Ferrall's - The Day After Xmas

Each year we try to celebrate Christmas with family and have a nice Christmas dinner. This year was a bit different - it just didn't seem to work out. Since no one was available we skipped it all together and decided to take the kids to Farrell's. We went the day after Christmas (because it was closed). Let's just say.... it's a long wait... and it's LOUD.
Owen (or as we like to call him) "our affectionate child" - is showing his love to me. So sweet. He never runs out of hugs, kisses or I love you(s).
Paige Owen and... where is Brock? Brock was not in the mood to be photographed. He's a bit too cool for the camera at times.
Olive was checking out the commotion... I thought dinners at our house were loud - um... not compared to here. It was nice not slaving away in the kitchen for once, and just taking the kids to a fun family restaurant. But then again, slaving all day in the kitchen... isn't that was holidays are for? The food was good though! I'd go back if I didn't have to wait an hour.

Christmas Day

Christmas day is always a blur. Wrapping paper flying here and kids hopping up and down - it can be crazy. As many of you know I wanted a new computer SOOOOO badly. My old one was so slow it would literally take 45 minutes just to open iTunes. That is one of the reasons I was so behind on blogging. If I couldn't do something from my phone - then it didn't get done.

Well, John did not disappoint. I was so excited when I opened this!

This pictures is funny to me because when I asked Brock what his favorite gift was - he said it was his flashlight. (He is holding it here even though I wanted a photo of him with his helicopter from Great Grandma)

How bad am I? I don't have 1 single photo of Olive on her first Christmas! That sucks! It really makes me sad.

After the craziness of morning - we took the kids to see a movie. They were surprisingly good. It looks like we may have reached a new level with our family.

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve John's brothers and their families came over for cookie decorating and a small nativity program. I didn't get a lot of pictures and the ones I got weren't that great. So I fiddled around with them a little...

Here are the kids decorating cookies for Santa.

Skylar and Paige

After decorating the kids put on the Nativity program for all of us to watch. Paige and Fletcher were Mary and Joseph. Kate was the angel. Owen, Brock and Ezra were wise men. Adrienne played the piano and we all sang the carols together. Pictures weren't taken because everyone had their video cameras out.

After everyone left the kids got to open one present picked out by yours truly. Paige was disappointed to find out it was PJs... sorry sweetie. Then we put the cookies for Santa on a plate and take a picture by the fire place - then it's OFF TO BED! Ahhhh....

Ollie Pop!

I feel bad about not taking a lot of photos of Olive - I actually do, they just aren't Christmas related. Here is Ollie Pop enjoying her Bumbo and laughing with sunglasses on.

This girl melts my heart.

Getting Ready for Christmas

Getting ready for Christmas to come is probably one of my favorite parts of the holidays. The holiday parties, Christmas performances and of course seeing Santa. Here are some of our highlights...
Paige and her friend Lauren at their class holiday party.
Owen as a shepard in the ward primary program.
Olive sitting on Santa and LOVING the attention... she had no idea who was holding her - just that we were all making her smile.

Owen is always so loving. He would have layed there with Santa all day if we let him. Brock wouldn't go near Santa. In fact he cried and cried if we even mentioned seeing Santa. On each of my kids first Christmases I've taken them to see Santa and get a photo - then we put it in a frame and it hangs on our tree. Olive was ALL SMILES - so fun! And Paige and her cousin Fletcher and the Barber's house.