenix Zoo.  We hadn't been to it for a couple years.  They sure do have a lot of lights -- very impressive!

Juli, Luke, Leah, & Joy trying to stay warm at Zoolights.

We took a break from our usual Wednesday science and history day with the Harris family and did some Christmas crafts.

Joy, Leah, & Lydia eating the mini gingerbread houses they made.

Jeremy, Luke, Leah, Lydia, & Joy showing off their wreaths.

Silly girls decorating themselves

We make cookies and other goodies to share with our neighbors each year.  This is the only batch I took pictures of.

Rolling and cutting out the cookies.

Luke, showing how it's done!

This picture was taken in honor of Uncle Keith who now works for Chick-fil-A in California, as the construction manager for the western division.

Luke, Joy, Leah posing with Christmas cows.

 As always, Christmas seemed to come before we were ready!

Rock Climbing Gym with Grandpa

Leah & Dad (Grandpa W.)

In December, we went to the Phoenix Rock Gym with Dad.  You need someone on the bottom for each kid and it can wear you out!  We were glad to have the extra help.

Juli & Joy, the monkey.

I don't have a picture of Luke.  I think he decided to stop (minor injury) before I whipped the camera out.