Christmas Day

Lucky for me and Kev, our boys are not early risers. It was about 8:00am when Rylan came into our room and Asher woke up just after. Or wait, maybe Asher woke up first and then Rylan woke up. Well, either way, it doesn't matter!

Kevin always goes downstairs first to turn on the Christmas tree lights and some Christmas music. With the video camera ready the boys are able to make their way downstairs to see what Santa brought. First stop--Asher's goods. He continually said he wanted a "truck" for Christmas and that's what Santa brought. He was more excited about the basketball hoop though, also left by Santa. He immediately grabbed the basketball and started shooting hoops. I think within one hour he had polished off all the candy in his stocking!
Rylan meandered over to his stocking where he saw a snow shovel and garbage truck. I'm not sure how excited he was, but that's what he asked Santa for!

Time to open presents! Asher started out and we rotated through all of us, each taking our turns. Asher was excited about Stitch and his new Thomas train with some more tracks!

Not the best picture of Asher, but I think he's so cute holding that big 'ol Stitch! He doesn't even know who Stitch is, but when we saw him at the Disney store, Asher wouldn't put him down.

Rylan got his scooter that he's been asking for as well as some magnetic shapes that he was surprised to get. Ry often goes home teaching with Kevin and at one house they introduced these magnets to Rylan. He had so much fun Kevin insisted we get them for Ry for Christmas--Perfect! After all his presents were unwrapped I felt like my little Ry Ry was a bit disappointed. I mentioned it to Kevin so he asked Rylan if he got everything he wanted for Christmas. "Well, I wanted the Thomas and Friends Fog Cars." It's true, he had specifically asked Santa for them. We tried to explain that sometimes Santa doesn't bring us everything we ask for but Santa is very smart and he'll make sure we get the toys we'll have fun with.

I got some new gym shoes and socks, a necklace, and slippers. We had gone to RC Willey the week before and bought a freezer which would be delivered the Tuesday after Christmas. Yea!

Asher helping me put on my new slippers. He's very good at helping me with my shoes almost on a daily basis!

Kevin got a drill--because I'm always embarrassed that we have my dad's drill more often then he does. Kevin was so excited about it that it's still in it's packaging in the garage! He'll appreciate it when he needs it :) He also got some new church shoes that he picked out and ordered and an Apple TV. A few weeks before Christmas he had said several times something along these lines: "Hey, ummm, I was thinking that if you aren't going to get me the Apple TV for Christmas I'm just gonna buy it right now." Or, "If you do get the Apple TV for me, just remember to also buy an HDMI cable." So, it was no surprise when he opened that gift!


After opening presents, I made some easy breakfast burritos while Kevin put together Ry's scooter. Kevin and I had a few moments of worry feeling like we didn't get our boys enough, that maybe we should have also given Rylan that car transporter, or maybe...Silly thoughts because it all turned out well and between all the gift exchanges we had our boys definitely got enough for Christmas. We ate, lounged around, played with our new toys, and seriously had an incredibly wonderful relaxing day!
We were meeting up with mi familia at Tami's casa for our own little 'Feliz Navidad' Christmas Mexican fiesta. So I spent some time in the afternoon prepping my food contributions. We finally showered and got ready, took our annual Christmas day family picture by the Christmas tree, and headed over to Tami's for a super fun night.

We dined on Mexican food, opened presents from grandma and grandpa, played games, and even got some time on the Kinect--so. much. fun!

Rylan was first and opened up the Thomas and Friends Fog Cars he wanted. Yea!! I guess Santa really does know what he's doing!


Asher was excited to just be opening another present! Grandma and Grandpa gave him a remote control car that all the cousins wanted to play with! Asher has had lots of fun with it here at home, driving it in the kitchen and knocking my feet while I'm trying to cook dinner :) My parents gave me and Kev a gift certificate to the movies (Wahooey!!) and a calendar. We're all set for 2011!

Doesn't it look like Kyler's walking on stilts behind Asher (in the red and blue pants)? It looks so funny to me!

Charlie has always dreamed of getting his very own piggie in a teacup. It's a Christmas wish come true!
Time for Play!! Asher always wanted to be in on the action, even if it was on the sidelines. Work it girls!

Can you see Rylan on the right?

Strike a Pose!

It was a fantastic Christmas and I was so happy to be surrounded by wonderful family. My boys were so much fun to celebrate Christmas with, and I look forward to the next Christmas season!!

Christmas Caroling

We were invited by the McQuarries to go Bad Caroling with them and the Hacketts.
Kevin's description: "Bad caroling is just like standard caroling but instead of trying to sound beautiful and inspiring, you just sing however you want. It sounded terrible and we looked silly and we had a great time. We hit specific families in the ward that would enjoy a terrible song."
Kev had made a top hat out of some poster board we had and then he cut a fabulous mustache out of some furry cloth. Always being creative and fun--perfect touch!


I'm pretty sure we enjoyed it more than the recipients, but boy did we get some good laughs at ourselves! The kids played in the snow at and between each house and paid no attention to their crazy parents. We had just had a wonderful snow storm which left us with at least 16" of snow and un plowed roads. We had all that whiteness around us along with that quietness that comes with snow. We ruined the stillness of the night with our out of tune singing but it truly was a wonderful Christmas celebration for me. Watching Kevin pull Rylan, Asher, Evan, and Carson in the sled while wearing his top hat and mustache was a definite highlight!

Asher wanted a turn to pull the sled. Rylan and Evan didn't think that was much fun!

And here are some pictures from that morning:

Our poor little tree is getting buried! Will it hold up through winter? But look how pretty all that snow is!

Rylan's Preschool Program/Santa Clause

Patiently waiting for the program to start!

Rylan's very first school Christmas program and he did great! He was sitting right in the middle so we had a good visual at all times. I laughed, I smiled, and tears came to my eyes...those little preschoolers are so darn cute! (And of course Rylan was the cutest little thing up there. Seriously!) I kept looking at Kevin saying "I didn't know he knew this song!" What a surprise to see Rylan singing most of every song and doing the actions to go along with them! Especially since he'd missed the previous week of school from having strep throat. I mentioned it to his teacher afterwards and she said they were trying to keep it a secret. And what a good secret keeper Ry is cause now since the program has been over, he's been singing those songs all around the house!


There are three classes that Ms. Heather teaches. Rylan's in the blue class. They started out the program by saying together "Christmas is coming and Santa is too. We know some things about him that we will share with you." Then they all sang two songs, another class said a part, two more songs, the final class said their part, and two more songs/dances. It was about 20 minutes and like I said, very cute! Great job Ry Ry!



Our ward Christmas Party had started at 6:30 (Ry's program started at 6:00) so after some treats and chatting we rushed off to the church. We couldn't miss out on Santa! We had some soup and more treats before Kevin sneaked off with Asher to get in the front of the line for Santa. Perfect! Not long later we heard Santa's bells jingling. Rylan went right up to Santa, jumped on his lap, and whispered quieter than a mouse. We couldn't hear what he asked Santa for and neither could Santa. But he did a great job sitting up there, not scared at all! Later we asked Ry and he said he asked Santa for "Thomas and Friends Fog Cars"--just what my parents got him for Christmas! Asher was scared so I had to show him how each kid got a candy cane if they sat on Santa's lap. Just a bit of bribery and he went with it! Of course as soon as he was handed his candy cane he wanted down :)

Christmas Eve

It's become tradition to go to breakfast to celebrate my mom's birthday which is on the 24th. This year we went to IHOP. On our summer vacation to Niagara Falls we ate at IHOP one morning for Sydney's birthday. My parents mentioned how delicious the stuffed french toast was so I ordered it and enjoyed every single bite! Starting my day out loaded with sugar makes me want to sleep the rest of the day so I usually avoid it. But I gave in and again, I enjoyed every single bite of that stuffed french toast. It was so totally worth it!! When can I go back for more??


Later that day I caught a moment that just shows how much Rylan loved his daddy being home during the days. Kevin had mucho time off work the month of December and we all loved it!

This is just a random picture. I was trying to take a picture of Rylan because for some reason he looked so super cute. This is pretty much what happens when I try to take his picture; he hides in some sort of way.

Later that night we got together for cake and ice cream for my beautiful mama! Wouldn't it be rough having your birthday on Christmas Eve? We try to make it special in some sort of way. Maybe in 2010 we'll have to have a big celebration for her half birthday!!

When Ry was just a baby I read an article/interview of a well known author (so well known I've forgotten who it was!!). This author said that every year on Christmas Eve their gift was a new book and this, of course, was one way his parents showed the importance of books and reading. I thought it was such a good idea that we started that tradition and I think it's fun!

Notice our temporary paper blinds? Yeah, they've been temporary for three years now...

Ahhh, time for bed...Santa's gonna be here soon :)