Christmas in a nutshell

Since it is almost February I decided I better get some Christmas photos up on my blog or they may never make it up. 

We had a great Christmas. We were SPOILED by our family and really enjoyed being able to spend time together. 

 On Christmas Eve the kids like to leave "reindeer food" so the reindeer will find our house. But every year they fall asleep on the way home so we end up putting it on the lawn for the reindeer.

 The kids at the top of the stair anxiously waiting to come see what Santa brought.

Our traditional coming down the stairs pose. Wow they all look alike!

Santa brought Charles the Smurf dancing game for the Wii and Madison got a new back pack.

Claudia was excited to see Mrs. Potato head waiting for her and utensils in her stocking.

 A few years back I made quilts for each of the kids and had to carry on the tradition, so above you see Claudia sitting on her quilt.

Daddy in the background looks more excited about Claudia's car than she does. But it's actually become one of her favorite toy. 

I got more photos of Claudia than the other two because they just wouldn't look at me.

After we opened gifts and had breakfast we got ready for church. It was nice that we only had sacrament meeting. 

On the way to my parents house we stopped at the Garthe's for a quick hello. The kids had a hard time just stopping by, they wanted to stay and play. 

Then we headed to my parents house for more presents and good company. 

The kids were very spoiled at the Anderson house this year. 

As the day was winding down daddy, Janelle, and the kids enjoyed playing twister. It was pretty funny to watch, especially since daddy is not very flexible and Madison does not know her left from her right.

I really need to get out of this LAZY funk, I just can't shake it.

I have neglected my blog for quite a while but we have been a little busy. December filled up quickly and then it just kept right on being crazy through January. Now that I've completed the editing of my two weddings I feel like life is starting to get back to normal.

John started his new job two days after Christmas and LOVES it! And we are really LOVING it too. He now works in Corona which means he is about 20 miles away. He used to have to leave the house at 6 AM to hit the train and get to work in Anaheim before 8 AM. Then he would leave work right at 5 PM to hit the 5:20 train and be home by 6:20. Which made him gone over 12 hours a day for an 8 hour work day.

Now that he drives to work in Corona he leaves the house around 7:30 AM to get to work at 8 and then leaves work around 5 to get home around 5:30ish. So his 12+ hour days have turned to 9 hour days.

It has been WONDERFUL. We truly feel SO BLESSED!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Fun

We have our Christmas stuff up and I have been trying to do some Christmas activities with the kids to keep them busy and get them in the holiday spirit. We have 3 advent calendars that we have been trying to remember to do. The first is a chocolate calendar. My mom gave the kids one and they have been fighting over who gets the chocolate. Then my wonderful visiting teacher came over and brought one for each of the kids. Now we have no more fighting but we seem to be having a hard time remembering to open one each day. So the kids often get to eat more then one chocolate in a day. But they don't seem to mind. 

Our second calendar is a tin calendar I made last year. Each tin has a message in it with something for us to do that day. We've REALLY been slacking at doing these. I've still be trying to do the activities, we just don't always do them on the right day. So far we have.... gone to the Mission Inn to see Christmas lights, got Hot Chocolate, saw Santa, made candy ornaments, made Christmas cookies, decorated gingerbread houses, watched several Christmas specials, learned more about Jesus, and watched the LDS dvd "Joy to the World" about the birth of our Savior.  It has been a great start to our Christmas season.Our 3rd calendar is 25 tiny books that you read each day that talks about the Nativity and each persons role in Jesus' birth. We've been REALLY really bad at doing this one. Maybe next year we can be better about our Christmas traditions.

(These are our ornaments we made out of lifesavers.)

 

 

 We had John's family come over and do the gingerbread (graham cracker) houses with us. 

The kids had a great time. I glued the houses together to avoid the frustration of the walls not staying together. I thought it was a GREAT idea. Some of the kids did not think so, they wanted to eat their crackers. Maybe next year I will let them decide.

Today Madison turned 4 years old. She is so excited that this day has finally arrived.

Charles has been getting two vitamins for a few years now and she keeps asking when she gets two. A while ago we told her when she turns 4 she gets 2 vitamins. So for months now when we talk about her birthday or ask her when her birthday is she would say she gets 2 vitamins on her birthday. So you could imagine her excitement today. 

 

Today was a pretty ordinary day for us. Last night just before I went to bed I realized I only had 4 balloons to put in her room. While John was blowing them up one popped and by morning a 2nd one deflated also. Since I failed at filling her room with balloons I wrote a message on her mirror doors. Which she didn't even see since at 2 AM she woke up screaming and came into our room. Charles was the first to see the remaining 2 balloons and the message in her room. 

I think I need to plan better next year.

We decided to take her out to dinner for her birthday. We went to our favorite place, Red Robin! She was so happy that they gave her ice cream. 

We had her birthday party on Sunday so nothing really exciting happened today. 

But the party was lots of fun.

Madison always asks for a princess party but for some reason I just can't bring myself to give her a princess party. So I always try to find a new theme that she likes. This year was tricky. I kept giving her all kinds of idea, none if which she liked. Then I stumbled upon a blog and the author had a Pajama and Pancake party for her daughter. I threw the idea and Madison and surprisingly she LOVED it. So we sent out the invites and had all our family wear their pajamas.

It was lots of fun and most people, even adults wore their pajamas. As the kids arrived we had them decorate door hangers. Madison LOVES stickers and was so excited to share this activity with her favorite people.

 

   

We did a pancake toss and a pancake relay. 

 

 

 

 

The kids LOVED it. Charles is still talking about it weeks later. For dinner we served breakfast! Pancakes, sausage, eggs, and juice. It was wonderful and super easy. And the best part was, ALL the kids LOVED dinner. That doesn't happen very often with our extended family. 

And of course we had cupcakes!

 

It was a great day!

Independence

Claudia has become very independent recently when it comes to eating. She wants to do it all by herself. Which is pretty normal for her age. So I accept the mess and let her learn. She really does LOVE this freedom!

 Look at that adorable face! 

Some times she even rubs it in her hair. So gross!

8 years

Wow! I can't believe it's been 8 years. It doesn't even seem like it. 

8 Years ago yesterday I married the Love of my Life and we became Eternal companions. I am so lucky to have John as my husband. He is AMAZING and means the world to me. 

I can't wait to see where the future takes us.