RaNDoM XmAs PiCS!

I just found this "post" waiting to be posted... I forgot I had put some pics together from Christmas! So anyways, here they are...

Instead of exchanging gifts with the Dovers and the Stums this year we decided to put that money towards buying gifts for children to get from Santa at Cardon's Children Hospital! After Sydney benefitted from receiving prizes for her progress in the hospital, we knew how much it would mean to children staying there over Christmas to get a fun gift! The kiddos all went with us to Walmart to pick out toys, art projects, art supplies, games, etc. I was so impressed that none of them were begging for anything for themselves by the end of the trip. They were just SO excited to give. They kept trying to find things that the kids could use that very day in the hospital and came up with some great and fun things. Then we got together and put all the things in gift bags with tags for appropriate age/gender. We delivered them to the hospital (between this computer and our old one I have no idea where that pic is!) and had 2 full wagons of presents! The kids were so excited to donate all the gifts.

Amidst decorating the tree, Colby had other plans... decorating himself!

We saw Santa 3 times... Each time was so fun and magical! Mia didn't demand much at all, just "stuff for their new room."

Colby asked for a whole list of things! From a Batman Computer to a Santa hat!

The 3rd time around Syd chose Dad's lap instead of Santas!

We had a fun date night in December to see Phil Vassar in concert. He is a country artist that can just jam on the piano- he is incredible and can play just about anything. We love his songs too and have listened to him ever since we were dating!

We had "Date Night" with the kiddos and went to dinner and a movie! Carrabas was SOOO yummy and we saw the movie The Princess and the Frog. The kids liked it... It definitely was not my favorite- between the VooDoo and not as clever lines and fun songs typical in Disney's movies it just was ok!

We LOVED having Abby come and visit! We went to Macaroni Grill with her and then saw the Mesa Temple lights. GORGEOUS.

We enjoyed watching Luke II in the theatre and the night wasn't too chilly at all- so much fun.

Every year we HAVE to do gingerbread houses- the kiddos absolutely LOVE them and could spend HOURS on them. They love paying special attention to every detail.

Whew! Lots more things we did but who knows where the pics are for them- i am going crazy with this new computer so need to get more organized... but it was such a fun xmas season!

Phew! What we've been up to...

Well I have exceeded my photo limit on blogger, shocking, so here are just a few of the pics of what we have been up to lately! Christmas Eve Ger and the kiddos headed up to Four Peaks with the Stums and Marcus and JJ for some Ranger Riding and hiking. They had a GREAT time and the day was gorgeous!

Nothing like playing in the dirt...

Or playing with sticks! Hours of fun!

Christmas Eve we have a tradition of opening cousin gifts and grandparents gifts. Mia was SOOO excited about her Webkinz Horse and PJ pants from cousin Evie. She said, "THIS IS JUST WHAT I WANTED!!!"

Oh gosh... the other photos didn't download but Colby was in heaven with his Superman PJ's, complete with the cape, from Lola and Sydney was so excited for a new shirt and notebook and Target gift card from Brady.

My mom canned the kiddos Christmas gifts this year. Literally. They thought that was so cool! What a fun idea! They couldn't wait to see what was inside... and that pic didn't upload either. BAH! so sad...

The sugar plum tree got done after Christmas this year... This was a tradition growing up in Ger's family!

Luckily the kiddos weren't even tempted to eat the treats since it was after xmas and they had had their fill. phew.

LOVING the weather at this time of year- lots of bike riding, jumping on the tramp, playing in the sand box, going to the park, playing baseball outside with Dad, etc!

Movie nights! they all got new soft blankies to match their bedding and LOVE snuggling up in them.

YMCA! The girlies are MONKEYS. They did all 5 courses of the rock wall and LOVED it. It was very challenging but so fun...

Their little arms and legs are pretty buff from gymnastics!

Did I say how fun it was!?! Mia was THRILLED when she did the hardest side.

And the day rounded out with a family game of basketball after lots of practicing... Wow. Mia is our little competitive fireball. She is fiesty and wanted that ball! She got so frustrated if she didn't have it and between her competitiveness and Colby's, the game was humerous, fun and short lived. ha ha! But this pic of Ger teaching Colby to shoot is priceless!

Well I will have to figure out my photo limit quota problem and get back to you with more xmas pics! Hope you are all healthy and well! We feel extremely blessed to have our health and be able to spend time as a family this holiday season.

Need a few more Xmas Craft Ideas!?!

With the kiddos out of school until Christmas, there will be plenty of time for making and baking! Anything to keep them happy and entertained, right?!? Here are some ideas off Crafty Crow I have been eyeing... Gingerbread Man garland! So fun! Our kiddos each have a small Christmas tree by their bed that they get to decorate and they would just LOVE adding this fun and festive decoration to their tree. They love kneading dough, rolling it out, and cutting out shapes, so this is right up their ally... A simple and fun version of "gingerbread" men. It's magical for kids to see one cut out gingerbread man transform into a whole row with "paper dolls."
This would be a fun and easy ornament craft too- just pick up some polymer clay and let the kiddos go to work on rolling it out and making fun shaped ornaments! They can even experiment with textures on the shapes using material or other objects which would be fun. Just make sure to cut a small whole in the top to hang the ornament- a straw usually works great for this...

How cute are these?!? They could even make cute table decor if you stuck them in floral blocks in a cute little bucket with cotton at the base for snow or something! Provide the kiddos with marshmellows, a marker, skewers, and misc. candy and they will get pretty creative I am sure. I love the cloves for arms!

The girls loved this project- we just cut out gingerbread men shapes out of colored paper and they decorated them with candy. What kid doesn't LOVE getting to use lots of glue and candy?!? They got really creative and melted laffy taffy's in the microwave for the gingerbread girls hair! You could even use beans, rice, yarn, whatever crafty things you have around to decorate them with...

Colby had a blast doing this project at school so I thought I would post it too- another great gluing project! Lots and lots of cotton balls- so fun.

Here are the pics of the real gingerbread men we decorated! They loved getting creative with all the candy.And lastly, here's a pic of Colby and JJ working so hard on their candy canes made out of beads! Colby has literally made like 6 or 7 of these and even gave one to his preschool teacher, Miss Kerry and even made one for Mr. Kerry! So thoughtful. Colby and the girls have hung all of the rest of them on their little trees and they look so cute! A classic Christmas craft that never seems to get old.

Best of luck keeping your kiddos entertained this week before Christmas!