Family Santa Party

On Dec. 19th, we had our annual family santa party. We ate first and then we had a talent show. The first talent that was shown was my mom, sisters and I did a synchronized swimming show. My mom decided that we should do it and Jill and my mom came up with the routine. It was so funny. We had a good time doing it together.

What great puckers we have!!!

Next Nicole, Tyler, Sara and Sammie all played a song on the piano. Sammie played The Christmas Song, Chestnuts roasting on an Open Fire. This was her first time playing in front of anyone. She did so well. We were so proud of her.

Next we played Christmas bingo. Cheyenne won bingo. She was so happy.

Ryan and Sammie trying to win at bingo but they didn't do to well.

Uncle Jeff held Peyton so I could go and change back into my normal clothes. He wouldn't give Peyton back and he ended up getting Peyton to sleep for me. Thanks Jeff.

Ben was one of the lucky ones that got to sit on Santa's lap first. Christian decided to go see what Ben got from Santa.

Santa gave Cheyenne a gift. She was the first one out of our little family to sit on his lap. She was so excited to get her gift first.

Santa gave Cheyenne a Tinkerbell doll. She loves Tinkerbell.

Next was Christian's turn. He was so funny. I can't believe that he would have nothing to do with Santa. He is such an outgoing kid that I would have never thought that he would be afraid of him. I asked my sister if she thought that Ben would go and sit on Santa's lap, thinking Ben would be the one not to go up. Boy was I wrong.

Santa ended up getting one smile out of him once he showed him his present. He can be easily bribed.

Santa gave Christian an automatic Thomas the train. He loved that it goes all by itself.

Sammie with Santa.

Santa gave Sammie the new Connect 4. He knew exactly what she wanted.

Finally it was Peyton's turn. He didn't have a care in the world. He didn't mind Santa.

Santa gave Peyton a hammer that makes noises when you hit the head of the hammer and lights up. He will love it when he gets a little bit older. We had such a good time at our party. It was nice being with extended family.

Christmas books

Every year Grandma Nancy and Grandpa Grant give each of us Christmas books. This year they gave Sammie Merry Christmas Big Hungry Bear.

Christian got The Christmas Humbugs

Cheyenne with her new book Santa's New Job.

Peyton got a cute board book that sings Up on the Housetop.

My parents then gave us the book the Last Straw. We used this book to have family home evening with and followed the book to help make Jesus's bed soft by adding straw when you do something nice for your secret family member. Lets just say it didn't last a secret very long, but we have made the manger soft for baby Jesus. Thanks Mom and Dad.

Gingerbread Houses

We have started a new christmas tradition which is decorating gingerbread houses. We decided to do it on a Saturday morning where our kids wouldn't be rushed to finish at a certain time. Christian had to do everything by himself this year. I have to admit he did pretty well. It was so cute watching him. It got kind of messy with the icing.

Here Ryan is helping Cheyenne do the icing on the roof. For some reason Christian could do the icing but the girls had a hard time with it. Sammie did pretty well. We filled her bag a little bit to full.

Christian decorating his roof top!

We had to get a picture of Peyton helping with something. Then he decided it smelled yummy and tried to suck on it. Thank goodness we saved the gingerbread man from getting slimed with slobber!!!

Christian wanted to have someone help him decorate his roof with him. He would hand you what color of candy he wanted you to put on and would tell you right where to put it. He was so much fun this year.

Forget about decorating the gingerbread house, eating the icing is much more fun!!!

Christian and Amy decorating the Christmas tree with holly berries.

Sammie with her finished gingerbread house. She did such a good job. She had so much fun doing it.

Here is Cheyenne's finished product. She was very meticulous about how she decorated it.

Sammie took a picture of Christian's house. Christian decided to move when she took the picture. So there is his head with his house.

Our final gingerbread houses up where we can see them for the rest of the season. We love making our gingerbread houses. We have so much fun.

Sammie's Christmas Choir Concert

The night of December 8th, we went to hear Sammie sing in her school's choir. They did such a great job. We were so proud of Sammie. This year she really got into it and sang her heart out. Thanks Grandma Nancy, Grandma Dixie and Grandpa Jerry for coming and seeing Sammie sing!!! She loves when you come to see her.

Snow time!!!

On Dec. 8th, we finally got a good enough snow storm that Christian was dying to play in the snow. I went out to shovel the drive way and he wanted to help me. He got his cute little shovel and helped me shovel. He really just started throwing the snow back on the drive way where I just shoveled. Oh well you can't get mad when it isn't enough to do anything about it and he was so proud to help mommy!!!

Christian loves making snow angels. Our front yard was snow angels of Christian.

Santa's little helper

Peyton looks so cute in our Santa hat. He turns 4 months old this month. He is growing up so fast. He isn't our little new born baby any more. It makes me so sad.

Bumbo

Peyton is starting to get where he can sit up in his Bumbo for a while. He likes it for a while and then starts to cry when he has had enough.

I went into the kitchen for a while, while Peyton was playing in his Bumbo. I went to check on him and he was totally slouched down sleeping. It was so cute. I couldn't miss getting a picture of this. We just love this little man!!!

Grandpa's ornaments

Every year after we have helped Grandma Nancy and Grandpa Grant decorate their tree. Grandpa gives the grandkids an ornament. Grandma and Grandpa find an ornament of something the kids have been into this year. Cheyenne is opening her ornament.

Cheyenne got a Tinkerbell from grandpa. She loves the new Tinkerbell movies.

Christian opening his gift.

Christian, Ben, and Sky are really into Mickey Mouse Club House this year. Grandpa gave Christian a Mickey Mouse hot air balloon ornament. He loves it!!!

Sammie opening her present.

Sammie has been really into Hannah Montana this year because of the cute Hannah Montana movie. Sammie and her friends made up dances to the sound track of Hannah Montana and put on a recital for all of the parents and siblings and some neighbors. It was so cute. They even handed out tickets for you to get into the show.

Grandpa Grant helped Peyton open his ornament.

Grandma and Grandpa gave him a mator ornament. To bad they don't make Similac or diapers ornaments. That is pretty much all Peyton is in to.

Decorating Grandma and Grandpa's tree

Every year, the Sunday after Thanksgiving we always help Grandma Nancy and Grandpa Grant put up their glass Christmas tree. I am so surprised each year that not many of these ornaments get broken!!! Cheyenne loves helping Grandma and Grandpa.

Sammie loves to help also.

For the most part the kids like to get high on the latter to help up high. Christian found his spot on the tree to decorate.

I helped out by getting all of the glass ornaments out for the kids so they wouldn't break them. My cute little niece Nicole loves getting in peoples pics without them knowing. She is such a ham!!!

Peyton helping Amy put a glass ball on the tree.

Peyton and Ryan watching all of the chaos of 20 people in a little room decorating a tree.

Ryan's tradition snotcycle picture. We need to take one every year.

Oh great, we are passing it on down to Peyton to keep the tradition going!!!