EVE!

I can't believe we are already at the end of 2014!  Doug took the day off work and we bought tickets to Eve--a celebration downtown.  Doug and I spent the morning working out together and Ethan joined us (in his new robe)!

We took the kids to Discovery Gateway and they never wanted to leave.

We hung around until the bounce houses opened (too late!) and the kids played fast and furious for about an hour.

Doug went to get the car to pick us up and couldn't call us to tell us he had arrived.  We sat building Legos while he was trying to reach me to tell me to come outside.  Oops.

Christmas Day

There is something so wonderful about Christmas morning.

We found some steals on KSL and also had some things they were needing.  Got to love Black Friday!

Ethan and Sydney had picked out gifts for each other.  It was SO awesome to watch their excitement in seeing the other open their present.  Ethan gave Syd a Disney princess castle.

Syd gave Ethan a new Magnadoodle because his broke.

In true "mom" style, I got a griddle…and I was so excited!  I have arrived.

Razor scooters…they rode them around the kitchen until we pulled the cars out of the garage and let them ride around in circles for as long as they want.

Ethan and Sydney picked out presents for Lyla using Huggies points from when they, themselves, were in diapers.

I was so tired of hearing them complain about being cold in the morning, so they got some bathrobes.

I also got a pull-up bar to mount to the wall!

Ethan shocked us when he copied the bear on the packaging of the Magnadoodle and did a really good job!  This kid LOVES to draw.

We made teddy bear pancakes and had a yummy breakfast together.

We had a great gift of a white Christmas.

We HAD to then take their sleds and hit a sledding hill.  I was surprised how patient they were climbing up the hill.  It's tough work for those little legs!

We had a little dance party before bed in their new Elsa and Anna pajamas.  Can't get enough of their dance parties (well, most of the time).

Christmas Eve

One of our favorite traditions is going to grandma and grandpa Beckstrand's house and opening presents on Christmas Eve.  We exchange gifts with each other (we draw names several weeks earlier) and my mom always gives the kids their pajamas.  

We are slowly getting a system in place for Christmas decorations--where they go and how to hang them.  I went to the store and bought 4 hooks…not thinking that I would need five.  Doug never had his stocking up this year.  Sorry babe.

We had kept track of the reindeer dust for weeks and remembered to sprinkle it so Santa "would know where to find our house."

We read the Nativity story and (tried) acted it out.  We'll get better at this!

Food!

Lyla is a resourceful girl.  If she's hungry, she will grab cold cereal out of the pantry and get into it!!

Doug has an annual tradition since we have been married to make peanut brittle and carry on his dad's tradition.  We made it again this year and Doug dreads us upgrading our countertops because these ones "are so much better for making peanut brittle".

Doug took the kids to the Merrill's house while I was at work and they made some killer snowmen.  Couldn't help but enjoy a photo.