Christmas Day

Christmas morning with the kids was a complete joy. They loved all of their gifts (they got WAY too many...) and had fun playing with them the rest of the day. Parker & I managed to surprise each other with some gifts this year (usually they just don't stay a secret).
I didn't take any pictures (except this one in the afternoon) on Christmas day... I had the video camera going Christmas morning and we were just too busy helping the kids and enjoying the day... I just didn't pick up the camera. I need to get a picture of the kids in their Christmas jammies... so cute! They matched! I don't usually dress my kids up to match, but managed to find jammies this year that matched; that's not easy with a boy and a girl who are 2 sizes apart.

We opened presents, made & ate cinnamon rolls, I cooked our turkey, stuffing, gravy, rolls & jello salad for dinner that night with our friends and we relaxed. It was a great day. Later that evening, we joined some of our friends for a turkey and ham dinner and all the sides I could have imagined, plus homemade pumpkin pie! Yum! The kids all had so much fun together and will miss each other when 2 of us move in a few days. I wish I would have taken some pictures... I even had my camera... on the counter!

{Christmas Eve} Traditions at home

We decided to celebrate Christmas at our own home this year. (This became an even better idea when we found out the moving company would show up to our house Dec. 27th to start boxing up our things.) We had so much fun... unfortunately, I had a few things on my mind and my to-do list, so I didn't take a lot of pictures. However, we did get Christmas morning on video.
My "growing up family" has a tradition of opening up some specific gifts on Christmas Eve. This included the gifts from Grandparents. And since there were so many of us kids, we always drew names (it gets a little expensive to buy for everyone). Then, we would do our gift exchange Christmas Eve. Now the drawing pool consists of anyone not married... including my parents' kids and grandkids. Jackson got his gift from Uncle Josh and he LOVED it! (Nerf gun... see below). Parker and I have decided to continue this tradition as well as some others... and to start some of our own. In his "growing up family", they would load up in the car Christmas Eve to look at Christmas lights... when they returned they would always find a small token gift on the porch that had been left by Santa, often with a personal note. We did this too and Jackson especially got a huge kick out of it! He was talking in a shrill voice and jumping up and down... just the thought of Santa visiting our house!
Kate's baby doll (who sucks on her own bottle, giggles and cries) is from Uncle Christian... as you can see, she is totally in the "baby" stage and LOVED her gift too.
I practically had to pry it out of her hands to get the doll out of the box.
There you go... there's Jackson with his big, excited "I just dot my beary own shootin' dun! This is totally awesome!!" (his own words)
[Sorry these are a little out of order... I'm too tired to fix them]
[I cooked my first prime rib roast for dinner tonight and it was amazing... there really aren't words to describe how delicious it was. Typically, we both want to have Christmas dinner on Christmas day. However, this year we decided to get together Christmas evening with 2 of our great friends/families in our Ward for Christmas dinner. There was so much food and we had a blast together. Just a few days later 2 of the 3 of us would be moving, so it was important to us to spend this time together, especially since none of our extended families are close by.]
Can you tell we had red koolaid with dinner? Both of our kids have major red "mustaches".

Jackson opening his gifts from my Grandma Schwitters
Grandpa Pugmire and Tony(a) gave each of us married kids/families the Gospel Art Kit/Booklet and money to spend on things we may need or want for our family.
Jackson & Daddy told the story of Baby Jesus' birth and life using the pictures. (We are going to use the Christmas money toward Jackson's new bunk bed and bedding after we get settled in Eugene.)

We also read the Christmas story out of the Bible and sang some Christmas songs before we went to bed. Oh, and of course we left cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer.

Happy Birthday to Jackson!!! #3

Since we'll be en route to our "new place of residence" on/around Jackson's birthday, we decided to have a little party for him with some of his friends here before we leave. He LOVED it! Another family at church is in the same situation as us (job transfer, moving between Christmas & New Years)... their daughter, Rachel, celebrated her upcoming [5th] birthday too.
The day I was finishing (in the 6th hour) Kate's birthday cake, I asked Jackson if he wanted sports ball cupcakes... he was SO excited about this and let me tell you, so was I!!
Jackson was SO, SO, SO excited that we were singing to HIM and that he got to have "fire" on his cupcakes (which are not professional, but yummy & zero stress)

Even though his birthday isn't actually until Dec. 31st, he thinks he's 3 now because he had his birthday party and blew out his 3 candles. Kind of funny...
Rachel blowing out her 5 candles & her little sister helping her
Kate enjoying some frosting off of the princess ring from Rachel's princess cake
Cash excited about cake & ice cream
Jackson licked the frosting off of 2 cupcakes, then asked for more... (um, no way. I don't care if it's your birthday... )
Kate, not surprisingly, completely devouring the cupcake
Jackson & Rachel opening their birthday gifts from friends

Parker working on getting Jackson's new nerf gun out of the package so that he can try it out
by "he" I meant Parker (ha, ha, ha)... look how patiently the 2/3 year olds are standing waiting to see if Parker really is going to let them have a turn
Kate was so "naturally" hung out with Rachel and her new glamour/make up set... makes me a little nervous for the future! She can hold her own (I would call her a tomboy), but she is such a girly girl too! She loves "pretty" things, babies & anything soft.
Samantha, Ann & Rachel
Sammy testing out Jackson's gun
The kids were "playing" in Kate's room... I think they were giving me an opportunity to inventory EVERY toy that belongs in this bedroom
Jackson listening to Baby George's heart with the stethescope that came in his new Diego Rescue Pack
Dr. Jackson... what do you think?
(Watching a little Bill Cosby, Himself stand up before everyone went home)

SUPER Cousins!! (story in pictures)

Chloe, Kate, Jackson, Maddie (in order of height, not age...)