{spreading the holiday cheer...}

what a fantabulous christmas we had!

it came and went with just the twinkling of these three little sets of eye's.

so before i forget just how magical it was, i better document it all... 

a christmas eve visit from santa claus.

  dinner and a show with kenny's family

the highlight of the season and the night... 

the sweetest little nativity you have ever seen with all the grand babies

 all nine of gramma sue and papa's grand kids

in their matching jammie's

 jude, ashton, tate, alex, lu-lu, ellie, crew, ryder & haws

leaving hot cocoa and carrot's for santa and his reindeer

christmas day

  we woke up to a room full of beautifully wrapped gifts from santa.

these little's were apparently very good this year.

i love when christmas falls on a sunday.

being able to go to church on the day we celebrate the birth of our savior was wonderful.

i spoke in sacrament meeting (3rd time in 6 months...ayi-yi-yi)

it caused me to really reflect on that first christmas night, long ago in a tiny stable.

 the reason for the season. amazing.

and to top off the perfect day, we were able to talk to our missionary brother.

his sweet spirit was beaming through the receiver of our phone. love him.

can't believe he will be home in 6 weeks. quickest 2 years ever!

 some classic children's quotes this christmas:

tate, upon returning home from a party on the 23rd at 10:30 pm:

um, mom...i need to make some changes on my list...

crew, christmas morning after opening his gifts:

so...i got a new xbox game for jesus' birthday?

crew 3, tate 5 1/2, haws 19 months

we hope your merry...was very!

xoxo



{let's look at the bright side...}

maybe he'll be an artist...???

i own one tube of lipstick, one. and now i own none. this is what i get for taking a shower while this one is on the loose. i have never had a child quite so, um...lets say, destructive.  if ever there are a few minutes of quiet with this one, it usually means something is goin down.

when i asked haws what happened he so proudly reenacted the event with a lego and a big cheesy grin.  sure makes it hard to be mad at that little face. love you little boy, but please, throw your mom a bone once in a while...

{making a list & checking it twice}

 this year i have tried extra hard to get all of the crazy out of the way so i can focus on the sweet spirit that this season brings. maybe in my next thirty years ill have it down,but probably not.

first on my list:
get these three little knuckleheads to hold still long enough for a christmas card pic.
lots of blood, sweat and tears, smarties and tootsie rolls and then of course changing my mind...sigh.

 second, finding the perfect tree with our cousins...family tradition.

third,

doing and seeing everything there is to do and see at thanksgiving point!

some stuff SO fun, and some stuff not so fun.

either way, i just love this season and wish it could last all year long!