Christmas Celebrations!

I let the kids open a few presents from Aunts, cousins and Grandma's the day before Christmas just to keep them busy. Thanks to my sister, the twins LOVED their Sit'N Spin. Should have sent TWO!

We had our first Christmas in our first home this year and loved it! I did not miss the stress of trying to get everything done that first week of December (cards, neighborhood/friend gifts, Christmas shopping, etc). Nor did I miss fighting the airport with all of our kids and luggage in toe or trying to figure out on Christmas day how I was going to get all those presents home. It was just EASY and ENJOYABLE! My parents flew in to spend Christmas with us and they truly made our Christmas even more special. We had a so much fun with you, Mom and Dad. Thank you for coming! I know I would have been homesick without you there.

While I was preparing dinner, my mom and Macy had fun decorating a gingerbread house. My dad helped out here and there, but mostly just to sneak the candy!

Here it is...all BEAUTIFUL! Thanks Costco for providing everything in a box.

We had Christmas Eve dinner by candlelight...a little something special!

The kids opened their Christmas pajamas from Grandma and Grandpa Swensen. So cute!

We then attempted to have a little program singing around the piano and retelling the Christmas story but the kids were disastrous. Off to bed!

Santa arrived....

..and even filled the stockings. Way to Go, Santa! You ROCKED this year!

Nicholas about blew a fuse when he saw his train table. He did about 200 laps around that thing Christmas day. It has kept him very busy and Mom very happy!!! We ALL love it!

Karlee got her very own Barbie!!! Finally, something of her own. (Umm...I think that is marker on her face and that scab on her forehead was from a tumble she took on the driveway days before. This girl is tough as nails!)

The ONE thing Macy told Santa she wanted for Christmas!

The kids LOVED ripping in to their presents. Macy helped everyone out! My dad was the officially toy opener. The packaging on toys is ridiculous! Nicholas almost had a heart attack waiting for us to break out Macy's My Little Pony Carnival Set.

All in all, it was a wonderful, wonderful Christmas! We were very grateful for all that had been given.

It was wonderful hearing from so many of you! Thank you for your cards and well wishes. We love you all!

In the Christmas Spirit!

This is what I caught on tape when I looked over to see Nicholas sitting on top of the garbage can jamming out to the music. He loves when he touches the Ipod and the screen lights up or the song changes. He is so proud of himself! This little boy is so cute to me! I think I'll keep him for today!

It's That Time of Year

Macy had her Christmas Program at school last week. It was the sweetest thing EVER! She was one of the sheperds. Apparently, I didn't get the memo that I was suppose to MAKE her entire costume as some mothers did. The note home said a dish towel would be fine! So a dish towel it was! I'm just glad she wasn't one of the donkeys. I would have been in trouble coming up with something for that! It was such a cute program! Her little brother and sister were so HAPPY to see her afterwards.

Next came decorating ginger man cookies with her class. That was the fun part! Karlee totally wanted in on the action and Macy was so sweet to let her help! Karlee is so ready for preschool. She sits and colors and totally thinks she is BIG! We left with her kicking and screaming.

The finished product!

Macy also had a half yearly ballet recital where all the moms and dads where invited to come and watch. The little ballerinas showed off their bar work and their leaps and jumps. They finished by dancing a beautiful snowflake dance to the Nutcracker! Each girl had a small solo part. Some were very graceful and full of twirls, others just ran through it! Macy did a little of both! She looked so beautiful out there! One thing is for sure, she LOVES to dance!!!

'O Christmas Tree

After six years of good use, we said good-bye to our Charlie Brown Christmas tree we bought at Walmart for $20 and splurged on a 9ft prelit tree from Costco. I've been feeling guilty about buying an artificial tree when we live in the state that produces the most Christmas trees in the country. I feel like I'm robbing my children of some sort of holiday tradition but to me, a tree that doesn't need to be picked up after or fed and watered is priceless.

Macy burst into tears when she saw that we didn't have a star for our tree. We're working on that one along with maybe some ribbon and garland? I found my Christmas balls at Tai Pan Trading Company in Utah. Utah has all the great decorating stores. I am so envious! We have been loving Christmas around our home with holiday smells, music, drives around the neighborhood to see the lights with the kids NOT buckled in to their carseats and bedtime Christmas stories.

Lights and garland in the kitchen

I'm still looking for stocking holders. I really would love these framed picture stocking holders from Pottery Barn but they are $30 a piece. I need five! Do you think they'll go on sale after Christmas? Here's to hoping!

Oh, and don't you love that sweet T.V.? It's ancient. This is the only T.V. Mark and I have ever owned in our 9 years of marriage. We're hoping Santa delivers after Mark builds some shelving for an entertainment center. That gaping hole is such an awkward space.

Happy Holidays!

Have fun decorating!!!

Pictures of the Month

Holy Smokes! Where did November go? Instead of writing a novel and boring everyone, here are a few of my favorite pictures from the month. Hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving! We spent ours in Utah with family and loved seeing everyone.

The Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport

Celebrating my Mom's Birthday at Maddox Restaurant

Macy holding her new cousin, Kennedy

Fun at the Cache Valley Fun Park

And then there is Karlee...

Halloween Pics

Our little spooks! Macy dressed up as Fancy Nancy (the girl who LOVES to accessorize!) Karlee was a fluffy chicken and Nicholas, the cutest dragon!

Transportation for the night. The wagon ended up being more of a liability as Nicholas and Karlee caught on to the whole idea of trick-or-treating. We could not miss one house, even if the lights were off, the twins still wanted to go up and get candy! That part they didn't get!

Aren't they cute?

Our stylish Fancy Nancy "Princess"...RED shoes and all

All three Trick-or-Treating.

I LOVE Halloween!!! It is such a fun holiday! We had so much fun this year with our kids. They were totally in to it. Friday afternoon we went Trick-or-Treating downtown in Corvallis and filled our buckets full. The twins could not eat their candy fast enough. They were shoveling it in! They wanted to eat every piece they got. We had to skip a few stores just to give them (and us) a breather! Saturday we went around our neighborhood which is the dream neighborhood for Trick-or-Treating. The houses are close together and all decked out with lights and a few scary people answering the doors. Macy was running from house to house with her friends. Mark and I were running equally as fast trying to keep up with the twins who were each going in their own direction. It was some crazy fun! I just love the excitement kids bring to the holidays. I even decided to dress up myself...