Saturday, December 24, 2011

'Twas the night before Christmas...


...the Christmas Eve Elf came while we were playing the right/left passing game. Everyone got new pajamas to sleep in.


...the stockings were hung. These are my parents' and their 5 children's stockings. Oh the memories!




...milk and cookies were left out for Santa. Auntie Erika made the delicious peanut butter and chocolate chip cookies- luckily, she made enough for the rest of us too, yum!




...the annual sibling slumber party. This year cousin Isaac was part of the crew. Hooray!










...visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.

Quiver Point


When I was growing up in Vegas there was this awesome street (Hondo Court) that would go all out with the Christmas decorations. They would even paint murals on their garages. It was fantastic! There was even an Ebenezer Scrooge house (from Disney) and it was all started by the end house on the left that was the home of a Jewish family. It was just super cool. Well my mom found another street (Quiver Point) that is just as amazing with the Christmas decorations. On Christmas Eve, we left the 2 little babes at home, but took the 5 "big" grandkids to see the sights, I mean lights- ha ha.


Not only was each house lit up, but they strung lights across the street from the tall street lights and made it look like Spiderman's web. The first house also had a buffet table set up serving hot cocoa, coffee, doughnuts, and all kinds of Christmas treats. So sweet!





None of the garages were painted, but each house had a specific theme with painted plywood images all over their yard.













At the end of the street was this little village. Singing Santa was there, as well as Mickey & Minnie's house, a village with a cool train set (Gavin & Isaac's favorite) and my favorite...




The gingerbread family's house!




Inside there was a little kitchen and living room set up complete with a Christmas tree and presents. So cute!




This house had all the Disney Princesses set up on both sides of their yard. Noe had to have a picture in front of the Castle.












This will definitely be a tradition (for the years we're in Vegas- tee hee!).

Friday, December 23, 2011

Gingerbread Houses and Trains, oh yum!


Who do you think made this lovely Gingerbread house?


Aunt Debbi and Noe!





What about this Gingerbread train?





Teage and Gavin helped me do it.





And finally this little Graham cracker house?





Kaleb did!





*Mandy made one too, but I didn't get a picture of her with her house. Erika found an old box of photos so the other graham cracker houses sat undecorated and the rest of the evening was spent reminiscing. One day, my posterity will look at these old photos and reminisce!

Thursday, December 22, 2011

The Polar Express?


Gramma caught these pictures of the kids all wearing her baseball hats and taking a ride on the Choo-choo Chairs.


Bon Voyage!

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Visiting the Man in Red


We were so excited to go home for the holidays this year and get to visit with our Barlow, Lee, Pittl, and Reil families. Our first outing was to the Fashion Show Mall so the kids could visit with Santa. I think Santa should consider getting a chair in a different color next year, there is just A LOT of red (tee hee).


While we were on the strip we decided to visit the conservatory in the Bellagio.







I'm not sure which was cuter, the ice skating penguins...




...or the polar bears made out of carnations.




Gavin of course, thought the trains were the best.




I think the Christmas tree was 30 feet tall.




Happy Holidays indeed Bellagio!

Saturday, December 17, 2011

What are you looking at?





Gavin took alien eyeballs (white chocolate covered oreos with gummy lifesavers and chocolate chips) to share with his class for his birthday.




He came home with his cute birthday crown and birthday badge.




We just had a family party this year, but Gavin didn't mind. He LOVED his alien cake with FIVE eyeballs!




With his favorite boys...




...and his favorite girls.




I can't believe he's a whole hand old!




Sing with me, "It was a one-eyed, one-horned flying purple people-eater!" Wait, that song's not quite right.




Make a wish...




...blow out the candles. He had just one left for his one girlfriend, Kassidy, ha ha ha!




It's great to open presents the week before Christmas!




He got lots of wonderful gifts from his extended family and friends. Most of them had a certain theme (you'd never guess, Thomas the tank engine, right?) and he was just thrilled.




Happy 5th Birthday Gavin! We love you so much!!

Christmas Craftin'


I made this "Jingle All the Way" picture with little jingle bells inside at our Ward's Super Saturday. I think it turned out super cute!


These are "mug" cakes, not "cup" cakes- tee hee. I got this recipe also from our Super Saturday and made them for teacher and bus driver gifts. Leave a comment if you'd like the recipe and I'll post it.


I made "24 Days of Christmas" books for my parents. My mom shared hers with her Relief Society sisters and 70 sisters wanted a copy, yippee!





I L.O.V.E. kindergarten Christmas ornaments with photos. Gavin made his first one with a cute penguin frame and another playdough snowman ornament- two cute!





Kaleb made this cute snowman and snowflake.





Noe made this pretty glass ornament with ribbon and a Hershey's Kissletoe ball. Unfortunately, the ball got broken (and then eaten) before I got a picture of it.





But if you'd like to make one yourself, this is what it looked like.






Christmas craftin' is one of our favorite traditions!