December 27th, 2008, REALLY?

Today Dec. 27th, 2008 was 70 degrees. What is up with that? It was pretty windy but we had to take advantage of the warm temp and go to the park. It was so nice to be outside and play!

Merry Christmas!

Our Merry Christmas began at 4:30 A.M. with two little anxious souls sneaking into our room to wake us up. We told the kids 7:00 but that just didn't fly with them. We really tried to hold them back until 6:00 but they were just too excited. So at about 5:30 we started in to the living room. Ryan and I figured it was payback for all those Christmas mornings we woke our parents up at 4:00.

The kids were so cute to watch. They really did a good job of taking their time opening presents and looking and playing with each one. I have such a hard time when they just tear open each present, don't give it a second look and are reaching for the next one. So thankfully they didnt' do that this time. Lacey's favorite present was the Barbie she wanted with brown hair (we didn't know that she wanted a brown hair barbie until two days before Christmas. Thank goodness the one we had already bought did have brown hair). She was also thrilled with Little Pet Shops and a Tinkerbell Fingernail Station.

Aidan's favorite presents were Pokemon cards, Bakugan, and a Darth Vader Space ship. You know when your kids are getting older when you no longer understand their toys nor do you think they are cute. I so desperately want Aidan to still love Lightening McQueen and Little People but I have to remind myself that he is older now and has moved on.

But the best Christmas surprise and gift was to Aidan and kind of Ryan too from Ryan's brother Derek. It was an XBOX 360. Aidan's dream. What happened is Derek had bought an Xbox 360 a couple of years ago and it broke. So he ended up buying another that had some upgraded features. One night while he was talking to Ryan he realized that the old Xbox 360 was still under warranty. So they made the arrangements to send it back to the company to fix it and then give it to Aidan. We didn't think this would all happen before Christmas but somehow it did. That was the package we were waiting for on Christmas Eve that Derek and Arden so kindly overnighted to us. It seriously was such a great surprise for Aidan. He told us later that maybe Santa told Derek that he wanted an Xbox 360 and that is how he got it. I'm sure it is Aidan, I'm sure it is. Derek is king and uncle of the century to Mr. Aidan boy for fulfilling his Christmas wish.

We had such a great Christmas. I missed being with our families but completely enjoyed doing Christmas in Kentucky.

Christmas Eve

Ryan got home from work late last night and I was so happy to have him back in time for Christmas Eve. We were prepared for Christmas so we had quite a relaxing day. We were anticipating a package from Derek that was overnighted to us with a BIG present for Aidan. We were so happy that the post office worked with us and called our cell phone when it did arrive (even though it was after hours for them).

We had a great night. We always act out the nativity and read the scriptures relating the story of Christ's birth and sing songs. The kids did a great job acting out the parts. Once our family is bigger I guess we will have more characters in our nativity.

(Do you like how Lacey put her teeny in her shirt to be pregnant?)

Cutest little Mary and Joseph you ever did see? Cassidy wouldn't sit still to be the baby.

After we opened our Christmas Eve pajamas. What a cute little bunch I have!

We made some fudge and rice crispie treats for Santa then had the kids write Santa a note. Lacey made sure the reindeer had some carrots and then we attempted to put the kids in bed. It took a couple of times of putting the kids back in bed because it was too hard to fall asleep, but they eventually did.

Tradition

Ryan has a family tradition of making gingerbread houses. His whole family, I mean WHOLE family gather together to make them. A usual turn out is about 30 people and a more candy than you can imagine. It is really fun to see what each person ends up making. Ryan is very well skilled in this art. I am still learning. We kept with tradition and made our own gingerbread houses. I know it wasn't the huge festivity it is with his family but we have to start small. I was proud that we made the frosting right and that our houses turned out so well. Lacey made her own and Aidan and I worked on one together. Ryan constructed his masterpeice alone. And yes, the kids insisted that candy corns were used on their houses. It is a sad addiction they have. We had a great time and loved keeping with tradition.

Hi! from Cassidy

She just started doing this today! So adorable. We can't stop waving at her.

Official Vist to Santa

We made our official visit to Santa tonight. We debated between the mall Santa and the Bass Pro Shop Santa where you received a free photo. Well, we went for free and went to Bass Pro Shop. Very Kentucky of us, huh? I was a little disappointed because Santa was a fake beard Santa and wasn't very cute. I'm all about the cuteness so next time we will go with the mall Santa. I even caught Aidan telling Lacey that he wasn't the real Santa. He was just a guy dressing up like Santa. The kids were great though. Miss Cassidy had just woken up so I expected horrific cries out of her but she didn't. She didn't smile but she didn't scream either. Lacey asked for anything girl and Aidan asked for an X-box 360. Shoot for the stars Aidan, shoot for the stars.

Along with visiting Santa, they had other fun stuff for the kids to do. Coloring, a rifle range, archery, and a remote control truck that you drove through snow. The kids a had a great time. We wondered around the store for a bit too and Ryan then had a great time!

A Must SEE!

If you haven't seen this video, you need to. I happened to see it on the news the other night and I replayed it like 5 times and then watched it over and over again on youtube. The first time I watch it, it makes me cry. Then the next four times I laugh because she is so dang cute. Now Lacey and I mimick what the little girl says all the time . Her little voice is so cute.

The Tree

We met Ryan after work to pick out our Christmas tree. We were all very excited! I wished it was snowing and that we were cutting down our own but having it be freezing cold and picking it at a little place on the side of the road will have to do this year. We found a cute tree that looks great.

We decorated it once we got home. I don't know why I think it is going to be a glorious event with everyone humming Christmas songs and happy and sharing. Well it turns out really that I am the one decorating the tree, which is fine because I'm picky about how it turns out, but most of the time I was telling the kids to stop fighting so they wouldn't break our ornaments. The kids did try to help but there seemed to be a mass congregation of ornaments right at their level. I do love putting up the tree. I love going through all our old ornaments to remember what happened the year we bought it or what it represents. I love seeing it all come together with the touch of some bows and ribbon, thanks to my friend Jamie who taught me how to do it. But we did have an incident I got ELECTROCUTED! Do you have to die for it to be electrocuted or is that anytime you get shocked. Well, anyway, I got ZAPPED by a string of lights. I guess it was better than our tree going up in flames. But it hurt and stunned me.
The finished look
Ornaments my kids made at the primary activity. Cute huh?

We found these cool glasses at a little Christmas store here in town. You put them on to look at Christmas lights and it changes the lights into little shapes. We have heart ones for Lacey and snowmen for Aidan. I took Aidan's glasses and took a picture through them. Can you see the snowmen? Isn't that cool?
We wore these around town the other night and it was so fun to see all the different lights turn into shapes. I think they are awesome!

Santa, Cassidy, Cassidy, Santa

Cassidy met Santa for the first time tonight at the ward Christmas Party. It wasn't too bad of a meeting at first and then...the tears set in. The other kids did pretty well. Lacey said it was a pretend Santa because she didn't see his sleigh. But she does know that elves are watching her so she better be good.

There is a little smile under there!

I figured it out.

I figured it out. Cassidy's infatuation with the bathroom is the tub. She crawls straight into the bathroom over to the tub and then pulls herself up to standing. It is the perfect height for her and it probably feels secure for her to stand next to. She doesn't pull herself up with anything else really. She absolutely loves standing there. She will be in there for quite some time just standing at the tub.

Today I set up some toys for Cassidy on the floor while I took a shower. Well, she just stood at the tub and kept opening the curtain. It was so funny to see her cute little face. I tried to shut the curtain several times but she would work her way back in. She got pretty soaked but she didn't seem to care. Here are some pics after I was done to reinact the moment. Just didn't want you to think I was crazy taking pictures while I was in the shower.