Christmas and New Years

I can't believe how quickly Christmas has come and gone and now we are halfway through January! But what a great Holiday season we had! On the 23rd we got together with the DeMille's and ate dinner, played games, exchanged gifts and the kids got all their gifts from Grandma and Grandpa! WOW!!! is all I can say! They made a haul! After that we didn't even need to have Christmas. They all got tons of clothes and some toys, but the biggest surprise was a little 4-Wheeler and some helmets!! It was so much fun to see their excitement and spend the time with family. (I didn't get any good pictures of the Boys on their 4-wheeler cuz right as I walked outside to take one I slipped on the icy stairs and fell with MaKelle in my arms and then I never got any pictures.)



On Christmas Eve we did all the last minute shopping and wrapping. Then that night we went and looked at Christmas lights and the kids got to open one gift which of course was jammies. We read a Christmas story left cookies for Santa (which Brianna had made for us - Thanks Bree!) and went to bed EARLY!! Christmas morning was so FUN FUN FUN!!! The kids loved all their gifts, and could have played all day if we didn't tear them away to go to Grandma and Grandpa's for Breakfast Casserole. They got Star Wars toys, Brock got a new bike, Corbin got a Superman fishing pole, and the babies got a little kitchen and some sippy cups! We had a lazy day playing with new toys, lying around, cleaning up Christmas morning, and just enjoying the day!



The Day after Christmas we went to St. George and had a Christmas Party with my family. We ate more yummy food, exchanged and opened gifts and of course had a program. We stayed the night there at the Worldmark and went to Jumping Jacks the next morning for a combined Birthday party for my niece Ashlynn and my Nephew Luke! The kids always have so much fun there on the big blow-up bounce houses. Daxton and Makelle even went down the slides! :) Then we came back to the condos, ate lunch, sang Happy Birthday, ate cake, and opened presents!! What a fun and eventful time it was! Thank you Family for such a great Holiday!!



New Years Eve for us this year was low key but exciting! We went to Grandma and Grandpa's for some pizza dinner and then stayed and played games. We celebrated with New Yorkers and brought in the New Year at 10 o'clock by banging some pots and pans outside in the freezing cold! Mostly it was just Brock and Corbin - they loved it! And then we went home and put our kids to bed early. (Well early for New Years Eve) On New Years Day we went down by Virgin and did a little four wheeling in the snow and mud with the DeMille's. We got the boys little wheeler muddy for the first time! All though it was a little cold we all had fun and even all the babies went! Brock did really well driving the wheeler all by himself! Then we headed home and went out to dinner so that I didn't have to cook! (yeah!)

SNOW SNOW SNOW

We got some good storms this winter that brought some good snow! So we took all 4 kids out to play in it! The twins enjoyed being pulled around in the sled by Blake. And then Blake helped the older boys and some of their friends on our street to build a snow fort! They loved it and started planning out their big snowball fights they wanted to have the next day! What FUN!!

Poopin' Pine Needles

I know it sounds disgusting but it is true. I was changing Daxton's diaper a few days ago, and yes I look at the contents, and I noticed a pine needle. You would think that it wouldn't feel so great to swallow and digest. I did try to vaccum them all up but I'm sure he found one near the tree since they love to be near the tree and play with whatever is in reach. It makes me think how many other pine needles or other things for that matter that they may have eaten!

WOW I Need to Catch Up!!!

Well I realized that Christmas is upon us and I haven't even blogged about thanksgiving!! (and everything since then)

Thanksgiving

For turkey day we went to Blake's parents house and ate dinner with his family. All the food was delicious, and the company even better!! We hung out and played games and it was all so fun and relaxing! And of course I got up early the next morning to fight the crowds at Wal-Mart!



Tree Hunting

Then We had to go Christmas Tree hunting! Every year we go up to the DeMille's property and cut down a Christmas Tree. However the roads were too muddy to make it up to the top where all the good tree picking is, so we really had to hunt! Blake did a lot of hiking around and finally found the one. We also found one for Brock and Corbin's room. We get a small one for their room every year and next year we will have to start getting one for Daxton and MaKelle's room. We had a lot of fun hiking around and playing in the little snow there was! Dax and MaKelle slept most of the time in their car seats in the truck which was nice cuz I didn't want to have to worry about them being out in the cold or being stuck in the truck! I will have to take a picture of the completed tree and post it later cuz I haven't gotten a picture yet!



Neilson Family Christmas Party

On this same Thanksgiving weekend we got together for a Christmas Party. Every year Blake's Mom's Family gets together for Christmas! Since the family is getting so big, we had it at the church this year and all the kids (old and young) had so much fun. Brianna, Blake's sister, and his Mom did a video of pictures from over the years of a family tradition they have of dressing up as the people in the nativity. And of course Santa Clause came! It was Blake's cousin Jerry and the kids really enjoyed him! It was fun to get together and visit and eat good food!



Decorating

Once we got the trees in and set up it was time to decorate. I really dread putting up Christmas decorations, but once it is all done I absolutely love it! Soit took me 2 days to get it all done, and then I was still doing little things for about 3 or 4 more days. We had to decorate the trees first and the kids had so much fun decorating their own tree. MaKelle and Daxton loved the lights and playing with the ornaments and Brock had to meticulously place each ornament while Corbin just put them all in pretty much the same place where he could reach! All in all it was fun even though it was work!



Moving On

The babies sat in their highchairs and ate at the table for the first time! Daxton pretty much just wanted to chew an a banana peel, gross!




Elf's and Candy Houses

At our house we are fortunate enough to have one of Santa's elf's to watch over us and report back to Santa. Elmur is our little friendly elf who helps us stay on the good list! So Brock and Corbin wrote their letters to Santa and left them under their newly decorated tree. The next morning they were so thrilled to find 3 presents under their tree from Elmur. One for Brock, one for Corbin, and one for all 4 kids! Brock and Corbin got some advent calendars with chocolates in them, and all 4 kids got a gingerbread house. When we finally got around to making the gingerbread house the kids had so much fun! I think Corbin ate more candy than he stuck on the house! MaKelle was even so thrilled about getting her hands in the action. Unfortunately Daxton was asleep and missed out, but next year I'm sure he will be a huge help!!



Dickens!

We got to go down to St. George to the Dickens festival! My Mom helps with the entertainment every year and so do my sisters JJ and Emily. So we go every year and look at all the booths, do a little shopping, eating, and of course we have to see Father Christmas! (he is an awesome Santa!) We also got to stay the night at a condo with my mom and go swimming, yes it was still warm enough, and I even got to go see Twilight with a few of my Sisters! It was so FUN to hung out with them! (We need to do it more often guys!) I was so brain dead and didn't take many pictures except this on of my boys performing on the stage at the Dickens Festival!



Christmas Parade!

We went to Cedar's Christmas Cavalcade Parade and of course it was fun for the kids! My nephew Landon got to dress up like Batman and ride on a float that was a blue train. He was so CUTE!! The kids stood on the side of the street and by the end of the parade they were practically in the middle of the street. Corbin's favorite part was seeing Superman, and Brock's favorite part was seeing the Star Wars characters! My batteries died in my camera so I only got one picture of Daxton with Aunt Bree.



Advent

Every year my family has a tradition to celebrate advent by getting together on the first Sunday of December. We eat dinner, light a candle on our advent wreath, open gifts and talk about the nativity. I had it at my house this year and even though we were missing some of my siblings (who were greatly missed) we still had a good time and enjoyed ourselves. The kids even sang a few songs and put on a program for us!



Shopping Trip

Last but not least my 3 youngest kids and I went up to stay with my Mom and Dad in Syracuse and do a little Christmas Shopping. It was a fun and quick little get away! The drive home however was something I vow never to do again. I was all alone with all 3 kids and had to pull over one too many times to care for crying babies. I don't suggest it to anyone! Sorry you had to endure such a long blog. Next Blog - Christmas!! YEAH!!!!!