Rem takes the boys to Home Depot every now and then. This time they got to meet Buddy the Elf.
Rem changed Jack Skellington into his Santa outfit. Now he's ready to be put outside.
The kids were super excited to have their elf (also named Buddy) back! He came in through our fireplace all bundled up. The kids enjoyed finding Buddy each morning to see what he was doing. I think their favorite was when Buddy and a bunch of super heroes were all riding dragons and dinosaurs in a line with Buddy being the leader. It was fun to see the kids excitement each morning as they found Buddy.
I do love Christmas time and all the decorations, lights and cards! We almost filled up our whole door this year!
This kid lost another tooth! His two top front teeth were loose at the same time that we were hoping to be able sing "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth", but at least he lost one before Christmas. He was pretty excited. Although this one was a little harder coming out. His dad helped him pull it. I think he looks pretty cute with a hole in his smile.
Buddy left the night of Christmas Eve. All month long the kids are not allowed to touch Buddy so he doesn't lose his magic. But on Christmas Eve he left a letter explaining that his wish on his last day was to get a hug from each of the boys and that it was okay that they touched him because Santa was coming to pick him up that night and he'd regain his magic. Graham instantly gave him hugs, Paxton was a little hesitant, but then joined in on the love. It was so cute to see how gentle and loving they were with him.
Another "Big Give" service project with my family. We did some Christmas shopping for the Candy Cane store for the Road Home. The kids had fun picking out presents for other kids.
Graham didn't have a coat so he shared with Dad, silly boys.
Ice Skating
I've taken Paxton a couple of times ice skating just me and him. It's been a lot of fun watching him learn and get better.
Here's another time we went and invited Rem's brother, Ryan and his family. Paxton was pretty much skating on his own this day without me or the wall most of the time. He likes to go skate out in the middle.
The Nutcracker
The first grade every year gets to go to Ballet West and see the Nutcracker for a field trip, then they get to perform it! Paxton got to be a Russian dancer. He had so much fun learning the dance moves and was really good at them. On the day of the performances he was not feeling well, the day before he stayed home from school, sick. But he did not want to miss out on this big day performing with the first grade. So he stuck it out and went to school and performed once during the day and then again that evening for the parents. He did such a good job even though he wasn't feeling 100 percent.
We surprised him with his very own Nutcracker after his performance. He had been asking for one all month long. He was pretty excited for it!
Christmas in Color Light Show
After the performance we took the kids to this fun light show. We picked up some shakes and enjoyed driving through the lights. The kids had fun sticking their heads out the sun roof.
Annual Gingerbread House Contest
10th year anniversary
Jill and Bobby took first place with their cute cabin.
Rem and I took 2nd place with our snow globe.
Amy and Bryan and Alisa and Jeremy tied for third place and then we drew out a name and Alisa and Jeremy took the win for third place with their cabin. It was very detailed and cute on the inside. They were surprised to get any votes because they were rushing to try and finish it.
Rachael and Phil did a "U" for the Utes. Ben and Erika did a cabin as well.
And Randy and Kelsey did The Trump House. It was hilarious, but who really wants to vote for Trump?? They didn't get any votes.
Rem and I love this tradition. With it being our 10th year doing it, we upped our prizes a little bit. First place got to take home a cute gingerbread house snow globe and a gift card to Swig!
Ward Christmas Party
Our ward did a breakfast for the Christmas party. They always have super yummy food. They also had a funny magician come do a show for the kids, but it was really fun for the adults to watch too! And then Santa came! I felt really bad because I had to leave to work and I didn't want my kids to miss out on seeing Santa since this was the first time they have seen him this season, so I had to butt in line. The kids in line seemed understanding though and my kids were happy to sit on Santa's lap.
Soderberg Christmas Party
This is my mom's side of the family Christmas party that we have the Sunday before Christmas. I woke up really sick that morning and sadly couldn't go (it ended up being strep throat and it had be in bed for 4 days! I went to the doctor twice because it had gotten worse after my antibiotic, no fun. Luckily all my Christmas shopping was done).
The kids and Rem seemed to have fun at the party. I made sure to text my sisters and ask them to take pictures of my kids so I didn't miss out.
They did a $5 gift exchange and Pax got a bouncy ball making kit and Graham got some laser lights for his fingers.
And then the best Santa ever came! Looks like Graham and Lucy were excited to see him!
This is my mom with 2 of her sisters (1 lives in California) and their mom.
Gingerbread Houses with the kids
A couple days after our gingerbread house party, we made gingerbread houses with the kids. Graham made a Superman House and Paxton made The Nutcracker stage.
Sorenson Christmas Eve Party
Christmas Eve was a very busy day. The morning was busy getting dressed, food made and presents and things packed up in the car. We headed over to the Sorenson's just after 11:00. We had an appetizer lunch, some rolls and ham and then just a bunch of yummy appetizers. I brought a veggie tray.
After eating and chatting and eating and chatting we then gathered together and the kids took turns opening their presents. From Grandpa and Grandma my kids each got a Boogie Board and a game and from their cousins Paxton got Pokemon stuff and a backpack and Graham got a whole bunch of monster trucks and a puzzle, he was in heaven!
Once all the kids opened their gifts, we do a food exchange with the adults. We ended up with some truffles, oreos, chocolate pretzels and more. It's always a good time playing this game to see the popular items that get stolen over and over again.
Then Santa and Mrs. Claus came to visit! The kids were very excited to see them and they sat quietly while Mrs. Claus read them a story.
Right after the Sorenson party we headed to Rem's grandmas house for a visit. She used to do a big party, but she is 96 now! Now she just does an open house to come visit when you can over Christmas time and she always has cookies and chocolate milk for you. She is such a sweet lady!
Moss Christmas Eve Party
Then we headed home, but only to unpack the car and repack it with presents and a jello salad. We then headed to my Grandma Moss', she still does a Christmas party for her whole family. The family is getting quite large, but we still fit. We always have a prime rib dinner and then afterwards we gather together to share stories about our "Big Give" service projects we did that year. I always enjoy hearing about how we all have served and I feel so blessed to be a part of this family that gives us the opportunity to be able to serve others.
Afterwards we opened presents, the kids each got a toy (which usually my Grandma does clothes for the kids, but Paxton last year was upset when he opened his present and it was clothes that my Grandma changed to buying clothes, I felt bad. But the kids all seemed to enjoy getting toys this time).
Then we always do Christmas Eve jammies. I was able to find my kids some twiner polar bears pants. They seemed pretty excited and it seemed fitting for them because they always say they are polar bears when they don't want to wear a coat and it is freezing outside.
GG with Sam, Gavin and Paxton.
Christmas Morning
Christmas was different this morning with it being on a Sunday. I told the kids we would only be unwrapping some of the presents (the more boring ones) because we had church at 10:00, but it only was sacrament meeting. That morning I woke up before the kids. I went and started preparing breakfast and then I heard them get up. It was only about 8:00. So I took them into my bedroom and we read a Christmas book together and sang a song and then I left them with dad to read more books on our Saviors birth while I finished getting breakfast in the oven. Then they got to come out and open some presents. One of the best presents was the SNOW! I love it when it dumps on us for Christmas morning, it is so beautiful and it reminds me of our Savior and how mindful He is of each one of us and how much love He has for us.
After some presents we ate breakfast. This is the first time I have had to make breakfast for my family Christmas morning. I had to thank my mom later that day how grateful I was and am for her for always making Christmas so special and all the effort and details she put into it. I hope I can make it that way for my kids. I grew up with Christmas breakfast being an egg and ham casserole that I loved! I would've loved to continue that tradition, but Paxton is allergic to eggs. So instead we did cinnamon rolls, sausages, a ham and cheese casserole and fruit. It was yummy, but waaaay too much food and my kids were mostly interested in the cinnamon rolls anyway. I may just do that next year with only 1 other side.
We then got ready for church and ended up being a little bit late and slipped into the back. They had a very nice program about our Savior and lots of music, which I love! After church we got home and the kids were excited to unwrap the rest of the presents.
Paxton got Pokemon stuffed animals and little figurines from Santa. We gave him a c.d. player with the Les Miserables c.d. which he loves! He has most of the songs memorized!
Graham got monster trucks and a dragon track to go with them from Santa. We gave him a dinosaur costume.
We then had most of the day to just hang out at home and play with all the new toys!
Christmas Day with the Moss side
We then went over to my parents house around 4:30 and the kids wanted to play in the snow for a little bit so they bundled up and went out. Grandpa liked it because they were enjoying shoveling his back patio. It was fun to watch them enjoy the snow and Graham was enjoying eating it.
After a yummy turkey roll-ups dinner we opened more presents! (This is why I don't buy my kids very much because they get spoiled by everyone else). Paxton got a dance game for the Wii so we busted that out and everyone took a turn dancing, it was pretty hilarious to watch.
Rem and I got the "Watch Ya Mouth" game so we got that out also and couldn't stop laughing. Even Paxton tried it out, he was so darn cute doing it! Graham wanted to try too, but we couldn't get any of the mouth pieces into his mouth. Rem just held his mouth open, silly kid.
Graham fell asleep almost the instant we started heading back home, while still holding onto his new toy that he loves so much!
All the guys got a new drill set and all the girls got stuff to bake cookies and cupcakes with. Looks like we need to have a girls night of baking!
The Aquarium
Another awesome gift we got from my parents was a season pass to the Aquarium. We went the day after Christmas and had a blast! We were surprised to see they had a new Asia section open and they even had leopards! My kids were super excited about the leopards!
New Years Eve
Then on New Years Eve we went to the aquarium again. This time we went and watch one of their 4D movies and it was so cute and funny to see the kids reaching their hands out to try and touch things. We also got to see the penguins being fed and so a lot of the were swimming. Which usually when we see the penguins non of the are swimming, so it was a lot of fun to watch them swim.
Then we headed over to my sister, Jamie's house and did a little Dance Dance on the Wii, let the kids watch a movie while us adults play games and then rung the new year in at 9:00. We had our sparkling cider, made jokes about new years goals we were going to do and cheers! Then the music came on and we danced around Jamie's kitchen and copied each others dance moves, it was a blast! Although Graham was already sleepy and just laid on my shoulder while I tried to dance around.
I got my news years kiss from my cute nephew, Lincoln!
I sure love this crazy family of mine! Excited for another year with them!
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