Christmas 2009

Christmas was an absolute ball this year! Christmas with kids is just so much fun. I get excited simply because they're excited. And I love Christmas anyway, so it's not like I have to try to get in the mood for it or anything.:)This is how Christmas Eve began (well, the actual evening anyway).....with another fat lip. I think somebody was getting a little bit excited and he kept getting himself into trouble. Anyway, he was supposed to be sitting in the corner on his stool and he couldn't sit still and fell over and hit his face. I cuddled him and gave him a cold washcloth for his bloody lip and then set him down to go finish dinner. Five minutes later, this is what we had. Poor, excited boy!! So....ignore the fat lip in the rest of the pictures.:)

Gramps came over for dinner on Christmas Eve. The kids had fun playing with him until he went home.

Haylee playing with a Christmas tree ornament as usual. This is why our play pen is set up. She began trying to pull the tree over and open up all the presents, so..... BUT, I just can't get over how pretty she is anyway.

I can't say enough how much I am in LOVE with this picture of these two. I caught it perfectly for once. They're so cute together. Hunter likes to boss her and mother her and take care of her. He also steals her new dolls and takes care of them and sleeps with them. Daddy's going to love that, I'm sure, but he's so nurturing and sweet and I love it.

Opening their Christmas Eve jammies. It was a tradition in my family and I loved it, so we carry on with it. I usually get them for Kyle and I too, but I never got around to it this year.

Modeling their pajamas. I tried to get them all to match and was actually somewhat successful. They looked so adorable! Granted, I always think my kids look adorable, but whatever.:)

It was so funny when the boys came out. They'd been asking for this Jeep for a long time. Hunter made sure to tell Santa that he wanted it. When he first saw it, we got a big "Ahhh!" and then he leaned back on the couch and said, "Cool...." He wouldn't touch it. It was so funny. THEN he had to check and make sure the battery was good before he'd even sit in it. He's such a boy.:)

Mommy helping Haylee open her present from Santa. She wasn't interested in helping except with the bow. She was so cute anyway though! And yes, I look tired.....probably because I was.

There's the excitement we're looking for! Haylee wanted that Jeep so badly.....the purple van she got from Santa wasn't nearly as cool apparently.

Haylee oohing and aahing about the doll she got in her stocking. She makes this face all of the time....and I LOVE it! Anything exciting happens and we get the "Oh" face from her. It's hilarious and incredibly cute. She was having fun at this point, but she quickly got overwhelmed. I had to open most of her presents and then put her down for a major nap. The boys were up at 7:30, so I woke her and probably shouldn't have. But I didn't want her sleeping through her first Christmas!

Testing out the new Jeep. Hunter was excited to be in control of that thing and I think Tanner was wondering why it was actually moving.:) Ah, such cute boys!

If those aren't faces that are happy to be driving a Jeep, then I don't know what are. And I love Tanner's new Lightning McQueen sweatshirt. He got it from his Great Grandma (my Grandma) and I just love the eyes on the hood (which is funny because I always swore that I would never let my kids have ANY character clothing.....obviously I gave that up a long time ago. ha ha). He looks so cute in it.

Tanner's turn to drive. This involved a lot of jerking and lack of turning, but it worked out fine.:) He'll learn. I think Hunter's scared to ride with him though..... They both LOVE this thing so much. Good thing Santa pulled through.

We got the boys toy guns from us. I've been adamantly against this for quite some time. I didn't want them learning how to use the real ones, but I gave up because they've been begging for them forever. Anyway, they instantly had to go and "shoot those darn birds." The hatchery has a huge bird problem.....due to the free, fresh fish dinner availability.....and Kyle's always off scaring birds and shooting at birds. The boys like to help in these little endeavors and they're very excited to have their own guns for this purpose. We also have a problem with woodpeckers. They're going to "get the darn birds that are making holes in our house" too.:) Oh boy.

On Christmas day we went over to Kyle's sister, Aricka's house for dinner. Here's Hunter playing X-box 360 with David. He was shooting some sort of wild beasts. Exciting.... But do you notice the video game face? You couldn't talk to him, he couldn't be bothered. He's only four and the curse of the boy who can't put down the controller is starting already. My older brother would be so proud.

Oh my. A Jeep that looks just like Daddy's. Kyle's already tried to steal it for his collection multiple times.....despite my lectures that the Jeep belongs to his son.

Tanner opening his present from Gramps. He was so into it that I couldn't even get him to look at me for a picture.:)

Moving on.....Xbox 360 to the Wii. The kid's addicted. Poor Tanner wanted to play, but isn't really old enough to understand what to do. Hunter was barely getting it which just exasperated poor Tailor.:)

We had a wonderful Christmas. I love this time of year.....I'm sure I've said that before. I love the peace that comes with the season, I love the lights and the happiness, I love the giving and thoughtfulness of others. Not as much a fan of the getting, but to give, someone must "get." It's a wonderful opportunity to bring smiles and service to others. Our family is abundantly blessed, with the birth and life of our Savior being the most valuable. I hope that as the years go by and my children are "spoiled" by those who love them, that I'll be able to teach them the immeasurable value of the real reason we celebrate this holiday. Merry Christmas and God bless.