Christmas Eve Pancakes

Every year, we have pancakes for Christmas Eve dinner. Last year was Santa with red M&Ms, marshmallows and whipped cream. This year we went slightly healthier with Christmas trees with whipped cream and sprinkles. Such an easy thing and the kids think we are sooo cool!

Add in some hot chocolate and they were all asleep by 9 pm.

Four Feet

Adds up to reindeer shirts!

Merry Christmas!

Smarty

Munchkin kept finding old pairs of glasses and wearing them around the house. Hubby and I were worried about her damaging her eyes since she doesn't NEED prescription glasses. Finally, I found an old pair of the Boy's glasses from when he was about her age. I popped out the lenses and VIOLA!

She's been wearing them for 3 days now. Thumbelina told her she looked weird, and made Munchkin cry before she admitted that she just wanted a pair of her own. So we popped the lenses out of hubby's old pair and now I have three kids that wear glasses.

"Helping"

While the other kids were decorating the tree, Squirt was eating gingerbread men.

I mean, helping decorate.

Getting Ready for Christmas

Santa showed up to our ward Christmas breakfast.

Squirt was not thrilled with the idea of sitting on this man's lap but she did really well considering her track record with strangers.

She didn't smile or laugh but she didn't cry either.

After naps, we went into the mountains and cut a tree. It isn't the best, most symmetrical tree but, since the snow was up to hubby's knees and Thumbelina and the boy were with him, this became the perfect tree!

90+ ornaments, 5 strands of sparkly garland and tinsel, 500 gold shimmery icicles, two strands of rope lights, assorted homemade ornaments and one giant star combined to make the best Christmas tree ever!!! Designed and decorated by the kids.


Saturday was hubby's birthday, but we decided to put it off for a month and have a giant celebration with Me, Hubby and Munchkin in January once we are into our new house.

Hitting Important Milestones

Thumbelina's first ponytail by herself.
Why does wearing a school sweatshirt make Thumbelina seem so grown up?! Even though Munchkin is almost as tall as her.

Munchkin makes her own lunch most days. And I happily let her!

And finally, what post would be complete without a funny picture of Squirt?

She loves to eat cereal with milk...and most of the time will eat it all with little mess. But sometimes, she gets bored and dumps it onto the table to eat it.

The Babe Wrapped in Swaddling Clothes

Char at Crap I've Made is hosting a Nativity Parade. I love looking at Linky Parties but rarely link up...so in the spirit of sharing:

I found these guys at Honks. They are so cute! Not quite sure what I'll do with them since it's just a shepherd and two wisemen, but maybe someday I can find a whole set.

Those are my nativities--minus one softie set that my mother-in-law made for the kids that they play with all year. I don't know where they put it.

I want to make a block set for the kids and another big set for me with each member of the nativity embroidered and framed in different sized frames and then the whole arrangement on the mantle.

Merry Christmas!

Check out all the other Nativities.

Sometimes Solo is a No-Go

I am finishing up our Christmas cards and wasn't happy with one of the pictures I'd chosen. So while hubby was taking a test, I spiffed the kids up and took them down by the river. (Too bad we don't have a van!) Mostly, they were cooperative...the older ones anyway. Squirt had her own ideas about how things would go.

This one would've been good if she'd only stayed in the frame.

I love this face! It's her sneaky face. Like-Mom will never notice I am sneaking out of the picture!

It was a valiant effort but without hubby there to help keep them together, not as productive as I'd hoped. But I did get a decent picture.

Dear Santa

Mama’s Holiday Wish List Meme

TodaysMama (link to: http://bit.ly/tmwishlist) and GameStop (link to: http://bit.ly/gamestop10) are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you.

1. What is your holiday wish for your family? Happiness above all else

2. What is your Christmas morning / Hanukkah Nightly tradition? Slurpees in light-up cups left by Santa. We set up one Santa present the night before and use special wrapping for the others. Cinnamon rolls for breakfast---if they can tear themselves away from the candy!

3. If you could ask Santa for one, completely decadent wish for yourself, what would it be? Enough money for date night with my husband every week.

4. How do you make the holidays special without spending any money? We make a lot of homemade things. Advent calendar with special activities each night. Go see the lights at Temple Square. Spend as much time together as a family as we can.

5. What games did you play with your family growing up? Uno

6. What holiday tradition have you carried on from your own childhood? Decorate the day after Thanksgiving.

7. Where would you go for a Christmas/Hanukkah-away-from-home trip? Visit the family in Washington. We are the only ones that don't live up there so it is fun to be able to spend time together.

8. Check out GameStop (link to: http://bit.ly/gamestop10) and tell us, what are the three top items on your GameStop Wish List this year? Top three include a Wii, Xbox 360 with Kinect, and Your shape fitness evolved so hubby and I can hopefully lose some weight.