Christmas at home....

When we got home from Heber on the 26th, the girls all rushed into the house to see what Santa had left them. We opened presents and played with the toys and got to rest a little from the last few days.

I think they were all happy with their presents and enjoyed this Christmas time.

It was fun to be with family for Christmas, but I for one am excited for next year to just be at our home and have Christmas here. It just felt so different opening presents the day after, and in the middle of the day... not early in the morning like you usually would.

I hope that everyone had a fun filled Christmas this year as much as we did!!
Merry Christmas!

Christmas in Heber...

So we did something a little different this year for Christmas. We went to a cabin in Heber with my side of the family. We got there on Thurs. the 23rd and then stayed there through Christmas and came home on Sun. the 26th.

The kids sure had fun and it was definitely busy with 14 kids raging in ages from 2 1/2 mo. to 9 1/2 years old. Yes.... LOUD and BUSY!

They loved being with their cousins and getting to spend time with them.

We did lots of fun things while we were at the cabin.
There was a lot of snow, so everyday, 2 or 3 times a day, the kids would all get in their snow clothes and head outside for some sledding down the driveway at the cabin.....

On Christmas Eve day, all the kids sat down and made cookies for the Big Guy! (Santa Clause)

Christmas Eve night, the kids all took part in the Nativity and performed it for the adults.

Makenna was an angel, Hannah was a shepherd, and Alexa turned out to be a stray cat in the stable.

After the Nativity, the elf's came and secretly dropped off new PJ's for all the kids. They changed into their PJ's and then we heard a bell! Santa had decided to stop by the cabin for a quick visit....

"The children were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads..."

So the kids all went to sleep for the night and low and behold at 1:30 am we heard little footsteps and a flying monkey going off, so we shooed them back to bed and then at 5:15, again little footsteps, cries of joy and kids shouting things that they see in their stocking... again they are shooed back downstairs, but of course it is too late and by 6:05, all kids are out and looking at their stockings that Santa had filled for them.

So we all get up and see that Santa had left a note, saying he left the presents from him to the kids at their homes to open up and see when they went home the next day.

We all sit down and open presents from GG and Papa, from their cousins, and one each from the parents.

It was definitely a BUSY and LOUD and EARLY Christmas this year. The kids all had fun and I think the parents did too, we were all just ready to get home to our own quiet homes and beds.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT

Thanksgiving Point with Friends!

Some friends of ours, the Poulsens just moved to Wisconsin back in August, I think, anyway they came home to Utah for Christmas, so we all decided to go out.

We went to Thanksgiving Point and got some dinner, then all hopped into our car and went to see the Holiday Lights at Thanksgiving Point. It worked out good, because we all got to be in the warm car and see some fun lights at the same time. Plus it was good because they just had a baby a few months ago and so we didn't want to do something out in the cold.

Santa even had his reindeer there to look at and pet!
Here is Hannah and Alexa, (you can kind of see the reindeer in the back).....

Makenna, Makenzie, and Madison (who's back in turned)....

The Four "big" girls.....

Hannah- 5 Makenzie-5 1/2 Makenna- 7 1/2 Madison- 4

Alexa- 3

And they have a third little girl Bella who is 3 months old(ish).

The Nutcracker 2010

Makenna, Hannah, and I went with my sister Ami, her little girl Lily, and my mom to see the nutcracker.

The girls loved the dancing, but it was a long night. The show didn't start till 7:30 and we didn't get home till after 10. They were both asleep in the car by the time we pulled into the garage.

I think next year we should shoot for the matinee show. It would have been a lot easier and more enjoyable, I think! :)

My mom gave each of the girls their own little nutcrackers to have! They loved them, loved the show, loved being with GG and their cousin. An enjoyable night overall!!

Gindgerbread house

After the girls dance recital a couple of weeks ago, we decorated our gingerbread house.

Costco makes life so easy! We bought this kit, with the house premade this year. It was nice that the house was already up and ready for us, because if you remember last years house.... the frosting wasn't holding up and the house ending up breaking and falling apart.

This year, no problems... just lots of fun decorating! Along with candy and frosting eating along the way!

The Final Project.....

My SILLY girls!!

Dance Recital 2010

My girls had their dance recital earlier this month. This was Alexa's first recital!!!
They all did so good! They knew their dances and shook their little hips just perfect!!

Makenna danced to "Perfect Christmas Night"
Hannah danced to "Jingle Bell Rock"
and Alexa danced to "Roly Poly the Polar Bear"

We have had a few weeks off from dance and now we start back up next week. I love these cute little dancers of mine!!

1st Piano Recital

My beautiful, amazing Makenna is just that, AMAZING! She started piano lessons in July and on Wed. she had her first piano recital.

I can not believe how old she is getting and that she can sit down and play some beautiful piano music. She performed 3 songs.... Indian Dance, Jingle Bells, and Oh Come All Ye Faithful.

I do have to brag that she was the best 7 year old there that night. There were like 4 other 7 year olds, and yes, Makenna started piano about 3-4 months before all but one, who started at the same time as her, but she was amazing. She did so good and you could tell how much she had been practicing.

You really should hear this girl play. She definitely has a talent for it. I am so proud of her and you could tell that she was proud of herself, just all smiles that night! Great job my sweet Makenna!! We love you so much!

GG and Papa with our pianist...

Grandma and Grandpa with our pianist....

My little piano star....

Makenna and her piano teacher Bonnie Hagen.....

The Elf's!

While Makenna was off track this past week, I went and took the kids to see the elf's at Gardner Village.
We went on Thurs. afternoon, it was nice weather and there was NO ONE there! It was so nice because in the past when I've gone it's been CRAZY! So definitely a good time to go when all the kids are still in school.
We got lunch, walked around and then went into the sweet shop and I let the kids get a yummy candy.
It was lots of fun, and I enjoyed the day with my girls!!

Candy Galore....

The past years in preschool, they have made little gingerbread houses, but this year they had the kids make candy Christmas trees.
I actually got to go into Alexa's class and help all the little ones spread the frosting and put candy on.
Makenna was off track so she got to go in and help as well. She was so happy and felt so grownup getting to help these little 3 year olds decorate. She really was a big help, and she loved every minute of it.... my little mom!

O Christmas Tree!

I always look forward to putting up our Christmas Tree. This year we put it up the Saturday before Thanksgiving.

The girls all love putting the decorations on the tree......

To get the final result of our families PERFECT tree!!!

2010 Pictures

So with me being pregnant and all, I really didn't want to do a family picture this year, and thought we'd just wait till next year for that.

But I did want to get the girls pictures taken. My friend Jamie had gone to Fotofly in Draper, and I LOVED how her pics turned out, so I went ahead and made the appointment to get the girls done.

They turned out SO cute! I am so happy with them! Here are a few of my favorites of the 3 of them together and then, my favorites of them alone!!! Enjoy!

Alexa Kay.... 3 years old

Hannah Mae.... 5 years old

Makenna Elizabeth... 7 years old