christmas day 09

This was probably her favorite gift ever! My parents got My a mermaid toy that goes in the tub. When we got home for the night around 7, she jumped in the tub with it and played for over an hour. Filled the hot water twice. She begged to get in!

Derek with his tonka trucks.

Every year my parents give the kids pj's. every year they get their picture taken too. this year they got them on christmas day and once they opened them they all took off running to change into them. they love this tradition.

Derek got this hat and my little brother bryce put it on him and he hated it!

All the kids waiting for their gifts.

Mylee got a coloring book and these little markers. she was so excited for them.

The older kids have been begging my mom to make them a little house on the prairie hat. My didn't quite know what to think of it but they all loved them. My mom always put so much time into making them things.

My loves her cousins! They got makeup and she was getting all dazzled up by Kait and Kar. We had a fun time at my parents house Christmas day. We had lots to eat and hung out and visited. All the older boys got remote control helicopters and they flew them all day. They were like little kids with these! I'm so grateful I have family close. All of us are right by each other, on Laynes side and mine and I can say they are some of my best friends. I love doing things with them and know they would do anything for me. Our parents are so good to us and do so much for us too. So grateful for them all.

santa came!

when we finally decided to go wake our girl up around 9:30 to tell her santa came this is how we found her. she decided she wanted to sleep on the floor instead of her nice comfy bed. of course she couldn't leave her eyeor out either. she had him snuggled up right next to her. derek had woken up alittle earlier so we decided to let her sleep until she woke up. she is too grumpy if you wake her up not on her terms! we reminded her that santa maybe came and she was so excited. derek was crawling down the hall and she was waiting for him until he kept going the other way. she decided she didn't care to wait. she was so excited when she saw all their presents. derek ended up liking his tonka truck santa brought for him. to be honest though, he would have been completely happy with the 2 smarties suckers and the orange he thought was a ball. he kinda didn't really care about much more. mylee was supper fun this year! she loved every present. she wanted to open all of dereks too. when she was opening her petshops, she saw what it was then went hog wild on it. layne and i were laughing so hard! santa brought her a big horse and she loves it! she is so into horses right now. also she got some dress ups in a chest and she told us santa brought her a big treasure. holidays are so much more fun with kids! derek got lots of cars stuff from the disney movie. he loves all the little cars. he got a woodie from toy story and when he opened it mylee said derek has a great big woodie! layne and i were laughing so hard. i know, i know, we need to grow up but who cares. it was perfect timing too cause right before they finished opening all their gifts my mom, dad, layne and bryce came by to see them. it was way fun having them here while they opened some. after gifts i made german pancakes and instead of cooking them in a casserole dish you put them in big muffin tins. then when they are done you put fresh fruit and syrup on them. they will be our new tradition. it was so good. santa was good to the kids this year and it was so fun watching them enjoy it.

christmas eve 09

this year we went to Laynes side to have Christmas eve. it was a fun evening. his mom wanted all the kids in the nativity outfits and to get a picture. it was freezing but they did pretty well and it turned out cute. we had tons of good food and opened gifts. ken read the story of the saviors birth. it was really fun to be together as a family. before we went up i had mylee and derek open their pajamas and then we went and fed the reindeer so santa's sled could come to our house. mylee had alot of fun doing that. the kids fell asleep on the way home and layne and i just hung out. it was a fun night.