On Christmas day in the morning.

Mason was the first one to wake up. And he woke up at 9:00. I woke up to him saying "everyone wake up it Christmas eve. Oh wait it's Christmas morning. I see the sun." He tickled daddy until he woke up and started getting him back. Than we had to wake up Mattix and Manning. Than we had to hurry to beat the kids upstairs. I wanted to see their faces when they saw what Santa had brought.

We opened stockings. Mason got a tin full of Pokemon cards. Mattix got the big sucker he has been eyeing for the last month at Walmart. He was so happy Santa knew he wanted that.

Every year Santa brings us new fun toothbrushes. The fancy ones that sing or do something fun. Usually to replace the ones we got a few months ago from the dentist.

Mason asked Santa for DS games and a Rhino. That's all he really wanted. So Santa brought him a couple games and a kit to help him take care of our family DS. Santa found a cool rubber rhino. It's cooler than a plastic one he says. You can sleep with it like a stuffed animal.

Santa brought Manning a car set. He loved it. He was so distracted by what everyone else was doing and loved clapping for everyone when we opened presents that he didn't want to open anything of his. He was so happy.

Mattix asked Santa for a pirate ship for the bathtub. Due to a failed Ebay purchase, lack of funds and time. Santa sent mommy an email and told Mattix that the boat making machine was broken and the Elves weren't able to fix it in time for christmas. So he needed to send Santa a couple new ideas instead. So Santa was able to bring a big firetruck instead. Mattix also asked for bubbles and a ball. He was so happy to see those in his stocking. I think it's so funny how magic they think it is to ask for things and "santa" knows just what to bring them. I love the magic of Christmas.
I am so thankful for the special gifts that we have received. We came home to find gifts on our steps. My boys were so in aw. We are so very thankful for all our friends and family. I don't know who did it. But I am so grateful for your love. Thank you for thinking of us. It really meant alot to me.

Twas the night before Christmas....

And all through the house. Everyone was stirring and have a good time.

I decided to stay home this year and invite who ever wanted to come hang out, help us eat all the treats and yummy food we had made. It turned out to be a good idea. My mom and dad came. My brother came (he's home from Hawaii for a week and a half) with his family. And my aunt and her husband came. I haven't seen them for a while. It was fun to spend time with family and have fun together.

Matt and Uncle Brian learned it's a whole lot easier to assemble a boxed Gingerbread contraption, if you read and follow the directions in the box.

Where does this piece go man?

The boys picked out princess hair things for Brian's girls. They were so excited to give them to the girls. They picked out which princess they thought each would like.

The boys got way into decorating.

And eatting the candy too!

Grandma had some fabric she had found and was planning on making Daddy some pajama pants. But when she went to make them there wasn't enough. So she decided to make the boys each their own and just barely had enough for all three. They turned out so cute!

Mattix was so proud of his pants. He is his daddy's #1 fan. So to have Ute pants was so Awesome!

Nana and Papa got Daddy a new U of U Santa hat to congratulate him for completing his first semester at the U. It went perfect with the boys' pants.

As I mentioned earlier in a post one of our traditions is to play a came on Christmas eve. Santa dropped off some early gifts and inside there was a couple games it was perfect for our tradition.

We got to do a puzzle and play games before bed.

The puzzle almost put together. The boys loved it all and were so excited to put out cookies and milk for Santa. We had some chocolate milk in the fridge and Mason was certain that Santa would prefer chocolate over regular. Mattix was very upset. But on Christmas morning they were very suprised to see that Santa had drank it all. Mattix was so happy. The boys were so excited for Santa to come, but dispite their excitement they went right to sleep and even slept in until 9:00. That was a wonderful present for Mommy. Thanks Santa for making our Christmas so Great!

Mason you crack me up!

The other night I took the boys out to do some last minute Christmas shopping. It just happened to be almost 8:00 when we left. So I knew it was going to be an adventure just by looking at the clock. We had a few stores to run to. Michele's Craft store being one of them. It was our second store (with two more to go) and I was so tired. The boys were in the hyper tired stage by this point. They were everywhere. Mason brought one of these guys to me and told me he found the perfect gift for his PaPa. It was green and looked like an elf. We walked over to the display and discovered there were 2 other guys like him. Santa and a snowman. Mason was dying to give one to Grandpa and Daddy too. I saw the price and said. "I am not paying $X amont of money for a tiny Chia Pet." Mason was so disappointed. He knew it was going to be perfect for them. But I had a budget and I had to stick to it.

Well we got up to the to pay and the lady informed me that all Christmas stuff was marked way down. So they were reasonably priced for this cheap/frugal mama. The boys were so excited. We got home and they put the 3 of them under the tree without wrapping them.

Well we got them wrapped and delivered. Needless to say. I don't think Mason realized what he was buying. I went to put him in the bath and he asked if he could play with the Santa ball. I explained to him what it was and that it was like a plant that is going to grow. And he said, "well PaPa said we need to soak it in some water." Sometimes I wish I could see things from his point of view. These were "the perfect gift" for Papa, Grandpa, and Daddy. Mason thought they were going to play with them in the bathtub.
: )

Mason's Preschool Christmas Program

Mason and his class waiting so patiently for the program to start.

One of my favorite things about Mason going to Sandy's preschool is every year she does a Christmas program. Me being the proud mom that I am. Yeah I absolutly love it.

Mrs. Sandy is so good at teaching them so many cute songs. And Mason loves singing them.
This is her introducing her class.
(I hope she doesn't mind being in my blog)


The class all participated in the Nativity story. Mason got to be a Wiseman this year.

He had a special part. His line was, " Where is he born king of the Jews?" He memorized it and he said it in front of everyone.

He said his head band was bugging him.

He made one very cute Wiseman. Didn't he?

Mom Come Quick!

Manning's Making a Mess!

Manning found the roll of toilet paper I left sitting on the bathroom sink.

That's what I get. Funny kid. At least he had fun.

A little Christmas fun...

So as part of our Ward Christmas party. Mrs. Claus came to see the kids. She read the Nativity story to them and brought them cookies straight from the North Pole. The kids were able to bring their letters to Santa and drop them off in her Mail box and take their picture with her. Mattix has always been terrified of Santa. He was in awe of Mrs. Claus. He just loved her.

So I have to tell you how cool this is. Due to the awesome tool that facebook can be. I found the mom of one of my old girls I used to have at the daycare center I that used to teach at. She agreed to be Mrs. Claus for me. It was neat to have a reunion and see Tori and her mom again. I loved it!! Sandy was amazing. Even though it was her first time you never would of guessed at all.

She makes a cute Mrs. Claus!

Someone had a Birthday!!

I am now the proud Mother of a super awesome 5 year old!

AWESOME!!!

Our favorite #1 Big Brother!

Mason really wanted a birthday party with some fellow Pokemon friends. Mommy is so not on the ball this year. For a number of reasons not worth posting right now. I waited until the last minute (the afternoon before) to invite his friends. I wasn't sure I was going to get a good response so I invited a few extra. And even ran out of time and didn't get all the invites out. So if we missed you please forgive me and don't hold it against me. But with that said. I do have to say he had a very good turnout. Mason is one loved kid.

It didn't stick to the theme. (which really there wasn't a theme) But no party is a party without a pinata.

And games that mommy so graciously pulled out of I don't know where. Let's just say I work very well under pressure and have a very active imagination.

We played pin the presents on the Christmas tree.

I think I might use this idea for our Preschool Christmas party.

The kid was showered with gifts.

Thanks everyone! He loves them all!! He's a funny kid. He's getting to the age where he "loves" "His" stuff. He remembers who it came from and he treasures things. I think it's so sweet.

Due to mommy's last minute planning and running out of time, I was unable to make the dream cake that Mason has designed in his head. So Daddy and one of our lovely neighbors saved the day with a Winco blank cake, a Mario car, and an edible pokemon cake topper. (Thank you Thersea!!) It worked and he'll never know the difference.

There were kids eatting cake and (the best icecream ever) playdough icecream everywhere. That's the breaks of having a little house and waiting to the last minute to reserve the church gym. Next year!

It turned out so awesome! I think the kids loved it. I know Mason was one happy kid!

Mason and his VIP poster in his new Pokemon cape his grandma made him.

At Mason's Preschool his teacher has the kids do a VIP poster for their birthday. I have so much fun doing it. I added some cute baby pics, pics of our family, him and his brothers, his favorite color Blue, a few of his favorite foods are broccoli, carrots, and chocolate. But his absolute favorite things are Pokemon, computers, DS and did I mention Pokemon?

Mason got to bring his daddy to his VIP and Matt suprised him with a treat for his class.

We spent the day of his birthday hanging out. I cooked a pizza and we watched the new Salina Gomez movie,Romona and Beezus. It was a very good day.

Happy Birthday Mason Man!!

We love you!!

Holiday Traditions

Our snuggly warm family.

The gorgeous lights surrounding the temple.

Growing up we my family had a couple traditions for Christmas that I totally loved. My favorite and most memorable tradition was on Christmas Eve we'd all be home together and for dinner we'd have cheese and crackers. My parents would go all out on it. We'd have ham and those sausage rolls with different kinds of cheese. My mom would always be on the lookout for different kinds of crackers. We especially loved when the Ritz crackers would be shaped like snowflakes.
Now that my I have moved out and I have my boys. We started some of our own traditions. On Christmas Eve. We get to open one present as a family and it's usually a game to play together. We get in our PJ's and play together. We get santa's cookies ready and every year we write Santa a note to go with it. I've saved some of our Santa notes I will have to post them in another post. This year we took the boys to Temple Square to see the lights. The boys absolutly loved it. We haven't ever took the boys. Due to my fear of being cold and them getting cold. It wasn't to bad. There was a group of friends from church that all met up. It was so fun to walk around and enjoy our friends and have some fun as a family. It was so beautiful! I loved it. I am amazed at how much work goes into the decorations and lights all around. Absolutly incredible.

So as my family grows and time goes on. I hope to continue traditions and add traditions that will bring my family closer together and closer to our Savior and the real meaning of Christmas.

Making Christmas 2010

Because of Matt's 4 day weekend and his motivation to get things done.

We got all the Christmas stuff out of the attic and "made Christmas" at our house.

The boys were so excited. We rearranged our living room to get the tree up. And got to work.Mattix started putting ornaments on the tree before Matt had the tree put all together.

The empty tree box made a fun airplane for the them and a great distraction from what daddy was doing.

My favorite part of decorating is the memories that are attached to just about everything.

Our stockings.

The 2 with the snowmen are the original stocking that I bought for Matt and I on our first Christmas together.

Our tree all lit up.

I'm afraid until we are done having little ones our trees will just have to be half decorated.

I let Mason and Mattix decorate. The perfectionist in me was trying to control myself from "fixing" it. But when it was all done. I looked at it and felt like it was absolutly perfect.

I love our collection of ornaments. Nana and Papa give the boys each an ornament for Christmas every year, we try to find special ornaments for boys and of course all the ornaments the boys make and we recieve from friends and family. Every one the boys pulled out of the box the boys wanted to know who it came from and who it was for. They loved it.
This one was from 2009. Our first Christmas with 3 boys.

Mason's first ornament.

Baby's first Christmas 2005.

Mattix's snow"ball." We looked everywhere in 2008 for an ornament that was shaped like a ball.

Mason's cousin Kelly made this for him in 2006. It's a stocking.

When I told Mason who made this one he said, "I like this one. Kelly is good to our planet. She made something out of recycled stuff." Toothpicks, a popsicle stick and a cany wrapper. She's very creative. this is one of my favorite ones.

My good friend Tonya gave this to me when I was pregnant with Mason. It means so much to me. I keep it up all year. But it's one of my most special decorations that holds so much meaning behind it. Good friendship, good advice, and good support.

Last but not least our very first angel. Our first Christmas together we didn't have much money. I found this at the dollar store. Every year after Christmas, the Christmas stuff goes on clearance super cheap. Matt keeps telling me we can get a new one. There are some very pretty ones out there that light up, sing, and move. But like I said Christmas to me is about memories and feeling the spirit of Christ. It's easier for me to remember what Christmas is all about when I remember what got me to this point. I am thankful for all my memories and the traditions my family shares and enjoys.