Cousin Swap

My older girls are always begging to have a sleepover with their cousins.

This time we did it a little differently.

Emily went to stay with Kandyce and Kami and Gage came to stay with us.

This worked out really well.

Lindley and Hayley would like Kami and Gage to stay with us permanently.

How many kids can you fit on a queen size air mattress?

Kami, Abby and Gage worked quietly on the LEGO cabin after Steve and the babies went to sleep.  They had so much fun making " lava lamps ", playing kick the can, drawing with sidewalk chalk, LEGOs, Christmas lights, glow sticks and movies. Lindley was mad at Aunt Amy when she came to pick up the kids.

Emily and Kandyce made ROLO pretzels and t-shirt scarves. I am sure Emily enjoyed a break from the little ones getting into everything and driving her nutty. I was sure glad to have her home to leave the little ones with so I could go grocery shopping.



Christmas Day

Everyone was happy with Santa Christmas morning.

Emily loved her YELLOW Ukulele.

Abby got The Burrow LEGO set.

Lindley and her Barbie computer.

Hayley and her computer.

I love going to church on Christmas. I love the music, the spirit and the time to reflect. I love my Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ. So thankful for my little family and that we can be together FOREVER.

I worked on Christmas Eve from 11 AM to 8 PM. As soon as I got off I hurried to Grandpa Ward's Christmas Eve Party. I wanted to be there in time for the Pinata. Hayley still needed a little help.

Lindley didn't need any help.

She knocked the head right off that dinosaur.

Abby taking her turn and then the battery died. Hopefully Emily will still want to participate next year. The kids were so fun cheering each other on. Hayley really got into it.

When we got home at 10:30 Lindley was the only one awake enough to set out cookies and milk for Santa.

Then Daddy sat down with her and listened to Grandma Rochelle read The Night Before Christmas. So fun.

Mom and Dad fell asleep before Little Miss Naughty Lindy Lou.

Wednesday we did one of our favorite holiday traditions.

We went to pick out a toy for a little boy the age that Colton would be. It was a little harder to find the time this year since I have been working in the evenings. Steve and the girls met me at work on my lunch break and we shopped for a 5 year old boy.  We decided on Lincoln Logs and Hot Wheels.

Friday the girls and I ran the donation up to Primary Children's along with the money from Colton's Jar.

The girls loved the ice sculptures out front. We had some lunch (grilled ham and cheese for me) in the cafeteria and headed home. Lindley asked a lot of questions about Primary Children's and Colton.  I'm sure just the first of many discussions.

Emily and Abby(and probably me too) experienced a little anxiety on the way there. I never know how I am going to react returning to Primary Children's.  I remembered all the wonderful Nurses and Doctors that took such good care of Colton and our whole family.  I am so thankful for the time we had with Colton.  So grateful for the gospel and that my family can be together forever.

Snowman Pancakes

I think I may be rubbing off on Steve.

Today as I was finishing cleaning the kitchen so we had somewhere to sit and eat breakfast he came in and announced he was making Snowman Pancakes.

They were a hit.



Angel Crossing Christmas Breakfast and Decorating the TREE

Our ward has a Christmas Breakfast. We love it. There is breakfast casseroles, muffins, cereal, juice and milk. This year we came in our jammies. After the kids ate they could go make and ornament in the nursery.

Then a visit from Santa. Lindley loves it, Hayley tolerates it.

Is it me or does Abby look like a giant?

No way were we persuading Emily. She informed everyone who asked that she had emailed him. Then we went home to decorate the tree before I went to work. The girls did a fabulous job.

Emily and Abby really enjoy going through the ornament they have gotten from Auntie Leen and the ones they have made in school and Activity Days.

This is my favorite part of the tree. The two top ornaments on the tree for Colton and Cory. Love them, miss them.



Christmas with the Lindleys

Christmas is a chaotic fun day but there are not enough hours in the day to make it everywhere we would like to go. We have made it a little easier by getting together with my Dad and Karlene before Christmas. I like getting to spend some time with them and not having to worry about rushing off to the next destination. As always the food was yummy and the kids had a great time. I brought some photo props so I had a reason to get a picture of everyone. The enthusiasm was so so. We played Christmas Bingo for some dollar gifts. Everybody got a gift. Hayley and Lindley got a few. Christmas is definitely gonna be fun with those two.

Lindley and Kami

Kandyce and Allison

Steve and Sara

Dad

Justin

Abby and Gage

Blair and Amy

Kristy, Lindley and Steve

Emily and Hayley

Karlene



Grow your own Christmas Tree

Before leaving to work I helped the girls get the

 Grow Your Own Christmas Tree from Harry and Davids ready.

When I came home from work this is what it looked like.

The girls thought it was pretty cool. Maybe we will try the snowman next year.

Pajama Party

This year we didn't get to go to our annual pajama party with friends that really made a difference in my life. I love visiting with them each year at the party and watching their families grow. I decided to have a mini pajama party with a couple of sisters and my mom and dad. We had soup and bread sticks. Yummy. Played Christmas pictionary with the option of drawing, sculpting with Play Doh or using Bendaroos. Lindley took a turn drawing and her team guessed it right away. It was low key but fun to spend some time with part of my family. Of course the cousins had fun being creative with the Play Doh.

Bendaroo Fun

Kami

Abby

Hayley

Emily

Lindley

Kandyce

Gage



Nutcracker

The day Abby has been looking forward to and counting down finally came.

The Nutcracker with Auntie Leen.

Emily and Uncle Craig had some fun too at the Clark Planetarium and Discovery Gateway.

When I saw this picture of Abby in a leopard print shirt I had to laugh.

It reminded me of this picture of Emily 3 years ago at the Nutcracker with Auntie Leen in a leopard print skirt.

It was fun to listen to the girls talk about the Nutcracker and the fun ornaments they have to remember it.

Thanks Auntie Leen and Uncle Craig for the fun day.

Gingerbread Houses

Grandma Shelley had all the kids over to make Gingerbread Houses.

I wasn't there to take pictures so we took some this morning.

Abby

Emily

Hayley

Lindley

The girls had a lot of fun and all the houses turned out SWEET.