Tonight....

The first two pictures are just added details from this years festivities.  Like I said,  the girls decorated this year.  When our TV is up, it covers the stockings completely. I laughed when I saw Camryn's touch to the stockings.  I bought the ballerina for her years ago when she was my "last baby".  She loves it and begs to hang it up every year.  Last year I said no because  I liked that all the girls were the same.  This year.....well, when mama's away, I have no say :) I thought it was pretty clever of her. 

Madison made her friends little jars of candy this year.  I loved that she used the cricut to put their initials on top.  She did a great job!

When we decided that we'd go on vacation this year for Christmas,  I opted for zero presents.  Well, Brian thought  we should compromise and just get the kids a gift from us.  I decided that sounded reasonable :)  So, tonight we had our little family Christmas.  It was memorable for sure.  Cole has no clue about anything really, but enjoyed unwrapping his gift.  Daddy picked it out for him.  

He looks like he's pretty into it huh?!  My baby is growing up!!!! :(

Bex is still trying to figure the whole Christmas thing out.  I think he's a year or so from really getting it.  His teacher came out today after school and told me he did the cutest thing.  I sent him in with a gift for her and told him to say "Merry Christmas Mrs. Heidi!"  When he handed it to her, he happily said, "Here you go Mrs. Heidi....it's Halloween!!!"  Ya, maybe another year or so.....haha!
 He is  pretty obsessed with Hot Wheels.  Anytime he sees a track or cars, he wants them.  Daddy made his day (yes, Brian did all the shopping.  He found some great Black Friday deals while I relaxed at home)!!

Happy Boy!!!  It's great to know that the crooked jaw pictures get passed down through generations.  Aunt HO and NO have the same one from years ago! Ha!

Camyrn was pretty excited about her CrazLoom.  Already made 3 bracelets.....

Get ready cause you're gonna think she got a car or something!!!  Haylee was pretty certain that Brian was going to come home from Black Friday shopping with her dream headphones.  She even waited up until 2am thinking he'd have them.  Well, he did, but had no plans to give them to the girls that night.  Even I was fooled.  He always has a better plan :)  Tonight was the night.....I don't even need to explain what we witnessed.  It was excitement and screams, and attacking sisters that went on and on.....

and on...

and on....

a little longer....

They were pretty excited to say the least.  I am so grateful that Camryn is attached to her Hello Kitty headphones still.  :)

Brian insisted I have something to open too.   Sunhat #3.....apparently you can't have too many!

I won't lie....I'm pretty excited to be able to wear it!!!

And because I had something to open, Brian knew I'd be ticked if he didn't have something.  He got himself a soft blanket.
Me: "Really babe....another soft blanket?"
Him: "Come feel how soft this is!" "And it's for when I sleep on the couch."

Bless his heart

A family gift.  The girls have recently become obsessed with this one.  I love Brian in the background enjoying his kids and their happy faces....

Camryn has been begging for a new robe.  And, she loves purple.  Score!

Isabelle asked for orange.....

Haylee asked for blue and Madison asked for pink.  Madison had a soccer game so she was busy getting ready during this picture :)

When I saw this mess, I was even more grateful that we kept it small :)

I am really loving and appreciating how easy it is to please the boys.  So much.  This is when age, experience, lots of kids and years of parenting comes into play.  I am soaking it up! It won't be long before cars and Little People don't keep them happy! :(

It's really hard not to get wrapped up in all the gifts and such during Christmastime.  We've really tried to help our kids remember what it's all about.  Celebrating the birth of our Savior.  I'm so grateful for all we've been blessed with and our beliefs that bind us to Him.
I'm excited to make awesome memories with my family this year during the holiday season.......

Da Weekend

Figuring out all sorts of inside entertainment.  Drums on baking dishes..

or on brothers head...

Looking so grown up with every minute that passes

Taking little brother on walks around the house.  We died when Bex was doing this.  He was literally giving Cole a home tour....."this is the kitchen"....

Brian and I snuck away ALONE to his work Christmas dinner.  We had such a great time with his staff.  And, opened some of the best white elephant gifts we've seen (the box that Karla is holding is an iPad....maxi pad with a goggly eye taped on it)......very clever!!  I soaked it all in....Brian has a great staff and has built an awesome practice.  It's very rewarding to celebrate his growth and success as a pediatrician. I'm so proud of him....  

We wear lots of cute hats these days to keep warm

Brian is a gingerbread house lover.  Me, not so much.  We make them every year, but this year opted for teeny ones.  They were perfect for the kids.  

Aubrey and Isabelle were proud of their creation

Even on this baby house, Madison took her sweet time :)

Kisses for biggest sister

So very serious

Cole would not be left out.  And daddy was determined to let him design.

Haylee and her friends have a tradition of kidnapping on birthdays for a yummy breakfast at Kneaders.  You can tell that Grace (on the right) was sound asleep on Saturday when the kids got to her house at 7am.  

I picked up 5 of them and others met us there

The gingerbread houses on display

Super-sonic bedhead!

Camryn wrote a letter to Santa(a while ago) telling Santa about our Christmas this year and asking that he give our presents to kids that need them.  Then we mailed it off to the North Pole!!

Coco is enjoying headphones in the car these days

Cole snuggled his brother for a long time after waking.  It was precious

Madison fell sound asleep under a clean pile of laundry.  Glad I hadn't asked her to fold it :)

How is it ALREADY mid December???!!!!

Madison and Co.

My Madison is sweetness.  She just is.  Always has been and always will be.  She holds a special part of my heart because she filled a void when she was born and Brian was gone for months. She really connected us during that time.
Middle School has been a pretty good transition for her.  She has lots of friends, but is very low key as far as being "needy" goes.  I don't think we'd know if she didn't have friends and ate lunch alone.  Sometimes it breaks my heart. She is very selfless and also falls in line behind a very loud and outgoing sister.....thankfully, they have a wonderful relationship and Madison is starting to break out of her shell too!!!  I love when she walks in the door from school super excited and goes on and on telling me about her day.  Her laugh is the best and always makes me laugh.
She's pretty content just hanging out with us on the weekends.  I know!! Booooooring! Ha! So lately, Brian and I have decided to help her plan some good times with her friends.  She loves to bowl so we thought it'd be fun to start with that.
Kennedi, Madison, Jocelyn and Sydni.  They are SUCH cute, fun girls.  I thoroughly enjoyed spending an evening with them.

We went down to FatCats in Provo.  After I got them settled and paid for endless drinks and chip/ salsa from Costa Vida, I headed to the mall for a bit.  Alone.....it was pretty awesome! :)  I love this girl so much!

It's so refreshing to be around happy teenagers that come from great families.   It still catches me off guard to listen to them while they talk about Young Womens activities, Girls Camp, Trek, Fast Sunday, and all the churchy stuff.  I am so grateful we live where we do.....such a blessing for my kids to have so many options for friends.  I love it!

Santa and the boys!

I decided to take the boys to see Santa while the girls were in school.  I was worried that my plan wouldn't work and figured less kids was best.  Boy was I wrong.  Bex was SO excited to see him (last year he screamed and shook if we got within eyesight of him).  He asked for candy for Christmas.  CANDY!!!  Oh, this little man will be easily pleased this year!  Poor Cole was not feeling well with his ear junk and by the look on his face, I'm sure his thoughts were, "Im not smiling mom, and why am I sitting on this fat man dressed in red???!!!"  I'm loving the picture so much.....glad we went!

FFF @ Temple Square

Keeping with one of our favorite traditions, we hit Temple Square on a cold, bitter night.  Forced family fun always ends  with great memories.  It's beautiful, even in the frigid weather.  Dad and his gang.....trying to stay warm.

The girls were all crazy/giddy.  The kind where they're all laughing at anything and acting goofy.  When our limbs started getting numb, I said all we needed was a family shot and we could go.
A cute sister missionary took this.  Hmm....I wonder why she didn't think Camryn, Beckham and Cole were part of our family.  We laughed pretty hard.....

Brian claimed this is his favorite tree.  Thought it was picture worthy too

1-2-3-4

Brian positioned the kids and we waited for the masses to pass so we could take a pic

Da Boys.  They didn't move for our entire trip.  Smart boys.

Much better family shot the second time! Ha!

Another one of Brian's favorite trees.....albeit fake :)

By the time we left, we were all nuts.  We were trying to race to the car to get warm.  

The girls all tried to help Brian push the boys faster to the car. When we got to our car, we were approached by 2 homeless men and decided to add to their night by handing them some money.  Tis the season.
I am not a fan of snow or cold.  But, we are embracing this wonderful time of year.  I certainly love the Christmas spirit, it's meaning,  and the good times spent as a family.