Christmas 2011

We spent Christmas with my family this year. Christmas Eve we spent hanging out and played some friendly competitive games, including cup stacking...

...filling pantyhose with balloons to look like a reindeer...

...and some cookie face race!

I think everyone had fun.

Christmas morning we let the kids see what Santa brought before we went to church.

After we got home we opened the rest of the gifts.

Ethan was probably the biggest gift giver of anyone. All month he's been wrapping up little trinkets to give to everyone. His cousin Spencer was spoiled the most. 

The highlight of the afternoon was when my grandma opened her gift from my grandpa. Grandpa passed almost 6 years ago, and yet every year she gets something special from him. We all just laugh when she opens it, because we all know that she bought it for herself! Well, this year my brother decided to play a joke on her and switched out the ring she bought and put in his own ring. Apparently when she bought the ring early in the year she wrapped it up right away, and had forgotten what it had looked like. When she opened it, we could all tell she was confused, but she was trying to look happy with her gift. Trevor eventually fessed up, so funny!

Our big family gift this year was an Xbox Kinect. They've been asking forever for a Wii or Xbox, so I thought we'd get a pretty good reaction when they opened it...wrong! They hardly reacted at all! Eventually after opening a few games I think it finally sunk in!

We spent the rest of the day spending time with family.



The boys loved being with their cousins.

A Special Visitor

This month we've had a special visitor at our house. We received a special package from Santa letting the boys know that he sent us this elf to keep an eye on the boys and make sure they were being good. The boys got to name him, and quickly picked "Sam". So, Sam has been with us all month. Every night he left and reported to Santa what he had seen that day, and when he got back, made himself a little more comfortable at our house. The boys have loved looking for him every morning.

We found him all cozied up in front of the tv...

...and using my computer too.

 Then he started having some fun. Like when we caught him in the act of sliding down the stair rails...

 ...and playing games with a new friend.

He also got into a little trouble when he started playing some practicle jokes on the boys!

Sam will be returning to the north pole tonight. He left the boys a sweet note letting them know that he was going to give Santa a good report, but also gave them some tips on some things they could work on.

We'll miss Sam, but we know that he has a lot of work to do, and that we'll see him next year.

Teddy Bear Love

 My grandfather had a huge collection of teddy bears. Growing up, I always loved going to my grandparents house and playing with all the bears. When each of us grandchildren were born, we were each given a bear of our own, and the tradition has continued with his great grandchildren.  I remember when my niece was born, and I went with them to visit my sister in the hospital. As we drove, he showed me the bear that he had gotten for her and said, "I don't know if I can give this to her, he's a good lookin' bear." He always picked out bears that he loved, and that's what made it so special.

My grandpa passed away just a few months before Porter was born. My grandma has carried on the tradition so each of my boys have a "grandpa bear". They each love their bears so much, and I love it! Even at 7 years old, when I check on Ethan at night, I find his bear clutched in his arms. I miss my grandpa, but with these bears, I feel like he is always close.

Some Needed Christmas Cheer

After being in and out of the hospital last week with kidney stones, I feel like I'm so behind on Christmas this year! I tried to keep some traditions going through the craziness, but a few were delayed. The boys have been begging to do our annual gingerbread house. We finally got to it tonight.

They always do a great job, and take it very seriously! ;)

Rob is usually the creative mastermind behind the project. I was pretty impressed with their creation this year.

Ethan couldn't wait to dig in!

I love these boys!

A Little Bragging...

Today both my boys received awards for being on the honor roll. We are so proud of them, they work so hard and love school.

Ethan also got to wear the first in math badge today for being the top player of the day. He was quite proud to display both!

After watching all the kids go up on the stage, Lincoln decided that was where he should stand too.



He has good examples to look up to, and I'm sure he'll be there one day too!