Girl's Birthday Party

 Yes, I know it was a couple of weeks later then their actual birthday, but we wanted to wait for my brother and parents to come into town to celebrate.  My family flew in this past Friday and then we picked up the girl's friend they invited for the party.  They invited their friend Phoebe which they have known their whole lives and these three cuties are about three weeks apart in age.

Our first stop for the party was Red Robin for lunch which is always yummy and fun.

We then went over to Park Meadows Mall and "window shopped" at the American Girl Store, with the dolls of course.  I told all three girls that we were just "looking" but Grandma had a different plan as Grandmas usually do.  She spoiled all three girls and bought them each an outfit for their dolls and then bought the girls a tea set each!  Needless to say, the girl's were thrilled!

The boys opted out for shopping at the American Girl Doll store (not sure why) and spent their time in the Lego Store and Dick's Sporting Goods looking at golf stuff for my dad and running stuff for my brother.

Our next stop in on the fun birthday train was the bowling alley.  Where my mom and I were the cheering section for the big boys, Joseph and the three girls.  My brother beat everyone big time!  Even my dad who by the way was using the bumpers! 

We went back to the house and mom and I got ready for the big lunch the next day for the baptism.  I made salads and my mom made her deliciously perfect home made rolls.  How does she do that?  We then picked up my in-laws who flew in later that night and got ready for the big day the following morning.

Christmas

 Well, Christmas came to our house as it does every year.  We had a fun and relaxing morning of opening presents.  I then put a turkey on to cook as we were planning to go over to our friend's house for dinner and I volunteered to bring the turkey.  We put toys and games together, played some of the games and then got dinner ready and headed over to our friend's for dinner.  At our friend's house we ate a yummy dinner and then played Apples to Apples Disney version which was fun because it allowed the kids to play with us.  We were beaten by the youngest player (aged 5).  Oh well, we still all had a great time.  It had snowed the night of Christmas Eve and that for a beautiful white Christmas which was a treat we do not get that beauty every year so we enjoyed that as well.

Christmas Eve

 When I was growing up, my mom let us open one present on Christmas Eve and so natually, I have carried on that tradition with my kids.  When we were growing up, we always opened up the presents from my dear Aunt Diane (my mother's sister), my kids have decidied to open the presents from Grandma Nelson.  My mother-in-law always gives each of her grandchildren a pair of jammies and then a $10 bill.  My kids love to open the new jammies so they can wear them the next morning for Christmas.  We have been saving a little while now for a trip to Disneyland, and we have a Disneyland Jar where we place change and the money our kids earn in there.  So, the kids choose to put the money from Grandma in the jar. 

Later that day, we enjoyed a nice dinner at On the Border and then went to a Christmas Devotional with some friends.  Then we came home and read "How the Grinch Stole Christmas", "The Night Before Christmas", and then of course the Christmas story out of the scriptures. A couple of years ago my sister made some cute Christmas puppets which help us retell the story as you can see from the pictures.

We then left milk and cookies out for Santa along with his "magic key" so he can get in.  Unfortunately, the key was accidentally dropped on the concrete by someone who will remain un-named, thank goodness for tape, I guess I will be buying a new magic key next year.  After that we all settled in for a long winter's nap.  A long winter's nap for the kids and then Mike and I watched "It's a Wonderful Life" as we do every year before turning in for the night.  We did not want to stay up too late, did not want to intrude on Santa's schedule.