We LOVE Christmas

This Christmas started off with a huge surprise. The kids didn't know that Nana and Bompa were going to come visit us, so the Tuesday before Christmas I took Tanner for a little drive, we got lost and ended up at the airport. I got out to check on something in the trunk and said "Hey, Tan, I think there is someone we know." He got out of the car and caught a glimpse of Nana and Bompa, he almost knocked them over he was so excited. It took a while for his chin to get picked up off his chest, he barely knew what to say... he just kind of giggled the whole way home. Bryn was napping when we got home, we barely knew she was awake until we heard this big "NANA!" It was so much fun! I love surprises!

The week was full and overflowing with Christmas activities. Mom and I made Peanut butter balls, and thanks to her help they turned out a lot better than last year. We made cookies for Santa, decorated a gingerbread house, watched our share of Christmas movies, went on a walk at Tanyard Creek, went to the civil war museum in Pea Ridge, and of course mom and I were able to get away for a few hours for a mini shopping trip. We used to be able to take hours and just shop till we drop, but we've had to condense it a bit with little ones around. Its a smaller version, but still so much fun.

Christmas morning it was apparent that Santa had found us and the kids must have convinced him that they were on the good list. It is always so much fun to hear and see the excitement oozing out of them.

Tanner was having a blast, until he hit a few presents in a row of clothes.... that was not on his list if you can believe it. He wasn't too happy about the clothes, but he loves his new DS.

Bryn was content to take things at her own speed and wanted to play with everything before she moved on to the next present. All she wanted was a new baby doll and a cup cake maker. Oh, what fun that cupcake maker has already given us. It was later in the day we were finally able to make cupcakes and she wanted to give the first one to her Dad (I am giggling just remembering about this.) She was so proud and took it out to him. He took a bite and started to tell Bryn how yummy it was... then you could tell the full flavor of this yummy cupcake started to settle into the taste buds. He just looked at me with the best "this is the most disgusting thing I've ever eaten" face I have ever seen. But he held it together for Bryn. I was rolling on the ground it was so funny. (It may be one of those 'you have to be there moments' but I will get laughs out of this one for a long long time. ) I guess I hadn't shared the reviews I had heard about this cupcake maker, that the cupcakes taste like rotten bananas. Oh, how funny, I have tears in my eyes. Greg definitely earned a "Daddy Merit Badge" that day.

Kade couldn't have cared less about everything that was going on... all he wanted was the screw driver that Greg was using to assemble different things and the M&M's that he found in his stocking... maybe that was all the Santa should have brought. Huh.

Christmas was great we love to see it come and it was so fun to have Nana and Bompa with us this year. We know it is a special treat for us and we thank them for coming.

Here are some fun pictures from the week.

Sacrifice Well Worth It

I wanted to try a recipe I saw on one of my favorite blogs "The Girl Who Ate Everything" They were the Gingerbread Bars. My, oh, My they were delicious. I am afraid I ate the majority of them myself. Tanner was at school when we made them so it was just me, Bryn and Kade. The Gingerbread Bars were definitely worth it, and I have to say that the beating my kitchen took from a ignored 1 year old was worth it too. I don't know how I even moved around enough to make our treat!

This is another of Kade's favorite past times. He will climb in the cupboard and shut the door on himself. I've had to empty out this cupboard for him. But it is definitely worth the smile I get every time we play peek a boo.

I think he's climbed in every cupboard in our house- except under the sink in the kitchen. He is such a nut!

Joy

Ok, I've been informed that it's time to update the blog. (Thanks Nik) I admit, it has been a while and a lot of fun things have happened.

We were able to have Grandma and Grandpa Ralph come and visit for Thanksgiving. It was so much fun to have them here and we appreciate the time they took to travel and play with us.

We had the ward Christmas Party where Santa came to visit. Here is a picture of Tanner and Kade with Santa. Kade is still trying to figure out what to think of this guy with a hairy face, and Bryn would have nothing to do with him...in fact my ears just stopped ringing from the scream when she saw him!

We made sugar cookies to kick off the holidays. This is always a fun treat for me. I think, no, I know we eat more dough than is good for us... but it's our way of kicking off the holiday eat fest!

We had a short-amateur photo shoot for Christmas cards...don't worry, they are coming, but they will be a bit late... Notice how I had to do Kade separately? I am still working on mastering this 3 at a time thing. :)

Life is good and full. We hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas Season. I know we sure are!