Christmas Eve Traditions

This year we spent Christmas Eve at home, just our little family!

It was a first for us! So we thought we would make a tradition of having a candlelit dinner and try to teach our kids some manners!

Then of course…the Nativity Play

Then we went out in the front yard and planted our little candy mints in the ground, so that in the morning, after Santa came with his magic sleigh, the mints would grow into candy canes!

(With all the commotion in the morning, I forgot to take a picture! They really did grow into candy canes though!)

Finally, before the kids hit the hay…they must snuggle up and listen to the “Night Before Christmas”

Snow in Arizona?

This was the day after the Polar Express. We were in Williams, Az. This is just outside our hotel, so we didn’t have to go far for some fun. Snow angels, sledding and icicles! Poor Will, he had a tough time!

The Polar Express

Sooooo cold!!!! As you can tell it was snowing while were boarding the “Polar Express” Don’t worry we were prepared, but it was so much fun!

We went with Kevin's parents and his sisters Becky and Theresa, her hubby Justin and their little one Ryland. He is Wills age, so they are best buds!

Here they are trying to see the “North Pole”

Even Kaleb tried to catch a glimpse!

Here comes Santa Clause! (Does Kaleb look excited or what?)

Santa comes up to every child and gives them a bell…do you believe?

A Visit with Santa

The kids decided they would write their letter to Santa and personally deliver it! It worked out well, and I think it helped Will to not be scared.

School Recitals

Here are Kaleb and Kate with their friends at the school recitals.

Rian is Kates closest buddy and William and Kaleb defitnetly cause trouble!

The Start Of Christmas Traditions

I know Christmas is way over by now! But I had to post some so I wouldn’t be a BAD Mom!

Here is when we picked out our Christmas Tree! We still love the tradition of picking out a live tree, we love the smell and it’s fun going to pick one out!

$60 bucks later…. And we have a very bright Christmas Tree!

Thanksgiving 2008

We spent Thanksgiving up at my parents house in the White Mountains in eastern AZ for the second year in a row. One of these years we will finally decide to cook our own turkey, but when it’s available and delicious…why not let someone else do all the work. We spent four days just hanging out and having fun with family. The kids were very excited because it snowed while we were there too.

Halloween 2008

OK…So we have been real terrible about keeping our blog updated.  So, here is what we have been up to over the last two months…..

Here are some pictures of our pumpkin carving night. We learned that you should not carve your pumpkins a week before Halloween in AZ because they will be shriveled and rotten due to the warm weather. Next year we will carve them only a day or two before the big night.

For Halloween we spent the evening with our friends the Millers. We had a great time trick-or-treating around their neighborhood, and then hanging out at their house afterwards playing Guitar Hero and eating lots of Candy.  Here are a few pics….

Pumpkin Patch

We went to the pumpkin patch the week before Halloween for our family home evening. The kids had fun picking out their own pumpkin and playing in the bounce house. Here is a slideshow of our night…

Kaleb’s First Pinewood Derby

A few weeks ago, Kaleb participated in his first Pinewood Derby for scouts. He decided he wanted a blue car with the Nintendo Logo on it, and white lightning bolts.

Here we are working on it…wait a minute, do you notice Kaleb is no where to be found? He seemed to only be interested in the finished product…

Finally the big event came….each scout was able to race their cars close to twenty times against different opponents and in different lanes of the track. Kaleb’s car did quite well finishing 1st most of the time, with a few 2nd place finishes.

Kaleb won the award for “Best Game Face” for his pinewood derby car.