Christmas at home

Hunter chose to do Snowboarding as his "everything" for Christmas this year.  I started worrying about this kid not having anything to open (since we've already taken him snowboarding!)  We wrapped up his boots and it was sorely disappointed when he opened that box to realize we hadn't gone out of our way to get something big for him!  

Cole was SOOOO excited about giving me a special gift he had bought with his own money.  We were lucky enough to run into a friend from church when we were at Walmart a couple weeks ago - she took him by the hand and helped him find what he was searching for.  (the store help wasn't much help when Cole asked)  Even before the stockings, Cole kept asking for me to open my present first.  It was a sparkly heart necklace and matching pink sparkly earrings - so precious!

monkeys were flying through the air!

About Danny - I had been so worried about Hunter not having gifts to open (but Shayne made him several funny t-shirts that were perfect!) that as I wrapped gifts I quickly realized I only had 2 presents for Danny.  That was not going to be a good thing - this kid is easy to please but not having something to open while his brothers open everything else?!?!  I started to raid the house for things I could wrap up.  Luckily, I found a few gifts that could be "gifted" and he was happy as could be to have presents to open.  He was disappointed that Santa did not bring back the lost teddy bear though.... sigh.  I don't know where he lost that little bear and I couldn't find a look-alike this year.  Thank goodness he didn't mind the assortment of "gifts" he's already had... ha ha.

Here is Danny with his Hippo Stuffie from Santa.  He did ask for a Hippo this year.  I said, "a Hippo?  We can't fit a hippo in our house!  and he explained, he only wanted a baby one - because they are tiny.  Thank goodness Santa found a solution that made us both happy!

That symbol on Cole's shirt is "coal" in the Minecraft game.  Awesome shirt.

and what did this goodlooking guy get?  drumroll............ a wallet.  And a cheese slicer... it was an exciting year!  ha ha.  Actually - our gift was skies, boots, and a punch pass to the nearby Ski Resort.  This is the year to find out why we can be excited when it's snowing!

Later, we had Brian's family over dinner.  Devri made yummy cheesy potatoes (we ate every last bite of them too) and I had made a scrumptious salad (my current favorite with pears, avocado and candied pecans).  I also set out my china - which was a first for me.  It was fun to make the table extra special for our extra-special guests.  Yeah for family and yeah for a wonderful Christmas!!

With the family...

Shayne's Aunt Laura had all of the family over to give us a chance to visit and catch up with one another.  We saw cousins we hadn't seen in a year - or more! - and simply enjoyed being together.  Cole stood up and sang "Jingle Bell Rock" with Grandma playing piano for him - what a trooper!  

Here is our family with Great Grandma

And my favorite part was Skyler raiding those plates of goodies.  I think there was 1 bite in everything - thanks to Skye.  He was climbing up on the chairs here, reaching over for cookies and looked back to Aunt Laura and gave the most hearty, deep laugh a 2 year old can give at the site of all those goodies.  Oh, this kid is going to have withdrawals after this week of parties and sweets!!

Once there was a snowman...

The boys had a snowman contest - and I wasn't allowed to say they all win.  I agreed to judge - it got them all scrambling to win the contest.  And honestly - they all made fantastic snowmen!

notice that Hunter's snowman has legs and feet - that was the clincher for the winning title this year.

Christmas with Nana & Papa

Nana made a special blankie for Danny (as he requested many times!) and I wish I could have captured the GLEE when he opened it!  She also made special pillowcases for each of the boys.  Later that night, Danny lamented that it was too bad for everyone else that he got the best presents - super hero pillowcase, the special quilt, AND a spider book.

Skyler has figured out the "presents" thing this year.  He was moving kinda slow so Daddy encouraged him to bite it open - he still listens to his daddy... 

Cole got a super slime-making kit.  The next morning he was mixing up "top-secret" and "rubber" slime - a perfect gift for our scientist!

Hunter got the complete series of 39 clues - He's almost finished a book a day!  I'm constantly finding lights left on in my car (cabin lights) because he's reading every chance he can get as we go to family events every night this week!

It's a good thing my parents spoiled Danny - we sure didn't do a good job of that (details later!)

Overalls

I've been wanting to do this post since this summer - but December is better than never.

Here is a picture of our nephew and nieces - I think this was in 2000.  They're all teenagers now.

Here's my youngest wearing the same overalls.  All my boys have worn these overalls (I think we have two of them!)  We've enjoyed a good amount of hand-me-downs through the years - most show the wear and tear, but these still looked new!  And even 13 years later, they are still adorable.  I just had to show you the picture to prove it!

And here is Skye with Brooke - she was on the far right in the first pic!

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!

Traps and trapped

Danny has been building "traps" everywhere.  He'll tie ropes, elastics, anything at his disposal to door knobs, stair railings - etc - all to make a "trap."  The other morning, I was in my room getting ready.  Danny came in the room asking about a special bag he was going to take to preschool that day and when I told where it was, he ran off excited to get it.  Then there was screaming and wailing.  This little guy had set a trap upon waking up - across our hallway between the two closet doors.  When he ran out to get the bag, he clotheslined himself - across the face - and got himself REALLY GOOD.  I tried to take a picture that night of the line going across his nose/face.  I know I should have been sad with him, but I was laughing.  He honestly had done that only MINUTES before coming into my room.  I guess it was a good trap!!

He's TWO!!

It's hard to believe that my baby is 2.  He's growing up so fast.  It's cliche, but I swear I only had this kid a couple months ago!  And now he's talking, has opinions, and is even getting louder to compete with the noise level already in our home.  

We took Skyler shopping for fish for his birthday.  I think daddy had the most fun picking out the fish - I wish I had captured him in action.  Skye loved all the animals.

He kept pushing this little ladder around to be able to peek in at the rodents.  I couldn't get him away from that area!

At home, we made the yummiest lemon cake ever.  We had a little birthday party for just our family.  He loved blowing out the candles.  So, we did it again.  And again, and again.  He was singing the birthday song to himself as I put him to bed that night! 

A few days later, Grandma & Grandpa brought over a gift for Skyler - it's a Fart Gun.  (yup!)  I guess it plays a role in the Despicable Me 2 movie.  Well, you should have heard the giggles Skyler had with Grandpa playing with his gun.  I absolutely adore this pictures - you can almost hear the laughter!  Thanks Grandma, Grandpa and Cherae for the giggles!

All about Skyler:

He loves, adores, and loves even more all his blankies - but there is one with priority (Thanks Aunt Martie)

Every morning he comes to our room, sho (show) pease, ceral (cereal) pease!

He likes to fix his hair while I do mine.  I put in mousse and he has to have some too, we both pat it into our hair and go about our busy day

He sings in the car with the radio

His run is adorable

Loves slides and being outside

Loves his big brothers.  He especially loves to have "snuggles & snores" with Cole.  They'll cuddle up on the couch together and make little fake snoring sounds and pretend to be asleep

Loves the Waterford alphabet videos

Loves fish, doggies, and especially chickens (bawk-baa's)

He screams "a-pillar" as we walk through the dairy section until Mommy figures out he's trying to get a can of whip-cream to make a "caterpillar" on his finger

He makes everyone smile around him - you just can't resist loving this little boy!

Our southern get-away

Shayne had a conference to attend in Vegas - so we made it a family affair.  We played in St. George the first day, then went to Zion's National Park (no, I did not hike Angel's Landing during this trip) and then we went to Vegas for a few days.  It was nice to be warm.  It was even harder to come home to the snow.

Zion's National Park
Emerald Pools Hike - we went all the way to the third pool (which is a feat for these little feet).

He managed for a little bit of time with Skye on his back - not very long though.

Vegas
I didn't take pics - we were just chilling and using the hot tubs.  But we did make it a point to take the kids to the famous Pawn Shop (from the History channel).  That was neat to see in person.