Christmas Day

Because we had done most of our celebrating with my side of the family the day before it really made Christmas and enjoyable day this year. We didn't have to split the day between 3 families and it was really nice. (Maybe we should do that every year from now on!) Matt had to work until 3 on Christmas day, so the kids and I slept in a little bit and then got ready and went next door to my parents for our traditional Yancey brunch on Christmas morning. We had pancakes, sausage, fruit and juice. It was yummy and a great way to start the morning. The kids played for a while and then we went home and loaded the car to head out to Unlce Kendall and Aunt Stephanies for the Keller get together. We got there early enough that we were able to skype and visit with Elder Keegan Keller that is serving a mission in Spain right now. He has been out for a little more than 10 months and will be home before we know it. It was really great to see him and talk to him and hear how he was doing. I know it was a highlite for a lot of the family. For the Keller lunch they did a pasta bar. There was lasagna, spaghetti, fettuchini with shrimp, and shrimp alfredo with salad and garlic bread. It was so fun to have all the different types of pasta, and pretty much all you could eat. We never go hungry at a Keller get together. Grandma Keller gave away some of her jewelry to her granddaughters, and great-granddaughters and Paige and I fell into this catelgory. It was fun to look through and pick something out special that belonged to her. I wore some of the jewelry this last Sunday and got several compliments. So that is fun! After dinner we did the pass around gift exchange. This year they changed the rules so that once a gift has been open it can only be passed 3 times before it is out. That made the game go quicker, but dissapointed some of the people that were at the end of the game because it made it so a lot of the items were out of play. Also we all drew numbers for the order in which we picked a gift so it was all random. I ended up with a $25 gift card to Chili's and a box of whoppers and Matt got a grooming kit. It was one of the better years for us! We had a fun time with everyone.

After that we went to Grandpa & Grandma C's house to open more gifts. Paxten got a new outfit, 6 books all about trucks and tractors, Jake and the Neverland Pirate toys, toy dinosaurs, a pack of gum (that was his favorite), and at our prior Christmas Party he got a headlamp and a Mcdonalds gift card.
Paige got a new outfit, a cheetah print jacket, the movie Brave, Tinkerbell toy, Fur Real Friends bunny, gum, and a lalaloopsy and a McDonalds gift card.
Parker got: A new outfit, remote control truck, Ben 10 4 in 1 gun, gum, Avengers book all about the characters, and a headlamp and a Mcdonalds gift card.
The whole family got the game Cootie and Matt got an affliction shirt and I got a bag and Adobe Photoshop, which I am really excited to use! We had a great day with family and spending time with the people we care most about.

Christmas Eve Dinner/Celebration

This year for our traditional Christmas Eve dinner we had lobster, prime rib, baked potatoes, spinach salad, yogurt salad, and rolls. It was all delicious and we all were stuffed after dinner. The kids could hardly take waiting until after we got the table cleared off and the dishes done to open their presents. After sorting out all the gifts into piles of who they would go to we started opening gifts. This year we did it differently having each person open 1 gift and then going around the room from youngest to oldest so that we could all see what everyone opened. Ususally there is so much wrapping paper and boxes flying around that we miss seeing half of what people open. So we tried something new this year. It did end up taking a little longer, but it was fun to see all the excitement and expressions on everyones faces as they opened each gift. Once again we were all spoiled and had such a great time together. We really do have a great family. This year Paxten got: A church outfit, a play outfit, a twin mattress (for the bunk bed), twin sheet set, dino racer, socks, drum set, RC & Woody car, Cars couch, elmo pop-up tent, bubble bath, cars slippers.
Paige got: Cinderella dress up outfit with a crown and glass slippers, church dress with tights, minnie mouse outfit, Rapunzel barbie, Hair bow holder, gold sparkly boots, 4 easy bake oven refills, bubble bath, duets sing-a-ma-jig, and an ipad mini with her name on it and an itunes gift card and a pink cover.
Parker got: a track outfit, a church outfit, socks, star wars lego set with a storage bag, Avengers acrion figures, angry birds hat and gloves, angry birds slippers, dream lite, bubble bath, and an ipad mini with his name on it with an itunes gift card and a green cover.
Erika: Amazon gift card, scrapbook paper cutter, cake decoration class and lesson kit, photo display frame made from an old door, lotions from Bath & Body Works, 3 iphone covers, scrabble shuffle game, dish drying mats, jewelry display holder, and a cricut cartridge. (I also got a cute decoration that spells Frosty from Sheri!)
Matt:a Harley shirt, golf balls, tees, 2 golf shirts, Callaway hat, white socks, Cal-Ranch gift card, earbuds, Wii Cabelas gun & game, otterbox iphone cover, Blackfoot Golf Course gift card and as a joint gift to Matt and I we got a Traeger grill and cover and 2 bags of pellets... which Matt is very very excited about!

Christmas Morning

After finally getting up at the kids perisitence, we got to opening gifts. Each of the kids got Something to Wear, Something to Read, and Something to Play With. We decided to keep it simpler and not get too extreme, after all we just took the kids to Disneyland and they knew that was part of their Christmas this year. Parker got Perry the Playypus slippers, new jeans, socks, and underwear. The Magic Tree House bookset, and some Cars2 cars. Paige got a Sunday coat, a maxi dress, and a black shirt. She also got the Junie B. Jones books set, her own kitchen cooking utensils and a Hello Kitty CD player for her room. Paxten got a Mater Christmas book, a sweatshirt, and another outift, and a Batman car to ride on. Santa did a familt gift this year and we got a Wii game system with 5 games. We got the wii sports game, Wheel of Fortune, Cars2, Toy Story 3, and a Tangled game. Along with the games we got 2 extra controllers, so that more than one person can play at a time. We all got some great stocking stuffers including some of out favorite snacks and treats. Matt got me the Hunger Games movie and I got him some new workout shorts, socks, and cologne. We were all pretty happy with our new stuff and got to work setting up the game system. After about an hour and it not working, Matt decided that the game system was defective. Luckily it wasn't actually Christmas Day and he was able to take it to exchange it at the special "Exchange Store" that Santa has. So a few hours later, we had the new Wii working and were having fun. Later on we got together and my parents house for our annual Christmas Eve dinner and gift exchange.

Christmas Jammies

My mom has started a tradition with the kids to give them Christmas Jammies, a book, and an ornament on Christmas Eve each year. This year she got the kids adorable jammies, as always! Paiges said, "I've been sweet all year." and Paxten's said, "All you want for Christmas is me!" Parker was excited that he got angry birds shirt and flannel pants that were long and fit him well. The book she got the family was a new book written by Thomas S. Monson called, "The Christmas Train." We enjoyed reading the book that evening about when our prophet was a little boy and the decision he made to make Christmas special for a little boy in his ward. It was a great story with beautiful illustrations. The ornaments the kids got this year were wonderful as well. Paige got a little girl building a gingerbread house, Paxten got a boy dressed as Batman, and Parker got a red Angru Birds ornament. The kids love having their own ornaments to decorate the tree each year and love to look at all the ornaments from previous years. It really is a fun tradtion.

Matt had to work on Christmas morning this year, so we got special permission from Santa to have out Christmas on Monday morning instead of Tuesday morning. So that made out Christmas Eve on Sunday night. The kids really had no idea that is was a different day and we so excited about the thought of Santa coming that they could hardly sleep. Who wouldn't have been excited that Santa was coming a day early?! Parker woke up about 6 times during the night and Paige woke up twice. At about 6:45 we decided that we shoule just get up and let them open their presents, we weren't going to be able to go back to sleep anyways.

Gingerbread House Building

The kids look forward to making gingerbread houses each year. I think it is one of their favorite traditions. We had Grandma Yancey over to help us out and she brought a bag full of goodies to contribute to the house building. I helped Paige and Parker was helped by grandma. Paxten decided he wasn't too interested and ended up laying with Matt and taking a nap. Between Paige and Parker we used 2 batched of frosting and about 6 bags of candy! It seemed like it became a competition to see who could put the most candy on their house without it collapsing.  We didn't decied on a winner, but I am sure it would have been a tie. They both had gobs of candy on it and wanted more and more. I finally had to tell Paige that there was no where else to put any more candy! Both houses turned out fun and reflected the personalities of both the kids. It was a fun evening and we had table centerpieces for the next 2 weeks! December 18th, 2012.

Our Elf Fritz

Our elf Fritz was very busy during the holiday season. He made his way throughout our house and the kids loved having to search for him every morning. I think it became the highlight of their day finding our elf. He was pretty well behaved and only made a few messes that I had to clean up, thank good ness! The kids expecially loved it when he would hide in their rooms. Fritz was a good elf and he helped the kids remember to be good so he could report to Santa how they were behaving. Parker and Paige were especially sad when they learned that Fritz would be leaving out house and returning to the North Pole for the next year. They cant wait for him to return next year, meanwhile I keep reminding them to be good all year long! We will see how long that lasts. We are so glad that this is a new family tradition and we are very excited to have this special elf be a part of many more years of family fun in the years to come!

A New Tradition

We have started a new tradition at our house this year. The Elf on the Shelf. We had a special visitor come to our house, the day after we werent feeling so great. So it was such a nice suprise to see something good and to have something fun and exciting to look forward to. The kids and I named our special elf Fritz. Fritz was sent to our home from Santa Claus to help watch after the kids and their behavior before Christmas time. He then reports back to the North Pole each evening and lets Santa know what the kids have been doing. He can watch them and the kids can talk to him, but he cannot talk back and the kids are not allowed to touch him, because his magic will wear off. So far the kids love getting up each morning and seeing where Fritz is hiding. They talk to him and they are quick to do something I ask them when I remind them that Fritz is watching. Paxten even gets excited when he spots our special Elf. He has also been really great not to touch him. We are thrilled that this has become a tradition and we look forward to the rest of the month and many more years with our new favorite Elf Fritz!!

Christmas Day

After Church got out we went to Matt's Dad's house. The kids each got new jammies. Kerry had also made each of the kids a pillow case and gave them a new pillow. Parker got Spiderman and Paige got a a Dora pillow. Paxten's pillow case has owls and monkeys on it. They are supe cute and the kids have loved having them to sleep on. Paige also got a My Little Pony and some Magnetic dress up dolls. Parker got a nerf gun and a Lightning McQueen book. Paxten got a tonka toy truck and a jacket. Then as a family gift the kids, along with Tara a Quentins kids opened a package that said, "Let's go to DisneyLand." In it was some money for each of our families to start saving for a family trip next fall. Also the kids got a new Disney shirt. I also got a new cookbook and Matt and I got a gift card to Texas Roadhouse. Matt's Parents always spoil us all as well. We are super excited to be saving for our trip next year and are super excited that we are planning on going as a family. It will be awesome!!

After that we went to Uncle Kendall's house, where were had the annual White Elephant exchange. But I think it has turned into just a gift pass around rather than a white elephant. We tried to split it into boys and girls, but it still ended up taking over an hour before the game was over. The hot items this year were a 12 pk Mt. Dew with a Dick's Sporting Goods gift card, a 24 pk Dr. Pepper with beef jerky, a 20 pk Mt.Dew 2 giant candy bars, a tin of popcorn with a gift card on it as well. Those items kept getting passed back and forth over and over, among the men. There wasn't very much stealing from the women, other than a $20 bill and some jewelry. It was fun and is tradtion! I ended up with a cool jar full of a treat and a magnet board that says "Every Picture Tells A Story", Matt ended up with a tin of Almond Roca and a buck knife. We were both happy that neither of us ended up with monkey butt poweder, or a Chia pet!!

The kids do a name exchange with the other little kids. Parker got a new Pogo stick and Paige got 2 little My Little Ponies. Paxten got a new outfit. They were all excited about getting another fun gift. We ate a great dinner, visited and then came home. The kids were all anxious to try out all their new stuff. We had a wonderful Christmas and we feel so blessed to be surrounded by so many great family and friends. We truly are lucky to live here!! We hope the new year brings joy and happiness, health and strength, and more lawn business!!!! Hahaha!!!

Christmas Morning

On Christmas Morning Matt and I woke up early and got ready since we knew it would busy trying to open gifts, eat breakfast, and get ready for church by 11:00. We ended up having to wait for the kids to wake up, which they finally did about 8:15. They were surprised to see that Santa had put together Paige’s new table and chair set and had set out her new tea set. They were eager to try it out. Then they realized that Santa had made it and couldn’t wait to open their gifts.




Parker got new Cars 2 toys that he didn’t already have and 2 Cars 2 lego sets to put together. He also got chocolate pop tarts, watermelon gum, pickle Pringles, Root beer, a new toothbrush and toothpaste, coloring paint book and a looney toones coloring pages all in his stocking.

Paige opened some makeup from Santa along with an Easy Bake oven, which she was exstatic about, and she got chocolate pop tarts, watermelon gum, ranch Pringles, root beer, a toothbrush and toothpaste, and some Hello Kitty crayons, notebook and coloring pages all in her stocking.

Paxten got an elephant ball game, and a fabric tool set. He got a toothbrush and toothpaste in his stocking along with apple cinnamon puffs and some cookies.

After the kids opened gifts from Sanata, they opened gifts that Matt and I had gotten them. Each of the kids got new socks, and a new outfit. Paxten got some new board books and Paige got her first set of scriptures. Then both Parker and Paige got a new 7" Android tablet. They are always wanting to play on my Dad's and Grandma C's IPAD, but we couldn't justify buying an IPAD for a 6 year old and a 3 year old. So we opted for something smaller and not near as expensive. We even downloades gamed prior to Christmas so they would be ready to use when the kids opened them. They were both excited and have played on them quite a bit this week.

Matt received mostly practical stuff; socks, a belt, new jeans, and some new cologne. Matt also suprised me with a new professional cutting board, some salad tongs, and a silpat. I was suprised and proud of the fact that he came up with the idea all on his own and he did in fact suprise me with it.

After opening gifts we went next door for the traditional Yancey breakfast. Per Parker's request we had French toast, sausage, cutie clementines, and juice. It was delicious.

We then went to Church for just Sacrament meeting. The kids were dressed in their new church outfits and all looked so adorable.

Gingerbread Houses

 

We are keeping the tradition of Gingerbread houses alive. Somehow we managed to find the time and energy to make houses with my mom this year. For some reason the holiday has come so quickly and the month is flying by. But we still wanted to do some fun things and the kids look forward to making a house every year. This year Paige was even big enough to be able to decorate it by herself. I helped her and Grandma Yancey helped Parker. We kind of turned it into a suprise and the other team couldn't look at the opposing team's house until it was all finished. Paige and I did a smaller house with a pop tart roof and a Santa inside. Parker and Grandma went all out and did a two story house with a tree and deocorations inside! It was prett cook looking. These houses were the centerpiece on our table for a few weeks, until they started falling apart. It was so much fun and we look forward to seeing what we can build next year!

Ornament Exchange

I had my annual ornament exchange last week and had a great time. It is always fun to get together with a group of girls and to visit and laugh with each other. Some of the people that are in the group I seem to only see this time of the year. It is fun to catch up with one another and to get to know others. This year I made baked chicken taquitoe from my recipe. I think they were liked because there were no left overs! We had great food, great company, and I came home with 16 new ornaments to put on my tree. Yay!! This kids had fun looking at the new ornaments and then putting them on the tree. It is so fun to reminise about each ornanment as it gets put on the tree and to see all the different ones that I have collected over the years. This was my 8th year doing the exchange, I can't wait until next year!

Christmas Eve

Me opening a gift from my mom - a decorative post with seasonal interchangeable signs.

Parker with all his stuff including: a gun, robot, tool bench, church clothes & shoes, new jammies and Christmas book, new shirt/pants, toy story 8 in 1 game set, Iron Man ornament, 2 new movies, double ended light saber, 2 lego sets, a magnetic toy set and a Sword and Sheild that Grandpa made for him.

Me with everything I got including: a Gift Certificate for a pedicure, winter snow boots, candle warmer with 2 different scents, 3 scrapbook binders, sheet protectors, tall brown boots, gift card to scrapbook store, scrapbook set with paper/album/pens/scissors/embelishements, seasonal post, winnie the pooh ornament, 2 scrapbook paper packs, amazon gift card, 6ft table, Bath and Body lotions, Bamboo Pampered Chef salad bowl and tongs and a set of lids for some bowls I have.
Parker with his gun

Paige with her Pink Barbie Car and Dora Microphone

Paige with all her stuff including: New jammies and christmas book, dora backpack, dora doll, dora microphone, dress up clothes and container to put them in, Belle barbie, swim suit barbie, 2 sets of Barbie clothes, salon chair and accessories, 3 pair of shoes (pink, brown, black), 3 new dresses, lady bug pillow pet, cinderella ornament, 2 new movies.

Matt with his loot: Steaks, microfiber garage towels, golf balls, golfing snowman ornament, gift cards to cal-ranch, itunes, 5 guys, the movies, a harley shirt, ipod nano, and a relica of the new step bars he will be getting for his truck-they were on back order. He alson got a grinder and a shelf for the garage.

Grandpa and his new Harley stuff

Paige trying out some of her new dress up clothes

Big Brother opening some gifts



Little Sister opening gifts

The living room before we began opening gifts

We have a tradition of going to my parents on Christmas Eve and playing games, having dinner, and opening a few presents. This year my Sister only had her step-son on Christmas Eve so we opted to do the whole celebration that evening. We got together about 3:00 and played on the wii for about and hour. Then we had a great dinner of Prime Rib, baked potatoes, olive garden salad and rolls. For dessert we had cheesecake. It was delicious and hit the spot. After dinner and cleanup we gathered together and the kids helped sort out Christmas gifts into piles. It seemed like it took us forever to divvy out all the gifts. We each had a substantial pile when we were ready to begin. My kids knew exactly what to do and both of them immediately got started unwrapping. Little Sister was on a roll, she opened her first gift, looked at it and got excited for a second then moved right on to the next gift. She just would unwrap a gift, put it in her pile and move to the next gift. So I didn't get to see a lot of what everyone else was opening because I was helping her. It was a little chaotic, but everyone got spoiled and had a good time. Big Brother was especially excited when he opened a gift from Grandpa that was an air soft BB gun! After that gift he didn't seem to care what else he got, he stopped opening and began assembling his gun, getting in ready to shoot.(it makes a sound when he pulls the trigger and I don't think he even knows it is a real gun, we will keep that a secret for a while until he is bigger!) He did manage to unwrap a robot from my mom and he was pretty excited about that as well and took time to open that box and play with the robot before opening any other gifts.

I tried to get a picture of us all with everything we got, but it didn't happen. There was too much going on way too many fun new things to play with. We had a good night and enjoyed the time spent with our family. Ready for the next day. The kids were professional unwrappers by now!!

Gingerbread Houses

Another tradition that I want to make sure my kids enjoy and remember is putting together Gingerbread houses. I remember doing this occasionally when I was younger and I remember it being so fun. Paige is still a bit too small to do this, so was Parker, but with my mom as a helper we managed to get 2 houses built. We invited Parker's friend Hunter over and the boys had a good time letting their imagination take over. They both ended up with quite the houses! Paige lost interest and just enjoyed eating skittles, so I had quite a fun time decorating her house! You are never too young to do gingerbread houses!!

Christmas Cookies

I think my kids are old enough to start remembering Christmas Traditions so I decided that I want to start some fun traditions with my kids. So througout the month of December we will do fun things that will only be done at this time of year. 2 weeks ago we all made sugar cookies with different colors of dough. They mostly ended up being tye-dyed looking, but were fun to make! The kids loved rolling out the dough and picking out different colors to play with. We had a good time and it kept us all entertained for over an hour!! Yay for that!