Merry Freakin' Winter Everybody!

That was the precise phrase that Dallas chose to announce to everyone New Year's morning as we were all a wreck. We all went to bed sick New Year's Eve and spent the next 8 hours up with Royce hacking away. We are still all trying to combat the colds, but I know we will win with a positive attitude like Dallas has.

So now to a Merry Christmas!!!

Christmas presents began really early this year. Grandpa Bob decided that he would buy all the little boys in the family a large Lionel model train to go under the tree. Ours never made it under the tree, because one could imagine what fun Royce would have climbing all over under the Christmas tree. But the boys truly did enjoy this early gift the entire month of December. It made my job a little easier, giving them one more thing to do during the day and Dallas could act like a little kid all month long.

It all begins.... 

A Serious Talk with Santa

Royce seemed to really know how to charm Santa this year. Alex, on the other hand, was totally not ready to even look at him. He only lasted a few seconds, where Royce didn't want to leave. He must have had a lot to say, cause he really did make out pretty well this year.

And another chance to talk with Santa if you messed up the first time....

I think Royce is catching on quite well! And Alex is still not sure that this is the way to go. (There has got to be a better way to get presents. Who is this freak that my mom handed me to?)

And then Santa Comes to Nana and Papa's House....Right on time!!!

Here is our family right after the Christmas Eve Devotional. The boys are in their sweet Christmas pajamas and had so much fun playing with all the kids.

 Here we have our walking boy!

We just have to model his cute little Santa suit. And yes there is a Santa hat, and of coarse he wouldn't wear it.

Santa brought Royce some big dinosaurs and a huge construction set with a remote control car to go all over the site. That is the huge box on the couch. Alex got a topsy tumbler toy that is amazing how it works. It took Alex a little while to wake up and to care about opening his presents. By that time, it was time for church. 

Kilee looks a little excited.

Here Porter and Elahn are opening some scooters from Santa!!!

Here is our great picture right after an hour of church. Then it was time to turn to all the gifts under the tree yet to be touched.

Lookin' good!

 I think they must have scored a good one right here....cause they sure are happy.

All said and done, it was a great holiday. I am thankful for Christmas. I am thankful that we celebrate it each year. I have three reasons that I love celebrating Christmas. First, is that we celebrate and spend an entire month concentrating on the birth of our Savior into the world and the reason for his birth here on this earth. Second, it always makes my new year seem even better because after all that celebrating I can sit down and make plans to better myself the way the Savior would have me do. I love that New Years comes right after Christmas, it makes it easy to start goals that bring us closer to our Savior and reflect our lives more toward him.
The third reason is also important. Each year starting in November I can get away with buying whatever I want for an entire month or so before Christmas. Because my husband is an accountant, he usually watches every transaction made. (I am really used to it.)  So I have learned that at Christmas time, I can spend more money than usual and I can always figure out a good way to justify it, even if it is simply telling him, you are a Scrooge. 


Merry Christmas 2011
and
Happy New Year 2012!!! 

Baby, Baby, Baby...and more Baby.

 HELLO World!!!
Alex is a really happy carefree baby! He is always happy and excited to just be!

This was way back when he first learned to eat. I was done with being up in the night nursing him, so I started feeding him rice cereal right before bed. It helped for a couple nights and then he got sick and was up all night anyway! Typical baby.

I am sure this was one of those middle of the night feedings.