A Little Christmas Cheer

What happens when you try to take Christmas card pictures of 3 kids by yourself?

a) Oldest child is mad and crying because the tie on her dress isn't around her waist and it is "weird and itchy"

b) Middle child is crying because he feels like he is going to "frow-up"

c) Youngest child is crying because he doesn't like the idea of mommy being 3 feet in front of him and not holding him

d) All of the above

Yep....the answer is D - all of the above.

And this is the result of the dreadful photo shoot:


I hope this brings you some Holiday cheer even if it didn't bring me any!

The Nativity At Kirtland

We enjoyed a few days together as a family after Christmas. In the past5 or 6 years Dane has had to work the day after Christmas. Finally he got the day off! We had lots of fun together. We went and saw a movie: Bedtime Stories. We went to the mall. We also went to Kirtland to see the Nativity display they had there.

The kids had so much fun dressing up like Wise Men and Mary and Joseph.

Bennett liked playing with the Nativity play set.
They had Nativity scenes from all around the world that we got to look at while the kids played.

Hailee and Braden taking it seriously, obviously.

Christmas Day

The day finally came!! Hailee swore it would never get here. I remember feeling that way...so excited that you could just jump out of your skin! She was so much fun this year. She is getting more curious about how the whole Santa thing works and continually asked detailed questions on the logistics and specifics. Sometimes I really don't know the answers. She is a little too smart for me! Hailee got what she wanted...a Fur Real robotic dog named Biscuit.
She also loved the digital camera!!

Braden got a Leapster and has already mastered the games.

He also got some roller blades which he is working on every day...and has the bruised knees to prove it!
Bennett loved all of his toys. It wasn't until we were playing that day when we realized all of his toys required batteries. We will be buying stock in Duracell because we added up the amount of batteries used to power our Christmas morning. The grand total was........40! A little ridiculous!

Here is his letter magnets. He is already singing the ABC song thanks to this toy!
He also loved his car track.
And his Elmo guitar. It doesn't look like he's having a good time but it's his "dance face". He gets serious and intense when he is dancing.
Hailee enjoying our yummy cinnamon rolls!
Braden will just pass on all food until he conquers the game, thanks.
Bennett will just go ahead and eat an entire bag of Animal Crackers. He is very particular about the brand of Animal Crackers...these are the only ones he'll eat and he LOVES them. We think he takes after his Grandpa Mike!
Up a little too late?

Christmas Eve Traditions

We have adopted the Sanford tradition of driving around on Christmas Eve and looking at the lights. This year we went down to the Blossom Light Festival. It is 2 miles of lights you drive through.

We opened up one present each - Christmas Pajamas, changed into our jammies and drove around. We usually find some poor gas station to hit up and get egg nog and chocolate milk and Diet Coke for me. Don't be jealous of my nostrils, double chin, and no make up...sexy!
We get home and put out cookies for Santa and celery and carrots for the Reindeer. Hailee left Santa a note just to be sure he knew what we wanted:
Dear Santa Clase,
Daddy, Mommy, and us, have been very good this year. Daddy wants a J.P.S. for his car. But, he thinks it's to expensive. Mommy wishes for us to be happy. Braden wants a car. Bennett would like anything!!! I would like Biscuit from Target. Well these are for you exept for the celery and carrots. Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!! (you can take the note if you want)
Love,
Hailee, Braden, and, Bennett
Another tradition from the Sanfords is doing a stocking dance. Every person gets a turn to hang up their stocking on the fire place but you have to do a dance to get it there.
By the way...I realize Bennett isn't in any of these pictures. He fell asleep on the way home and well, that's just what happens when you are a baby. Sorry Bennett.
The famous Christmas Stocking Dance:

Christmas Eve Day

Christmas Eve has always been one of my favorite days. In years past it has consisted of me going shopping with my dad and a big family party with all the Morgans. These last few years we have been away from home so my favorite traditions have not taken place for me. I woke up a little sad that I would not be partaking in those activities I had grown up with. But I was excited with the anticipation of Christmas Day with my kids.

We have had to start some of our own traditions since we are away from family. Christmas Eve day we have started making ornaments for Santa. We pull out all the crafts and glue and glitter and make a huge mess.

We make cinnamon rolls to have on Christmas Day and lots of other treats. We have Christmas music playing all day long.

I think this year will be forever in my mind. It was one of those moments you wish you could wrap in a box and remember forever. I was at the table with my beautiful babies making ornaments. The smell of homemade cinnamon rolls was in the air and the music was playing. They were all so excited and happy about their ornaments. At that very moment in time there is no where I else I would have rather been.

You have to take those tiny moments as you get them. They are fleeting moments. Pretty soon someone drops the box of crayons all over, someone gets "poked-ed with a fuzzy stick" (pipe cleaner), and glue gets in eyelashes. But I will treasure that little moment forever.


We also got to finish our Advent Calendars. This was so much fun for the kids. And when they asked, "How many days until Christmas?" about a hundred times a day, I could just tell them to count the closed doors.

Caught Ya!

We were wondering what happened to our Gingerbread house. Well...I caught him in the act. Bennett had been taking the pieces of the house and licking them and then putting them back. Yes, he does have a black eye. He fell last week and hit his head on the edge of the computer desk. The bump swelled up so much that the bruise spread down his forehead onto his nose and under his eye. Poor little clumsy boy. He sure is cute, though. I can't even get mad at him for destroying the gingerbread house!!

Just Some Pictures

It has been brought to my attention that there are no pictures on my blog of Dane without a baseball hat on. I guess we only take his picture on days off and he is always wearing a hat on days off. Sadly I had to go back a few months to find some pictures but here are some for the record (hopefully that answers your question, Caiser).

I love ya, babe! With or without your hat, you're sexy to me!