Christmas Morning

Flower Girl

Sarah recently gave me this picture of Gray as her flower girl. This was a highlight in Gray's life and she took it very seriously. Here is to my little Flower Girl, I am proud of you and love being your mom. I can't believe how much you have grown! :)

Christmas List

(Stolen from Michelle's blog)
1. Wrapping paper or gift bag? both
2. Real tree or artificial? Artificial, we had real growing up but i like the ease of artificial... which one is the more earth friendly or "green"?
3. When do you put up your tree? Day after Thanksgiving
4. When do you take down your tree? We shall see...
5. Do you like eggnog? I will pass on the eggnog, even if it were spiked
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Walkman (for you kids out there reading blogs a Walkman is a portable cassette tape player, ask your mom what a cassette tape is)
7. Do you have a nativity scene? No, although I want one that my mom has
8. Hardest person to buy for? My dad
9. Easiest person to buy for? Joel, Gray, Holden & Ridge
10. Worst Christmas gift you've ever received? I am a brat so the list is long, I won't tell though because the gift givers suffered enough by witnessing my Christmas morning tears
11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Both
12. Favorite Christmas movie? Miracle on 34Th Street
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Depends on the year sometimes as early as January and some years as late as December
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Totally have, and totally would again.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Caramel Popcorn, BYU's iced lemon bread, my mom's rival kuga cherry coffee cake
16. White or colored lights? both, and bubble lights
17. Favorite Christmas songs? Silent Night, Pine Cones and Holly Berries, I'm gettin nuttin for Christmas
18. Traveling for Christmas or stay home? Staying home, it is our first year in our house
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Dasher, Dancer, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Alvin, Simon, Theodor, Ruldoph... no but I should. I could have cheated but I didn't so there should be some points for that
20. Angel or Star on top of tree? A felt Santa Claus, my mom has the angel Moroni (no lie)
21. Open presents Christmas Eve or Morning? Both, pj's Christmas Eve and the rest in the morning
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Pressure we put on ourselves
23. What I love most about Christmas? Magic in the air, the generosity it brings out in all of us, sparkling lights, getting together with friends and family, traditions, nostalgia, old movies, hot chocolate, snow covered mountains

Ginger Bread House

So of course we had to do the Ginger Bread House even though we had already done the candy trains. It was a lot of fun for the kids (the kit makes it easier, although I think I prefer the graham cracker version that resembles a trailer park... that's just me though). In true Holden and Ridge fashion they were half dressed and tormenting their sister. Gray finally gave them a side of the house to destroy as she worked on her side.

Candy Trains

This year we tried something new called "Candy Trains". Every year we do Ginger Bread Houses and every year we have drama with the house collapsing or not turning out right, and if it does turn out right it is because I didn't let the kids help... which defeats the purpose of the entire activity. Joel's aunt showed us how to do the trains this year and all three kids loved it. They could be involved from the beginning and had a blast doing it.

Reading with Gram

Reading with Gram is one of our favorite things. "Again, again" is frequently chanted before she can even finish a book. Ridge is more enthralled in the stories while Holden always does his best to get her to switch stories back and forth right in the middle.

Fun in the Snow

We have found a good use for the steep incline of our front yard, the kids love to sled down it over and over. Holden will jump on Gray and take a ride down the hill, it is very cute.