Christmas!

We tried really hard not to go crazy this year. Last year got a little out of hand. We did better, but there is such a temptation to spoil your kids rotten around the holidays. Plus, everybody else purchases gifts for them too. Sometimes I find it challenging to teach the spirit of Christmas when we fall into the trap of commercialism. Next year I hope to be better. I want to imprint a spirit of gratitude into my children. I know very well that the best way to do that is NOT to smother them with gifts. Still, we had a beautiful Christmas. Everybody had a wonderful time, and got spoiled and managed to eek out some gratitude so I would say it was a success.

This might not be the girls' favorite present, but it's mine!  4 foot tall paper dolls that you get to color the outfits.  So fun!

Ekco got a lot of cute clothes this year, partly because she needed them and partly because she's at that age.  She is kind of outgrowing toys.  I remember my tenth Christmas.  I got $100 to go on a shopping spree with.  I can vividly remember the outfits I bought with the money.  Like I said, it's the age.  Christmas isn't quite the same when you start outgrowing toys, but Ekco still made out like a bandit. 

It's become a tradition for me to make an annual calender.  Again, I'm not sure if it's better for me or the recipient.

Ekco also got the dolls, though she hasn't opened them yet so is unaware of their true value of fun, particularly for as aspiring fashion designer.

We had to wake up very early because Kylee had to be at her mom's at 7.  The kids anxiously awaited every one's arrival... okay, they might have been half asleep, but they were still anxious.

And they are present opening machines.  They know what they're doing!

Santa delivered getting Xiana her desired Dora and Ekco speakers for her ipod.

Kolton got a few v-techs, a bunch of balls, and some cookies.  His favorite things were: wrapping paper, pencils, and candy wrappers.

Santa also brought a whole bunch of bubble gum.  Grandma put her foot down and said that the gum couldn't be opened there.  We argued it was a perfect excuse to get new flooring.

Our little family... that's getting bigger all the time.  It was wonderful to wake up together on Christmas morning.

Looking at this picture I realized we didn't make it home with this ball...

The kids had a blast... I'm not sure how many bags of wrapping paper there were.

There was scarcely space to sit... let alone take pictures :)

Ekco also got a new journal to write in and to work on her story.  She has been writing a delightful story that we are going to have printed in a book when she's finished.  Merry Christmas!!  (bleated)

Gingerbread houses

Okay fine, they're actually Graham cracker houses, but there are adorable nevertheless. There was no shortage of candy and treats over the break. The kids did an excellent job decorating their houses.

But the funny thing is that the adults who made houses took about 100 times longer to make their perfect houses than the kids. I daresay they enjoyed it more too!

Ekco was with her mom the day the kids made them, but grandma Andersen is ever so thoughtful and made sure there was frosting left over for Ekco to make her own beautiful creation.

Service

I have to admit, I feel like I completely and utterly dropped the ball this Christmas with acts of service. Xiana is old enough now to appreciate the value of giving, particularly at the holidays. Next year I am going to be much better. This year, the only baking I did was for my visiting teachees, I didn't make cards, and we didn't do very much in the way of angel trees and such. Fortunately, my sister-in-law and mother-in-law arranged to have the cousins visit the elderly. Debbie backed like a machine creating goodie baskets for each of the 13 residents. Dawnette got all of their names so that the kids could make cards more personal. I'm so grateful to them for organizing this so that we didn't escape the season without feeling like we made someone else's day a little brighter.

Debbie got reindeer horns for all the kids and they were more adorable than words can say.

Especially this little Rudolf.

The kids sang four songs and then Ali and Larry did two beautiful and fun duets.

The residents were touched.  I think every person we spoke with commented on how wonderful it was to have children there.  They spoke of missing their grandchildren, children, and loved ones.  The kids handed out the baskets with the accompanying cards they made.  The residents gave kisses, held hands, and smiled from ear to ear.

One nurse, despite being cynical at our arrival, was touched and cried before we left. 

The kids did a wonderful job and it was so special to see how they understood that they had been influential on the spirit's of the elderly. 

It's been a year!!

I don't know how it's possible, but I haven't been to Battle Mountain for a whole year! Not since last Christmas. We knew when Ekco moved to Fernley we wouldn't be traveling there as often, but a whole year is a long time! It hadn't been as long for Brian thankfully. Kolton traveled well, sleeping most of the way.  Brian's dad has a little doggie that barks and wags his tail.  Kolton was in love.  He kept picking that little puppy up and trying to grab his nose.

We stayed at Brian's brother's house this year because the WHOLE family (minus Jeff and Jen) came so there wasn't room for everybody at his folk's.  It was fun to get to know my sister-in-law better and let the cousins have a chance to hang out a little more.  The disadvantage was that everybody got sick... more on that later.

Kolton was a happy little monkey getting into things and eating his first dog food.

Xiana and Haylee were real monkeys trying their ability at flipping...

repeatedly!

With so much family there, the gifts piled up.  The stash just got bigger and bigger and bigger.  It was really fun to get the kids together and to share Christmas morning as a big family.  We got there a few days early because for Brian's mom's gift, the boys redid the floor in her bathroom.  I don't know how I got away without a picture, but it looked great!

Pre-Christmas

We went to Brian's good friend Al's house before leaving for Christmas and they spoiled us rotten. They got Xiana a backpack and a Barbie computer, which she loved!!! They got each of us thoughtful and kind gifts. We cherish them in our lives. They live quite close and act as pseudo grandparents to the kids. They brighten our lives, and they adore our children. They don't have little ones nearby so I dare say it is a symbiotic relationship.

Santa

Our ward had breakfast with Santa. It was a rip roaring good time. The Elder's quorum was in charge and, because Brian is in the presidency, we were one of the chosen families. Everything went off without a hitch... well, except that there was no sound for the movie, but more than one person commented that it had a masculine vibe to it so we contributed it to them. Details. Who worries about the details anyway? It was successful nevertheless, and the kids were beside themselves with excitement to meet Santa Clause. The young women pretty much take care of our kids at all ward gatherings now. My calling is perfect!!

I managed to capture a shot with both of them on Santa's lap.  Xiana told him she wanted two Dora sets and, true to her word, she stuck with it.

The kids were captivated by the stories, movie, and time with one another. Brian made an excellent pancake chef, and there was food left to feed an army. It was a great, albeit tiring, morning.

Quite the light show

This house had the most spectacular, synchronized light show I've ever seen. It was so fun to go several nights in a row. The man spent 300 hours on it. It was breathtaking....

And apparently tiring.

Christmas dress take 1

Xiana's Christmas dress made its first debut the week before Christmas because we were going to be out of town for the holidays. Pretty darn cute if you ask me. Of course, this will not be its last appearance, but that's not to sell the experience short!

Don't forget about me!

Kolton has reached the awesome age of wanting to be involved in everything. I love this stage. I love that he can see when we are playing games, hanging out, watching movies, and knows if he is being left out. He will not stand for it. If we try to put together a puzzle, he sits on it. If we try to read books, he grabs them out of our hands. We've learned the best tactic to deal with this is... to let him play!

For Brian's birthday I used an idea from pinterest. I did a year of dates. I was quite pleased... I dare say more so than him. For every month I wrote a little letter with memories from previous years or similar dates, then I included gift cards, vouchers, or homemade coupons for the rest. I can't wait to use his birthday present throughout the year.

An honest tale of lanterns

This fun, easy project was a nightmare. I told Xiana that we were going to make them. Melt downs ensued. I threatened that we would not make them. Melt downs ensued. After multiple hysterical fits, pleading, crying, fighting, begging, and several days probationary period, we finally got to make the lanterns. They are cute, but I know for a fact that next year... there will be no lanterns!