Merry Christmas

We hope that everyone had a very Merry Christmas!

We enjoyed the holiday here in AZ this year. We missed our families tons, but enjoyed some of our own traditions.

The kids were all extremely spoiled this year; I guess they were really good. Rachel had more fun checking out everyone else's stockings and presents than her own. She wasn't really interested until the wrappers came off. We even had to hide all of the candy; everytime we turned around she had stolen something else from one of her brother's stockings.

We enjoyed a nice dinner with my Aunt Cathy, Craig, and Kristen. Thanks for making the long trip across town.

The hightlight........... I got a new camera!!!! Enjoy the slide show below of our Christmas with all of the lovely non-blurry pictures!!!

Temple Lights

Tonight we made our annual trip to the Mesa Temple to see the lights. We usually go on Christmas Eve, and it is SO busy. This year we decided to try it tonight, it was so much nicer. The only draw back-my camera! I sure hope that Santa has one for me on his sleigh!!!

This was the best shot we got all night on the grounds. Rachel loved the lights and watching all the people. (as you can tell, she wouldn't look at us)

We were even able to go into the visitor center and experience some of the amazing things they have inside. Usually it is so crowded we don't even attempt it.

This is the kids in front of the Christ statue they have.

Gingerbread House

It is a yearly tradition at our house to make a gingerbread house. This year was no exception. The kids all helped out and put on some of the decorations. Rachel ate more than she actually put on, but overall it turned out great.

Getting started

Rachel putting on her candy

Licking her finger's clean



Zachary with his decoration

Christmas Sunday

Trying to get 4 kids to hold still and look at the camera at the same time is next to impossible, but enjoy a few of our attempts this morning.

Dressing a girl for the holidays I have to admit is so much more fun than boys!!!! But she wouldn't sit still and pose. This is the best shot we had. She was all decked out today! And spent the whole time in the hall at church since she was SO loud today. It's a good thing she is so cute!

Kindergarten Christmas Program

Tonight was the Kindergarten Christmas Program. All 4 classes got together with the help of Mr. Murphy (the music teacher) and gave a great concert.
They all sang - "We wish you a Merry Christmas", "The Hanukkah Song", and "Santa Claus is Coming to Town".
Ethan's class sang "Up on the House Top". It was really cute. Ethan did such a good job; he sang great.
Below is a video for your enjoyment.

Rachel-Proof Christmas Tree

We had a great time this weekend decorating for Christmas. It wasn't without its challenges. It has been a few years since there has been a little one at Christmas. But our house is now Rachel Christmas proof. Our tree is only decorated about 2/3 of the way down, some things are out this year, and other are up a lot higher.

This picture is my favorite of all the ones we took of the tree. I was trying to get just the tree, and she walked into the picture and looked up, exactly as I took it. I'm sure she was trying to figure out how to reach the ornaments.

Christmas

Hope you all had a very merry Christmas!!

We enjoyed a nice quite day here at home as a family. Christmas gets better and better as the kids get older. They were still up way before the sun (5am), which isn't a big deal except our sweet baby who normally sleeps all night decided she was excited about Christmas too! She was up most of the night!(She has a stuffy nose and was having trouble breathing).

We enjoyed slowly opening presents and having breakfast. The boys then played together all day and I don't think we heard one argument the whole day. The boys all got a Nintendo DS which they had been asking for for over 2 years. As a family we received a digital piano. Brandon was most excited about this as he has been taking lessons for almost 2 years and really wanted a piano with a full keyboard.
Now we just have to decide where it is going to go.

Bob has the next week off and we are looking forward to playing as a family next week,a visit from Grandma Wallace,and ringing in the new year.

We have been very blessed this year and hope that next year will be filled with as much joy and love.

Christmas Sunday

Yesterday we took Rachel to church for the first time so that we could all be together as a family for the Christmas program at church. The kids all looked so good(the boys ties matched Rachel's dress) and we were actually ready a few minutes early we took a quick picture in front of the tree. Getting all of them to look at the same time is quite a production. They all kept looking at Rachel.

Then last night we went to the temple to walk around and enjoy the peaceful spirit there while we enjoyed the Christmas lights.
The pictures are a little dark and don't really do justice to the beautiful lights. If you are in Arizona and haven't gone it is worth it. The kids look forward to it every year.

Gingerbread House

Tonight was the annual decorating of the gingerbread house. The kids had been begging all day long. Then when it came to it, all they wanted to do was eat the candy. We did have a little fun with Rachel.(She didn't really use the mixer)






The finished product turned out pretty good, let's see how long it lasts!!!!