Christmas Eve

This year we had a very relaxed Christmas Eve.  In the past I have always had to do last minute shopping, cleaning, running here and there to get things ready.  This year it was all done before.  It was the best feeling in the world.  We even had the wrapping all done.  We got ready for the party and before we left we opened up our new PJ's and set out Santa's snicker doodles because that is his favorite kind of cookie.=)  We even had to put out 8 eight carrots for the reindeer.  We had everything ready because the party is about 45 minutes away and I figured that the kids would be fast asleep on the way home.  The party was really fun.  We had some great food and the kids acted out the nativity.  It was great to be with family.    Boy was I wrong about the kids falling asleep on the way home.  They were wide awake by the time we got home so we decided to make a stop at Rodrigo's family party.  They usually don't start until 9 or 10.  They had pinatas and had chicken frying in the garage and tons of food.  At midnight they gave everyone a gift to open. 
I could not believe that I was outside at 1:00 taking pictures of the kids throwing the reindeer food on the lawn.  We tucked the kids in and they were sound asleep within 5 minutes. I am so glad that I had everything ready before we left.  What an awesome night!

Gingerbread House

We  finally found some time to put our gingerbread house together.  This is our first one that we have done.  We had so much fun doing it.  The kids had a hard time not eating the candy.  Every time we turned around they were sneaking something into there mouths.  They did a really great job decorating and using there imaginations.  Rodrigo and I even had fun doing it with them.  We will for sure be doing this again next year.

We love this baby!

In September our friends had a baby girl.  She is the cutest, sweetest little thing ever.  We get the privilege to babysit her and the girls have so much fun with her.  They love to play with her, help feed her, and help change her diapers.  She is a such a good baby.  My girls are really great helpers.

First Dance Recital

Last night was Lexi's first dance recital.  She has been taking ballet and tap for about 3 months now.  They held the Christmas recital at Hunter High. Lexi invited some friends and family to come and watch.  She was so excited and nervous at the same time to show everyone what she has been learning.  Her little class did such a good job.  I didn't realize that it is so stressful, exciting and nerve racking for mothers.  From getting her looking perfect to getting her pumped and ready to get on stage, running back to my seat so I wouldn't miss the show, having the cameras ready to take pictures and video which we didn't even get because Rodrigo hit the wrong button.  When she was on stage I became so emotional it brought back so many memories of when I was in dance.  I was so proud of her.  She was perfect.  She smiled the whole time and did the dance great.  She loved every minute of it.  After she was done performing she got to sit on Santa's lap. My mom presented her with some flowers as well.  She thought that was the best.  Thanks Mom!  It was such a fun night.  Great Job Alexandra!

Finally!

Roderick's front tooth just did not want to come out.  It has been hanging on by a thread for several weeks.  You could even see the new tooth behind the loose one.  We were trying to talk him into letting someone pull it out for him but he wouldn't give in.  I even told him the tooth fairy might give him a bonus if he would just pull it out.  He wouldn't do it.  That tooth was giving me the eebee geebees just looking at it.  The kids were jumping on the blowup trampoline and Lexi did a flip and accidentally hit Roderick's mouth and it came right out.  We were all so happy and so was the tooth fairy. 

I took this picture in the morning and he looks half a sleep still

Gingerbread Memories

One memory that always comes to my mind around Christmas time is my mom baking cute gingerbread men and wrapping them individually and hanging them around the house and each day we were able to eat a cookie until Christmas.  I have been wanting to try this for years with my kids and this year we finally did it!  I was so excited and they turned out pretty cute.  The kids had a really fun time cutting them out and decorating the cookies.  Every morning when they wake up the first thing they ask for is there gingerbread man.  I hope to make this one of our family traditions.

Thanksgiving Point

Last night we headed down to Thanksgiving Point to see the Christmas lights.  We listened and sang to Christmas music while riding through the car to see the lights.  The kids were so excited and kept saying, "Wow look over there and over there".  It was really great to watch the kids get so excited.  While we were there we heard that a few of Santa's Reindeer had made a "special stop". The kids were a little nervous to get close but they loved watching them.  Lexi wanted to know where Santa and the rest of the reindeer were. 

We stopped at a popular street in Murray that has posted part of the Christmas story in each yard with millions of lights. It was such a fun family night.  My mom and dad joined us and we had some great laughs. 

  
 

She really can sleep anywhere!

 

Maya was downstairs playing today while I was preparing dinner.  It became really quiet so I went to check on her and found her sound asleep. 

So much to be thankful for...

This year we headed to my Aunt Andreas to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family.  It was so good to see everyone there and I also missed the families that didn't join us this year.  I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful family that surrounds me.  Each one of them amaze me and they inspire me in so many ways.  They are simply amazing.  We had a great meal and a good time visiting with each other.  I love Thanksgiving so much and look forward to this holiday every year.

Happy Birthday Cody!

We celebrated my brothers birthday last weekend while they were here visiting for Thanksgiving.  We had a lot of fun playing heavy heavy hangover, eating a delicious meal and watching the Utes beat the Cougars.  Roderick wanted everyone to wear the color they were cheering for.  You can see in the pictures who was cheering for who.  Roderick put a red shirt on and then when the Y was ahead he put a blue one on top. When the Utes won it didn't take him long to take the blue shirt off and he was telling everyone that his team won.  It made all of us laugh.

I spent the morning making my brothers cute soccer cake and while we were loading everyone in the car Rodrigo went to move it and the cake slipped out of his hand and he caught it smashing the whole thing.  I couldn't stop laughing while he felt terrible.  I wish I would of gotten a picture of it.  So we headed up to my moms house and I scrapped all the frosting off and started again.  It was good practice for me so I didn't mind.  I won't be able to let him forget that one though.

I love it when mine and my brothers birthdays are coming up because that means that we will be the same age for about 3 weeks.  I always tease him saying he has to be nice to me because we are the same age.  I love my brother so much and am so glad that we are the best of friends.  I couldn't ask for a better brother.  I look up to him in so many ways.  I am so proud of him and honored that he is my brother.  Cody I love you and hope you have a special day!