Elf Craziness

We have 2 Elves.... Sam and Zoe. A third will join the clan in a few years. That's just how it is in our house, each child gets an elf assigned to them when they turn 2.

This year the elves have been up to some silly antics....

They first arrived and hid in our tree. They also brought pillowcases to the kids for sweet dreams throughout the month.

Then they hid in our ugly wreath (it has been since taken down),

Watched us while we were watching tv....

Stole our stockings, and climbed up high with them...

Toliet papered our tree!!

Stole Daddy's stocking (again),

Made a zip line from the light to the tree,

Stole this bouncing reindeer from off our light (and hid up high, again),

Zoe read a Nancy Drew book to Sam,

And on the last day they brought everyone pajamas.

Thank you Elves!

Christmas Day

I didn't get a ton of photos, because I took one really long video. But here are a few...

Everything before the kids woke up... yes, Santa likes to watch National Lampoons Christmas Vacation while he works.

The kids woke up around 5:45am. Well, actually Will did. He typically wakes up early and cries out because he's thirsty. When Lee went in to give him something to drink, Amy rolled over and said, "Can we get up now? I've been waiting and waiting. I'm so excited, I just can't sleep." (Yeah, she was out like a light by 7:30pm the night before. haha!) We usually make them wait until 6, so I got up, got the video camera going and we started in on the fun.

Santa had definitely come! The elves even managed a photo of him!

So this really made me laugh...... Lee, of course, has garbage bags ready- for the trash. My dad was the same way. But Lee took it a step further and had boxes ready for their stuff. The moment they opened it, Lee would grab it and stuff it into the box. It drove me nuts. I was like, "let them at least look at it..." He kept insisting he didn't want anything to be lost, and while that's true, he also doesn't like "stuff" around. It was kind of like opening things twice though, because later on, Amy would be playing with something, go over to her box and be like, "oh yeah! Can I play with this now!?"

Amy and her gifts and box in the background. Santa brought her a Doodle Bear- which she's really been wanting. It's a bear you can color all over and then you wash it, and start the fun all over again. She also got a My Little Pony castle (another things she's been wanting) and lots of little ponies! She also got a science experiment book (this one was highly recommended by our friend Kelli Musick), a flashlight, play-doh, and lunch box, nail polish, chapsticks, little pet shop dog, and a few Barbies. The kids also got another set of pajamas in their stockings.

Santa brought Will this guitar and let me tell you- this was the best gift ever. He has played this non-stop and is so hilarious. I've always wondered why we were supposed to move to Nashville, I'm starting to wonder if it's for Will. He obviously has a knack for music and he's quickly becoming our Country Crooner. (Extra bonus, Mrs. Claus got it FREE with her cashed in elf diaper points!)

He also got a matchbox car loop thing, legos, a baseball tee, flashlight and a bunch of other fun stuff.

Tyler was the last to wake up- in fact, everyone else was done by the time he came to see what Santa brought him. Baby's First Christmas brought him some push/pull toys, a shape sorter and some other noise making thing. He just liked chewing on everything.

Lee and Sarah were also good this year, but their gifts didn't arrive yet. They are anxiously awaiting their new google pads. :)

Trying to get the kids by the tree. One day we'll get all three looking in the right direction.

Enjoying her pony castle...

By 9am, Lee had crashed. He stayed up too late playing xbox last night. He was trying to catch Santa in the act, but he had no success!

For breakfast, I made our traditional cinnamon rolls. This year I attempted a tree shape and green icing. They were good.

I also made hashbrowns- one of our favorites. Did you know you can make frozen hashbrowns in your waffle maker? It works great! It does take awhile, because you can only do one serving at a time, but they are perfectly crisp when they are done. 

And that's the extent of my cooking today.

Everyone is enjoying their toys and just taking it easy. We are thankful for a wonderful Christmas and to everyone who has called, sent presents, text messages, thoughts and everything else. We love our family and wish we could be with everyone today..... but at our house. We don't go anywhere at Christmas. ha!

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve morning, we let the kids open their Secret Santa gifts. The Ben Nagel's has us this year, and as usual, gave us awesome stuff. I didn't get any pictures because I wasn't that coordinated but,

Amy got a face making sticker book. She played with it ALL day. 

Will got a spiderman backpack... immediately put it on a didn't take it off. 

Tyler got some new pjs. It was crazy handy because at the moment we opened them, he soaked the ones he was wearing. 

I got a baby food thing. You put the prepared food and this contraption lets you squish it into bags. It looks awesome. I can't wait to use it. Ashley always finds the coolest stuff.

And Lee got a set of Star Trek pez dispensers. The really funny thing it is I had actually bought the same ones for him! And then yesterday we learned that Uncle Bobby also had a set shipped. So now he'll have 3 sets! We all see Star Trek and think Lee! Since he has 3 of them, he decided to open one and let the kids play with it. 

The truly proudest moment though (for Lee) is that Will is obsessed with them. I mean, obsessed. Lee even manage to con the kids into watching an episode by saying, "Ok kids, watch for these characters and when you see them on the tv, yell it out...." They actually went along with his plan!  

Will carried the container around all day. He'd look at them, take them out, and then place them back in the plastic. Then he'd look at the back of the box and continue this process. He took a nap with "Captain" (Picard) and played, played, played with them. Lee was so proud! 

I sincerely apologize to the Adam Nagel's.... we had them and I still haven't sent their gift yet. I am just not on top of things this year. 

We also got a package from Uncle Bobby and Aunt CiCi! We let the kids open those in the afternoon. Again, I didn't get any pictures but each of the kids got an outfit and a toy. They all loved them. Uncle Bobby said we didn't have to thank him, because the toys make noise. Later that day, when Will kept playing his, and it was driving us crazy, I said to Lee, "This is me not thank Bobby for that." ha!  

We continued our "English" tradition of having poppers at dinner. (Though, technically, I think the English do it on Christmas Day... and I don't cook on Christmas Day, so we do it Christmas Eve). We always like wearing our hats, playing with the goofy toys and reading the corny jokes. Our dinner consisted of chicken strips, tater tots and salad. Hey, we go all out! haha. 

After dinner, we played some games. We played a few rounds on Christmas Bingo and a game where you put shaving cream on your head and try to see how many balls will stick. We ended up just placing the balls on the person's head, because when Lee and I sit, the kids can't throw that high. But I'm sure in years to come it will be really fun. (I'm also thinking the next family reunion??) And if you know Will, you know there's no way he was going to put shaving cream on his head.... or anywhere near himself in general. 

The elves bring us new pajamas on Christmas Eve, so everyone dressed in their new things and I wanted to try a few pictures. Some worked out. I really, really can't wait to get a new camera though! 

We read the Christmas story from Luke.... when I was reading about the shepherds and the angel coming to them, and how they left to go see baby Jesus, Amy asked, "Well, who watched their flocks when they left?" uhhh..... we had no answer for that one. 

Then we did the traditional plate of cookies for Santa- this year he even got a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (the Santa at Amy's school insisted that he likes those). And of course we had to throw reindeer food. Amy is looking in the sky, trying to see if she can spot Santa. 

Then the kids were nestled all snug in their beds.... while visions of sugarplums danced in their heads. (The night before, Amy woke up saying that sugarplums had danced in her head, then asked what a sugarplum was.)

Attempting a family shot.. it's so hard to get one! 

Merry Christmas to all! 

Sayings

I just wanted to document 2 sayings.....

Will- when we were putting ornaments on the tree. We have a box of the unbreakable ones. We opened it and he look in, slowly gasped and whispered, "Wow!..... Look at all the toys!!"

Amy- On Christmas Eve, upon seeing gifts from Uncle Bobby/Aunt CiCi under the tree.... she really wanted to open them and kept coming up with "ways" to convince us. Finally she said, "Mom, I think we should open all our presents tonight. Christmas is about giving and family. So tomorrow, on Christmas, we should just give presents and be with our family. If we do that, it means we can open them tonight." This girl should be a lawyer, she certainly gives some great arguments. For the record- we did let them open the Secret Santa gifts (from the Ben Nagel's) and the ones from Uncle Bobby/Aunt CiCi. It was actually a good thing, since the toys gave them something to play with.

On a sidenote- Will had another seizure yesterday. This was at church. He wasn't sick, no fever, had a great nap, wasn't hungry, wasn't acting strange, nothing was out of the ordinary. It was right before Sacrament meeting and he was standing on the pew. I was sitting next to him- holding Tyler, when he fell off, doing a flip. I reached to get him, knowing he'd be crying from the way he fell when I realized a seizure had started. I quickly handed Tyler off, Lee jumped over the pew and we tended to Will. It only lasted a minute, thankfully! But once it was over, we got him up and a wonderful friend helped us (Thanks Meghan!!) get Tyler and Amy to the car and we came straight home. He fell asleep, and was back to normal by the nights end.

We don't know if he went into the seizure and that caused the fall or if he just fell off, and once he landed, the seizure started. From the way he fell, there's no way to know. He was jumping around, and falling off the pew isn't anything out of the ordinary (for him). Anyway, we'll call the new neurologist this week and see if he wants to see him sooner than his scheduled January appointment or whatever else. But I can tell you this- we want these seizures to STOP! They are always so scary and we just never know what is happening. But we have faith in the doctor's knowledge and hopefully will get some answers soon.

Aside from that, Have a Merry Christmas! I know we will!
Christmas is always fun with little kids around!!

When Will was asleep, Amy and Tyler curled up on the couch together. They were so sweet.

Playing with Daddy

If you are supposed to get a Christmas gift from us, I apologize, it will be late. We are all still sick!! Well, I am, and Tyler is (a little). I don't know what it is, but we just can't seem to get well. The boys went through a course of antibiotics, and it seemed to help Will. But it looks like I'm going to have to cave in and get some too. Actually, Mom and Lee are a little upset with me because I didn't go to the Doctor last week. Hey, I'm a busy woman! :)  Anyway- because everyone has been sick and I've been worn out- I apologize now, your gift will be late.

Tyler was just too cute reading a book the other day. We hope he grows up to love books like the other 2 do!

Since yesterday was a down day (mainly for me) we just took it easy and didn't do anything. At one point, the kids all decided to pile on Lee. He was acting like a horse, or trying to, with 3 kids on his back.

I love Lee's face... and Tyler's! I think he wanted off.

 Amy wanted a crazy picture of herself.

Then Will did too.

Sweet Daddy and Daughter

And that's our life. We are excited for Christmas- the kids can't wait. I remember being that young and the excitement of it all. Everything is done, preparation wise, so we are just waiting as well.

I'm planning the ward's New Years Eve party and that's been fun. So after Christmas, I'll have to get back on that. But I have a great committee who is taking care of a lot of it for me.

So, yep, I'm just resting and trying to get well. Sickness sucks.

Some Other Random Fun Things

This has truly been the busiest week! Monday and Tuesday we just packed with things to do. It was at the point that I kept saying... just make it until Tuesday night... make it until Tuesday night.... When Wednesday rolled around- I didn't do ANYthing. I stayed in my pj's all day and that was that.

This little Mister is beginning to pull himself up! I was folding laundry and all of a sudden I noticed him practically standing next to the laundry basket. I was so glad I happened to have the camera right by me!

I love kid drawings  Especially when kids start drawing people  This is Will's drawing of me. He was so excited!

Tyler just loves this jumpy seat. His little legs start bouncing before he's even really in it. And he'll jump around for a long time... just as happy as can be!

Monday I got a phone call from Sandy (Uncle Ricky's wife). She said they were driving from Denise's (in NC) back home and wondered if they could stop by. They also might possibly move to TN! They are looking for places between here and Chattanooga. Anyway, they came by and even ended up staying the night! The playroom was a mess, I burned the scrambled eggs the next morning (even Amy wouldn't eat them), and I had to rush out first thing because of Amy's class party- but it was really great visiting with them.  It was so fun to have them here and I'm so glad they agreed to stay the night! Uncle Ricky has the funniest stories and he and Sandy are so funny together.

Last night our elves got adventurous and created a zip line from the fan to the tree. This morning, Sam (the smaller one), was moving a little. Amy just watched him in awe- "He's moving!!!" She shouted, "He's moving!!!!"  I think that solidified her belief in them!

We were supposed to go to GA today and stay a few days. But that got cancelled, so now we have nothing to do. We are NOT complaining. It's nice to have a few totally calendar free days! And we'll take them. The kids are getting so excited for Christmas and it's so fun to see the wonder in their eyes.

Gingerbread House

Last year we started a Gingerbread House tradition.

It seems so weird to see the family without Tyler! And look how little Will was!

Last year I bought a kit, and while somewhat convenient, it tasted awful. Every part of it was terrible. The candy, the icing consistency, the gingerbread...... so this year I didn't make the same mistake.

When Will went down for a nap, Amy and I got to work. We just frosting glued graham crackers to a box.

We also added some frosting accents and let it dry for a few hours. After dinner, we got to work! We had a fun family time decorating this years' house. I used regular canned frosting for gluing the candy on- and everyone kept eating it straight from their decorating bag. And of course we loved eating the candy, too!

Yay for traditions! (Amy is pretending like she's eating it)

Tyler- 8 months

Our little man turned 8 months on Wednesday.

He's still just the happiest, sweetest baby we know. He's always smiling and laughing. He's started playing with Will and Will just eats it up. He's also developed a scream that we think means "Get him off of me!" He's not crawling yet, but getting close. Lately he'll be sitting up, and will crawl himself forward and then push himself back into sitting position. He may not be officially crawling, but he gets where he wants to go. He's gotten good at backing up and he also scoots while sitting and kicking his legs. It's so cute to see him go! He still has the 2 teeth and when mommy remembers, he eats solids twice a day. He sleeps really well (I hope this doesn't jinx it!), only waking up once a night.

And he's still curious as to who is behind the camera...!

We look back at that 1 month picture and think "THAT was Tyler? And we thought he was cute?" I mean, he's cute, well, kinda of.... but he's just so much cuter now! And his face was so round at months 2 and 3. These side by side photos are fun.

So happy 8 Months Tyler! We are so glad you are a part of our family!!