We could not ask for more!!

Two days after Christmas we headed up to Big Bear for some family fun in the snow.  

 Everything went amazingly perfect. 

There was snow on the ground when we got there...

 ...the kids all made snow angels...

 ...we hung out with some friends...

...we caught snowflakes...

...we went sledding...a lot...

 ...we found a snowman...

 ...we found some BIG icicles...

...we climbed up a bunch of hills...

 ...we snuggled in the snow...

 ...we found the perfect picture spot...

...we posed for pictures... 

 ...and more pictures...

 ...we played with snow...

...we tried to get a good picture with Mom and the kiddos--impossible!!...

  

...we played a lot of games... 

 ...we read some books and relaxed in the warm cabin...

...we laughed...A LOT...

 

...and...TYSON LOST HIS FIRST TOOTH!!

A Mother's Christmas

From the time that first baby is born, everything changes...even Christmas.  A mom can no longer be just a gift giver and gracious recipient...she is now a "magic maker."  As much as I at times long to just be that kid that comes down to a living room transformed on Christmas morning, I love creating those magical memories for my little ones.

All the kids were tricky to shop for this year, but they were all VERY happy with what they got!!

 

Yes, Kya got her Orbeez Spa:)

And that air hockey table was for everyone, not just Tyson!!

Temple Lights

The temple seems an appropriate place to be this time of year!!  The lights are beautiful, and it's a nice reminder of the TRUE meaning of Christmas. 

 Me and my babies (a little fuzzy)

 Me and my babies again...did I mention it's impossible to get a good pic of the 4 of us?!

Me and the girls 

 Me and the hubs 

 
Tyson finally willingly posing for a picture 

Making shadows 

 Tyson's broken leg (JK) from rolling down the hill at the temple:)

Big Kid Christmas

Kids grow up...even at Christmas time:

They no longer want their picture taken with Santa...unless he is handing out cool puzzle erasers.

THIS year  

(luckily he was handing out cool erasers...and yes, Tyson is wearing flip flops at the Christmas Party)

They don't get excited to sit and read a Christmas picture book each night before bed.

LAST year

They really don't want to wear matching dresses for Christmas Sunday.

TWO years ago

 

They open their advent calendars whenever they feel like eating chocolate, not as they excitedly count down the days until Christmas.

They'd rather watch "Elf" or "Home Alone" instead of "Frosty" and "Rudolph".

They no longer think it's good enough to make each other Christmas gifts.

 And last, but certainly NOT least...drum roll please...they no longer need help making gingerbread houses!!! Can I do my happy dance now?!  It was actually a pleasant experience this year:)

TODAY

He was right on this one!

When Mike and I first got married, we had a conversation about Christmas traditions (actually traditions in general).  I felt like we needed to "make up" some traditions that we wanted to have, while Mike thought they would just happen as we went along.  Well, I was mostly right.  The majority of our traditions have in fact been planned...by me.  Although, there is one Christmas tradition (and one of our favorites too!!) that really did happen all on it's own.

I love Christmas tree ornaments.  When our kids were littler, we didn't have too many on our tree, and I realized they were quite expensive.  I thought, after Christmas I would let the kids pick out an ornament each since they were all on sale.  The next year we did it again, and then again, and again.  The kids absolutely love it.  They pick out their ornament (pretty much any one they want since they are usually on sale REALLY cheap), and then we wrap it up and pack it away until the next year.  When we open up the box of decorations the next year, the kids are so excited to open up their ornaments and remember which one they picked out the year before.

It is so cute to see what unique ornaments they each pick out.  Each ornament that belongs to them, really do suit their little personalities at the age that they picked them out.

Here's a few...

...of Jordan's...

  

...of Kya's...

 ...and of Tyson's.

Those Darn Commercials

It's that time of year when we make our much anticipated Christmas Lists.  I have mixed feelings about those lists 1) because I don't want my kids to expect to get everything on that list, 2) because it seems kinda greedy...doesn't it? and 3) I want my kids to be surprised on Christmas morning.  Anyways, regardless of how I feel, those list are made and posted on my bulletin board.  It never fails, every year the same kid has something on her list that I have never heard of.  You know why I have never heard of it?  Because I don't watch commercials!!!  I'm not sure why it's always Kya who gets sucked into these gimmicks, but it always is...always.

These unknown products, though different every year, all have some things in common: 1) They are only around for one Christmas (the year before it wasn't invented and the year after, it has been long forgotten) 2) They have some strange name 3) They don't last long.

Chrismas 2010, it was the Squinkies (that gumball looking contraption in the right of the picture that is filled with tiny plastic balls with tiny toys inside).  They were cute, but I have spent the last 2 years picking them up off the floor...and Kya has spent all of maybe 2 days playing with them!

 Christmas 2009 it was Pixos (that purple box by Kya's right shoulder).  Pixos are tiny tiny plastic balls that you use to make little pictures.  These have been spilled and picked up so many times, I finally threw them in the garbage...and Kya didn't even notice!

Last Christmas...well I can't remember what it was and I KNOW I didn't buy it!!

This Christmas, well looks like I'm going to have to figure out what Orbeez are...

Halloween "Fever"

Unlike Jordan who seemed to get a fever with every new baby tooth, and Kya who was born with a cold but rarely has been sick since, Tyson seems to get sick whenever great fun is to be had.  Every year we spend half of our summer visiting family in Canada, and every summer while we are in Canada one of us gets sick...and it is almost always Tyson. 

Well, yesterday {ON HALLOWEEN DAY}, I picked Tyson up from school and he said "Mom, I feel hot and tired."  I took his temperature, and sure enough 100.3 degrees.  I gave him medicine and he almost instantly fell asleep.  How was this going to work?  We had a party to go to, we had trick or treating to do, and daddy is in Australia!!  I frantically called on wonderful friends to take my kids to their parties and possibly trick or treating.  I was sure Halloween was ruined for Tyson and me.  Well, Tyson slept for a good hour.  He woke up fever-free and wondering why everyone was gone.  We raced to get him ready...fever or not, he was feeling better and I didn't want him to miss out on Halloween.  He raced from door to door, played all the party games, ate candy and stayed up past his bedtime.

This morning I took his temperature 99.6 degrees.  I guess he's staying home from school for some snuggle time with mom.  I am grateful he still got to enjoy Halloween...and that he's not throwing up!!