Christmas Sunday 2011

Christmas fell on Sunday this year. I know that that doesn't happen very often but it was a nice change to celebrating Christmas. After presents were opened, we got The kids ready in their new Sunday clothes. They looked so cute! We decided to take a few pictures of our little family before heading off to Sacrament Meeting. Sacrament Meeting was really nice and it was a really nice way to spend Christmas Morning focusing on the true meaning behind Christmas- Christ.

Christmas Morning 2011

Kaleb and Karmindy surprised us and didn't wake up til around 8 am on Christmas Morning! We attributed it to staying up late the night before and partying with Aunt Tiffany and Kenley. The kids were really so excited to open their gifts and kept oooing  and awwwwing over all the packages under the tree. They were also so excited to see what Santa brought them. This year Kaleb wanted Santa to bring him a Star Wars Lego Game for the Wii. We have some friends that let us borrow their game before Christmas and Kaleb was obsessed with it. 

Kaleb and his game! I forgot to take a picture of him after he opened it!

Kaleb was so excited to find out that Santa kept his promise of bringing him the game! He also asked for more Legos. These two items were his only request and he was so glad to find them under the tree. Kaleb also got a RC Plane so he could go and fly with his daddy at the park. 

Kaleb's RC Plane!

Halo Legos!!!

Karmindy was so funny this year and told us that she wanted a puppy. Even though Kozy-our shihtzu- is now apart of our family she still wanted a puppy. Karmindy had seen a Fur Real Puppy at Wal-Mart during one of our shopping excursions and wanted it. She was positive that Santa would follow through and would always tell us when we asked her that Santa was bringing her a white puppy that barked and had a pink collar! :D 

Santa is such a good man and delivered! 

Karmindy also got a 8 pack of Toy Story Action Figures for Christmas. She is obsessed with all things Toy Story and was so excited to get some Toy Story Toys and has been playing with them everyday since she got them! She also got some "Jessie Boots" (pink cowboy boots), and an RC Strawberry Shortcake Car.

The kids got spoiled and got a lot of other fun gifts from Grandpa's and Grandma's. 

We also surprised the kids with a Trip to Walt Disney World!!!

I made them these shirts to wear! They were so excited!

We have been saving up to take the kids to Disneyland but after I found some awesome deals on flights and on a hotel in Florida, we decided to book the trip. It will end up being almost as expensive as taking the kids to California. We decided we couldn't pass on taking the kids back to where we enjoyed spending time on our Honeymooon 8 years ago! 

Our Christmas was a wonderful one! We were truly spoiled with material goods, but most importantly we are truly spoiled with the knowledge of the Love that our Savior has for each of us! We are truly grateful for his birth, life, example and for the Atonement!

 Merry Christmas!!!

Christmas Eve 2011

Our Christmas Eve was a fun and magical one this year! Kaleb and Karmindy were both old enough this year to truly understand what Santa and the Christmas Season was all about! We tried to do some fun things as a family during the month- Christmas Lights at Thanksgiving Point, Riding the Train at the Mall, Going to see Santa twice even though both times he ended up going on break or the line was freakishly long (the kids just enjoyed seeing him), and making yummy Sugar Cookies to eat!

On Christmas Eve, we were lucky to have Aunt Tiffany  and Kenley come over and celebrate the evening with us. We had a yummy Christmas Eve dinner which consisted of Steamed Crab, Honey Ham, Shrimp and Cocktail Sauce, rolls, Asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce and some delicious Pies!!

After dinner we opened presents, watched some Christmas Cartoons- Grinch and Prep n' Landing and then enjoyed getting into our New Christmas Jammies. The kids were so excited and it was so fun to see their excitement. Even Kenley who was just barely two enjoyed spending the evening with her cousins and fed off their excitement.  It was so nice to spend the evening as a family and share it with my baby sister Tiffany and my darling Niece.

 Kaleb, Kenley and Karmindy wearing their new Jammies!

Kaleb and Karmindy getting ready to open their New Jammies!

After Kenley and Tiffany headed home, the kids set out Cookies and Milk for Santa and scattered Karmindy's Reindeer food out on the Lawn for Santa's Reindeer. The kids were so excited that they didn't get to bed til 9:30pm. That is late for our kids. Once they were finally in bed they were out!! Everyone knows You gotta get to bed early before Santa Can Come!!

Girls Afternoon!

I am so fortunate to have always been blessed with good friends. Good Friendships mean so much to me and they are something that I truly value and cherish. There is nothing better than knowing you have a Good friend that is there for you through thick and thin. I know that previous sentence sounds corny but it is true to who I am.

This past week, me and one of my besties decided we were in need of a break from the mundane of life's responsibilities and decided to take our girls to the mall, for lunch and to let our girls ride the carousel. Karmindy and Emilia are the same age and love playing together. They are also in the same Pre-School class. Karmindy has truly made some good friends in her Pre School this year- Avery, Emilia and Grace. I love that she enjoys doing different things with each of her friends!

I love these pictures of our little Girls' Afternoon!

 Karmindy on the Horse!

 I love this Picture. These two little girls are not lacking in personality! They are both fiesty and strong headed! I am looking forward to their tween and teen years! They will keep us moms on our toes!

Cute and Sassy Emilia!

Decorating Ginger Bread Houses!

This year I have had the opportunity to volunteer in Kaleb's first grade class and help out every other Wednesday. Normally, I read with the kids to see how they are progressing but sometimes I get to help with little craft projects or odds and ends that his teacher needs finished. I truly love working with the kids and enjoy spending some time with Kaleb. In addition to the two times I helped out in Kalebs class during December, I was also one of the lucky parents that got to go and help the kids decorate Gingerbread houses! It was so fun to go and help and spend a little extra time with Kaleb. Kaleb's classmates were so excited to make their gingerbread houses and you could just tell how excited they were for Christmas to arrive. I had so much fun helping Kaleb's table and Kaleb. The kids were so creative and it was so fun to see Kaleb's creativity as well. Kaleb was so proud of his finished Gingerbread House! He is getting so excited for Christmas!!! Boy, do I love my little boy! He makes being a mom a wonderful Experience! I couldn't be more proud!

Polar Express Christmas Party

Like I have jotted down before, Karmindy is truly loving Pre-School this year! She has a fabulous teacher and enjoys seeing her 3 little girl friends every Tuesday and Thursday! Before Pre School let out for Christmas Break, her cute teacher threw a Polar Express Christmas Party. The kids were given a Polar Express Train ticket so they could ride the pretend train to the North Pole. 

 My Sweet Girl so excited to Go to Her PreSchool Party! I sure love my little Princess!

Also, everyone was encouraged to wear their Jammies to head to the North Pole. Karmindy was truly so excited for her Christmas Party!! She had such a fun time with her class mates and enjoyed all the fun little activities with her class! They made reindeer food to Give to Santas Reindeer on Christmas Eve, drank Hot Chocolate and played games. Karmindy came home with a lot of loot from her teacher and Classmates! She had a fabulous time!

All I want for Christmas...

Is a CELL PHONE!!?

I had to write down this little conversation that I had with Kaleb before I forget. I thought it was pretty funny, and I am very amazed at how his little mind works at the age of 6! Should I be worried for what is to come? Yikes. This particular conversation takes place a few weeks before Christmas and was one that I didn't think that would need to address until he was a teenager. 

Kaleb: "Hey Mom!" I know what I want for Christmas this year!"

Me: (In excited tone) "What's that?"

Kaleb: (In excited tone) I want a CELL PHONE!!

ME: (me in utter disbelief) "Kaleb, you don't need a cell phone, you are 6 years old!" "What are you going to do with a cell phone?"

Kaleb: "Well, I would use my phone to call you during lunch or recess to say Hi and tell you that I missed you!"

Me: (at this point I am just touched and feeling like awww, my son loves me...also feeling like I am walking on cloud 9!) Kaleb that is really sweet to think you would want to call me while you are at school but you don't need a cell phone, not until you are a lot older....

"ME: (Curiously thinking and wondering to myself what the real reasoning behind wanting a cell phone) "What else would you do with your Cell phone if you had one?"

Brace yourselves for the real reason behind my son needing a cell phone folks!

Kaleb: Well I mostly want a cell phone so I can play ANGRY BIRDS!

ME: (All feelings of being loved and appreciated by my 6 year old go right out the window.... totally feeling like my son loves playing Angry Birds more than he loves his mom? PRICELESS! :D

Giggle, Giggle, Giggle.

This conversation still makes me smile!! 

Fun with Cousin Kenley!

My little sister Tiffany moved to Murray the middle of November with her little girl Kenley. Tiffany got a job with Sutter Physician Services and is also working in Murray. It makes it so nice because her work, daycare for Kenley and her home are all with in a few  miles of each other. During the first few weeks while she was living up here, I watched Kenley for a couple of weeks so Tiffany could focus on getting settled into work, her house and get other things like daycare figured out. 

Kaleb and Karmindy have truly enjoyed having their little cousin Kenley close by. They really enjoy playing with her and I know that she enjoys playing with them. They continually ask when Kenley is coming over. Karmindy loves Kenley but also got pretty jealous of her as well during those two weeks that I watched Kenley. Karmindy was not used to having to share mommy with anyone else during the day while we watched Kenley (Kaleb was at school during the day). Even though there were moments of contention, these two love each other and played with each other so well.

On the last Friday before Kenley went to day Care, as a special treat, I took the kids to the South Towne Mall in Sandy, Utah to ride the train and play in the Dinosaur park that they have there in the mall. The kids had fun spending the afternoon with their little cousin. 

It has also been nice to have Kenley live close by so I could spoil her. I haven't had a chance to live close by any of my nieces or nephews so I have also really enjoyed having my little niece live closer. I am truly so excited to have my baby sister and my niece live closer to us now!!