Christmas Jammies 2010

One of our Christmas traditions is to get new jammies on Christmas Eve. The kids look forward to this every year. Emily picked out her own jammies while we were shopping for the kids' jammies one day. She also picked out her new bathrobe! She was still surprised when she opened them up tonight.

They also get to open the present from their sibling who drew their name. The kids had fun right away tonight. More photos to come...

Then my girls stayed up and cleaned up the kitchen and house so it would be spotless for morning. That was a great present to me!

Visions of sugerplums....

Katie and Carson have spent quite a bit of time right under the tree today. I am not sure why, but they were quiet and getting along so why not?

You'd better not pout...

Emily was so excited to go and see Santa at the mall a few weeks ago. We were so surprised that she was so happy to see and talk to a virtual stranger. We told her before we got there that he was a grandpa and a nice guy. She told the ladies in the store where she changed into her pretty dress that Santa was a good guy.

A Song, Santa, and Reindeer

Katie signed up at school to sing a solo at this outdoor Christmas concert at a local business park. Katie sang at the end of the schedule so there was no one there but our family to listen to her. We assured her that was the best way to do your first solo performance, not so nerve wracking! There was a Santa in one of the businesses that you could take your own photos with. Luckily Emily had a successful Santa visit at the mall a few weeks ago since she wanted NOTHING to do with this Santa. However, the "Big" kids all had to sit with Santa for a photo! We actually got to pet a real, live reindeer too! It was a cold and rainy day so to warm-up we made off quickly to see the Guardians of Ga'hoole movie at the cheap seats in Nampa.

Let the festivities begin...

Hello Santa....

When I went to see if Emily was awake this morning I found her just
laying in bed talking to Santa.

"Hello Santa..." said Emily,

followed by some discussion that was undecipherable to me.

We have tried to get Emily to sit on Santa's lap a few times without success.

She will wave to Santa on signs in the store and

now she will talk to him while laying in bed....maybe a photo with Santa next year?

Christmas Cookies....

We decorated Christmas cookies with Grandma Lockhart last week. The girls really got into the details on their cookies, carefully placing their decorations. It is a good thing I took a picture while they were decorating since they didn't last long after they were done decorating!

The Children's Christmas Tree

We have two trees at our house each Christmas. One for the children and one for me, more formally decorated. Jonny's first Christmas he was given and ornament from our friends/Grandparents, The Manns. The next year or two they continued to do so. So I decided to do the same and continue that tradition for each of my children. So now each year the children get a new ornament to put onto their tree. As you can see their tree is filling up. You can't see the ornaments on the sides and towards the back of the tree. The children also have ornaments that they have made at school and ones they receive from Primary each year, as well as any that we have made as a craft project. There are about 65 ornaments altogether that they put onto the tree. The children have so much fun decorating their tree. They love pulling out their ornaments and reminiscing each year.
I am afraid, with 6 kids adding 6 ornaments a year, I am going to need a larger tree before they all move out and take their ornaments with them. I might just have to trade my 9ft tree with their 7ft tree before too many more Christmases. This is a fun tradition!!!!