Christmas Day

Christmas morning my kids got up later than usual, I waited for the for almost 2 hours, I was so excited!

Grace got her purple, pink and white big girl bike, and obviously she's so happy!Max got a bike too, although he hasn't enjoyed it very much.

He loved the Star Wars candy canes that Santa left- man he did a good job this year ;)

Grace got the big Princess Celestia my little pony that she's wanted for a while.

Max got tons of Star Wars stuff, including the Millenial Falcon and the camel thing, and several figures.

Grace got an Ipod, and a Strawberry Shortcake doll, a barbie and several other My Little Ponies.

We went to Mike's moms for breakfast - where Grandpa Todd helped Grace ride her bike. Ruth's neighborhood is really hilly so it was hard, but she loved it.

Then we headed up to my moms house for lunch and presents with my family. It's crazy and we all squish into a little living room, but we wouldn't have it any other way.

My brother Jordan, Cassie's fiance Josh and Cassie.

Mike, Nicole, Patch, bracken, Grace and Emery-

Ryan teasing Emery-

Grace and the figit, the "noisy" gift Grandma gave this year, they are pretty cute, after the sound ;)

Grandma gave Max a blue light sabor and it came with a Jedi training DVD, he loved it!

After my moms we went back to Mike's moms, I didn't take a single picture. Way to go me! Grace got a Barbie wig, some cute clothes and a really nice blanket, I want to steal it! Max got new Star Wars bedding, some clothes and we all got Lagoon season passes for next year! I'm so excited to use them!

We had a great Christmas, always a bit sad when it's over, but we packed a lot into the month before hand, hopefully balanced the Savior and the commercial part and spent a great deal of time with family.

Christmas Eve

I have got to finish Christmas posts, one more left after this one!

Mike's family's annual Christmas Eve Party at the gym. Aunt Liz and Max leading a Christmas carol-

Grace listening intently-

All the littler kids anxiously awaiting the sound of bells. They think they hear something -

Yep - he's here!

Santa talking to the kids, telling them that this year he'd like four cookies and if we have any chocolate pretzels, he really likes those, and carrots for the reindeer.

Grace got so excited, she ran over and asked if we could leave him some of our pretzels.

Max telling Santa he'd like a lego Luke Skywalker, the one and only thing the boy asked for for months.

Max showing off his candy cane- cute boy. Grace telling Santa she wants a big girl bike.

Grace's Great Grandma gave her play dough, she was excited (mom doesn't buy that stuff), and she's loved it!

Grace thought Aunt Caitlin needed a helper to see Santa.Max loved his dinosaur!

And Grace took this last picture, after she got everything Santa wanted, 4 cookies, chocolate covered pretzels, milk and carrots. I wonder how Santa liked drinking out of a pink sippy cup.

Just a little funny, we let the dog out after this, and she licked all the frosting off the cookies...don't worry we got Santa some new ones.

Hogle Zoo & Temple Square #2

With our zoo membership we got one free entry to see zoo lights, well we packed so much into December it seemed we only had one free night, so on December 23rd, the coldest night in December we headed up Hogle Zoo.

I could pretty much some up the night by saying IT WAS COLD.

The person taking our picture couldn't figure out how to use my flash, and I've never tried to use it on purpose, so by her third attempt I felt stupid and just said thanks. So here's our family picture - just slightly dark.

Me and my sweet boy, he did have a hat on but didn't wear it on the carousel.

Mike and Grace. On the 21st my brother in law flew in to Salt Lake and we went with the to temple square. We ate at Crown Burger first, which everyone else loves but it's not my favorite. Then went to Temple square, the JSM lot was full so we parked under the mall - it took us awhile to figure out how to get up to the surface.... and when we got there it was wall to wall people. I made Max hold my hand and he sat and screamed "You're breaking my knuckles!" I have never seen it so busy.

Shaun and Emery - love the hat!

My mom with Grace and Adi.

And Max - I think we'll stick with the first week in December from now on - way less people!

The Dicken's Festival

My nephew Travis was Oliver in Oliver Twist at the Dicken's Festival this year. I took the kids with my mother-in-law, sister-in-law and niece, and Mike and his dad met us for the show later in the day.

Ruth has a picture of Mike and his sisters with this exact "Father Christmas" from when they were kids, the best picture of course Santa had his eyes closed, but they still turned out pretty cute.

Grace telling Santa she wants a purple, pink and white bike. He was so cute with the kids. When Max told him he wanted lego's he had me come up and told me that I needed to get a sheet and put the lego's on the sheet for easy clean up.

The kids got to go on a carriage ride, which they all thought was so cool!

Aunt Beth bought some long potato curls, Grace enjoyed them thoroughly!

They had a little wax station the kids could dip their own candles, Grace picked a dog (imagine) and Max and Daisy picked stripped candles. Max wanted an army candle. Grace thought it was the coolest thing ever.

Daisy was proud of her finished candle.

When we were walking around the shops we bumped into my nephew Travis, he played a very good little English boy! It was fun to see him act and sing and I'm glad we got to go.

One of the shops was selling these two little owl hats, the kids look so cute in them! Another lady was selling finger puppet mice, Grace's picked a little white one and it looks so real that more than one person's had to do a double take! And for a mama who has a severe aversion to the little pests, they give me the creeps!

Speth family Christmas Party

Here are some pictures of the Speth family Christmas party. We always meet at an elementary school where the kids can run and play like crazy, which is exactly what they do ;) Max and the blue ball.

The kids on the terror ride, oh sure they look like its great fun, but they are injury traps! Okay, so they are fun, but every year at least one child gets hurt, nothing ever serious- but enough that I'm shocked the school keeps them. Pictured are Grace and her cousin Adi, my cousins daughter Taya and my niece Libby.

Below, Nayvie pulling Taya, Grace and Adi.

My favorite part of the below picture is my brother Ryan squirting whip cream in my niece Emery's mouth.

My cute cousin Jalane - who always looks perfect. ;)

My sister surprised us by driving up from California 5 days early. I had a feeling she'd be there, and I'm so glad she did, it would have been weird for her not to be there for our annual party.

Cassie and her soon to be future fiance Josh.

My brother Patch talking to my Great Grandma Edna, the poor lady just got new hearing aids in October and one of them has already stopped working. She never misses a chance to give loving counsel.

Tytan, Max's hero.

My dad and Emery, she loves Papa.

Jalane and Taya, this years terror ride victim.

I love that I got to grow up so close to most of my moms family, we missed those who couldn't be there, and it seems like each year its more and more, it's the holidays and we just get so busy, but I'm thankful for the good times!