For some crazy reason I always get the bug to get crafty around Christmas. I found the cutest idea for a family advent calendar of fun things to do together. So I was able to hunt down the tools I needed (thanks mom and Audra) and put one of these together.
One of the nights was to put your kids down as usual but then after you tuck them in tell them to get up and get their coats on. We had hot chocolate waiting, the car running, and Mike drove us around while we listened to Christmas music and looked at the lights.
Here is a picture of our ward Christmas party. (As usual I forgot to bring my camera...had to use my phone one) Cole and Morgan were angels and Carson was a wise man. It was cute...anything with your kids in it is cute!
We went to Idaho and spent a few days there with family. We first stopped at my Aunt Kathleen's to have a little get together with Paul and Shana's family. So fun as usual!
Here is Morgan with her cute little cousins roaming around outside.
Morgan was pretty amused with this talking Santa Paul was holding. You could ask it questions and it would answer you back.
Carson decided to play with Shana's hair. She was in heaven and he thought it was pretty funny she was letting him have free rein.
I have always been really close with these guys. I spent a lot of great weekends out at my Aunt Kathleen's when I was growing up. It was fun and it still is so fun to get together with them. Family is the best!!
(As a side note, I am around 27 weeks in these pictures and this is why I try and avoid pictures towards the end....my nose and face starts to swell! I am vain!)
We stayed in a hotel while we were home this time and it was really fun. We had Cass and her family come over one night and we all went swimming.
Bella and Morgan are sooo cute together..I LOVE seeing them play! I'm not sure why Morgan has the pouty face though.
Here we are exchanging gifts at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Cole decided to give Grandma one of his teddy bears because he knows how much she loves them.
Here is my beautiful little sis Cassie. It was sure fun to see her and her kids.
Christmas Eve
We had just finished opening our new Christmas P.j.'s.
We had little elves come over this year and do the 12 days of Christmas on us. The kids loved it and looked forward to the door bell ringing those nights. Here is some of the loot from the elves they are modeling so enthusiastically.
There is a story to this desk here. We got this off KSL for $20 and Michael totally fixed it up. (Post on that to come.) This was Cole's Christmas present.
Christmas Morning
I think we had a super successful Christmas. The kids got what they wanted, we stayed in budget and paid in cash, and everyone was happy. This year was a little different because we had to get up and go to church at 9 am. So we let the kids open their stockings and one present and then we all got ready and went to church. It was a nice Christmas.