Claire's spa day

Aunt Kamie and Aunt Tori gave Claire a Kaboodle full of girly stuff for her birthday...nail polish, face mask, pedicure stuff. Claire has been dying to try it all out. After the Christmas rush Tori and I found a bit of time to pamper her for a bit. 

Aunt Tori applied a face mask while she was waiting for her polish to dry. 

She loved how her face felt as the mask dried. It was funny to watch her pull faces. 

She liked pulling it off at first...

...then she wasn't so sure. 

Pain is beauty! We love you Claire. 

Christmas Day 2013

Christmas morning the kids woke up at 7:00. They all jumped in our bed and we ALL snuggled for about 15 minutes. It was great. I think they were still in a coma from last nights party. 

Once Randy and I rolled out of bed we read the Christmas story from the scriptures. I was really touched this year that they were not antsy and listened intently and asked questions. It was a good parent moment.  We wrote down our gifts to the Saviour and put our tins under the tree. It was fun to watch the kids want to do it instead of being forced. It set the tone for the morning. 

Then we headed downstairs to see what Santa left. Harrison made it down first and was so cute and excited. He went straight for his new race car track. 

They were so happy with every little thing. It is so fun as a parent to watch your kids on Christmas morning. 

Brad was excited that Santa gave him new "deodermint" in his stocking. 

Claire was excited and dramatic before things were even open. 

We took things really slow this year. We had nowhere to be so we took our merry time. 

More dramatics from Claire as she hugged her gifts to death. 

Harrison's reactions were so cute. Randy and I decided we are going to wrap something for him every day of his life just to watch his reaction. 

After we opened the gifts we paused for a yummy late breakfast then spent the rest of the morning playing and hanging out. I loved that we had the whole morning and afternoon to ourselves. 

Santa brought Claire a Doc McStuffins Doll. She has played hospital in her room with all her dolls and stuffed animals non stop since Christmas. She wants to be a nurse or a doctor when she grows up. At least that is for now. It changes all the time. She also got a TON of art supplies. She is constantly doodling or drawing something. Now she can do it in her room. 

Brad got a RC monster truck and a RC helicopter. He has to fight his dad and uncles for a turn. I don't know who is the bigger kid. 

He also got a bandaloom. It is a popular elastic band bracelet that is the craze this year. He spent a ton of time making bracelets for everyone he could think of. 

We invited the Shields and the Titensors over for Christmas dinner. All of our parents and most of our families live far away so we have become like family. 

We had traditional ham, potatoes and jello. 

After dinner the adults kids played with all the toys. 

Nate and Randy were very entertained by Harrison's toddler toy. 

The girls stayed in Claire's room most of the night just being girls. 

At one point all the nerf guns came out and we had quite the war going on. Things got quite chaotic. 

Melissa played games with Brad. She was nice. She is a good "other" mommy to my kids. 

Nate and Jenni. We are so happy they moved closer to us. 

Christmas was amazing this year. I wouldn't change a thing except maybe having more hours in the day. I love my kiddos, my family and our good friends. 

Christmas Eve 2013

I had to work the night before Christmas Eve so as soon as I was off work I woke up the family so we could head to Salt Lake. The weather was really bad and sardine canyon was snow packed. We decided to wait until it was light to give the plows a chance to catch up. Since we left a bit late we missed meeting my parents for breakfast so we stopped at Old Grist Mill to eat.

The bakery smelled so divine. We were hungry. 

It was nice to be together just as a family for a bit before all the craziness started. Plus it was really nice to not be in a hurry. We took our time. 

The kids loved picking out their very own flavor of bagel and cream cheese. 

Harrison was being so cute. He took his sweet time eating his. The kids had finished theirs and were trying to steal bites of his. 

This is his "YOU CAN"T HAVE ANY" face. 

Then he started yelling because people were trying to steal his bagel. We were all laughing pretty hard at him. 

The kids were in such a good and happy mood. 

Since we were late anyway we decided stopped at Cabella's on the way. Harrison loves all the stuffed dead animals on the wall so he was in heaven. We had to get Brad a new ice fishing pole. 

Claire was getting bored of Dad and Brad picking the perfect pole so she waited patiently in the ice fishing tent displays.

We finally made it to Grandma and Grandpa Moose's house at noon.

Brad saw that they were interviewing Santa on a morning show and spotted some of the reindeer getting ready for the night.  He was glued to the TV just in case they showed him again. 

Harrison knows where Grandma keeps the yogurt in the fridge so he pulled one out as soon as we got there. 

Grandma pulled out Christmas snacks and goodies for us to eat to tie us over until dinner. Claire loved the bean dip so she pulled up a chair right to the counter instead of sitting at the table. My dad made his famous home-made bread. Wow it was good and brought me back to my childhood. 

(Yes...that is my dad hanging out in his G's.) I asked him if he wanted to get dressed before I started taking pictures and he said no. He is just like I remember my grandpa...I don't remember him ever wearing a shirt. He was ALWAYS just in his G's. 

Randy and my dad agreed to watch the kids while my mom and I went shopping. I had Christmas money that I had not had a chance to use yet. It was so much fun shopping with my mom. It is such a rare moment to go without kids. It was the best Christmas gift EVER. I loved it. 

The kids watched movies and napped while we were gone. 

Then it was time to head over to be with Randy's family. 

We went and did traditional bowling first. 

This is one of my kids favorite Christmas traditions. 

Claire was embarrassed because right before we left to the bowling alley she fell in a huge slushy muddy puddle. He skirt was soaking wet and muddy. I made her take it off so all she had on were he leggings. She wasn't very happy about it. 

Harrison LOVES to bowl. He would clap and cheer even if he only knocked down one pin. 

In between turns he would sit on the little round table and watch everyone bowl and watch the balls come through the machine. He was a happy kid!

Claire had the highest score on our team. Those bumpers do wonders. 

All Brad cared about was beating Papa and Claire. He was taking it very seriously. This was his first year without the bumpers. It was very frustrating for him. 

Reagan loved pushing the ball. When she wasn't bowling she was being chased all around the bowling alley by Kamie. She was a busy body. 

Claire LOVES that she has girl cousins. She smothered Kailee with hugs and kisses all night. She is so excited that Blakelee is due in just a few weeks.  Kendra's next baby is a boy. Good thing for Brad and Harrison. 

Harrison was playing peek-a-boo with Aunt Tori. 

We were pooped after just one game so we headed back to the house. 

We all got a kick out of the cage around the Christmas tree. Lance Kendra and Kailee live with Randy's parents while they are buying a house. They have to keep Kailee out somehow!! 

Enjoying the Christmas spoils!!! Nanny bought a huge sandwich so we wouldn't have to do any cooking. It was awesome and the clean-up was a snap. 

Matt got new glasses from Nate next door so Randy was wearing them around the house. He looked so sophisticated and smart. Too bad he had to give them back. 

After dinner Randy's dad read the nativity from Luke 2. The kids found makeshift costumes in the toy room to act it out.

 Then the presents began. We always start out with the intention to go slow but somehow it always turn out to be a huge chaotic mess. 

 It was fun to watch Brad open mature gifts this year. He is so excited to get big boy stuff instead of a bunch of toys. He loved everything. 

Claire got a fancy pair of boots from Matt and Tori. 

She had them on and was modelling them in no time at all. She did look really cute in them. 

Reagan couldn't decide if she wanted to open her own gifts, play with open gifts or play with other peoples stuff. She was having dilemma about where she wanted to be. She LOVES to be in the center of everything. There was a lot going on. 

Harrison was so cute and excited about everything he opened. He was shouting yea, and jumping up and down. It was hard to get him to open something new because he was so into the toy he just opened. I could have watched him all night. 

After all the craziness ended the kids settled down in the couch and played nicely and quietly with each other. I was shocked!!! I had to take a picture. 

The siblings got Diet and Myrna new tablets for Christmas so we stayed late showing them how to set them up and use them. Harrison got really quiet and we found him glued to a movie in the toy room. He was so content to be there all alone. 

Nanny always gives the grand-kids pajamas for Christmas. We tried to get all of the kids to look at the camera...this is the best I could get before Reagan was out of there. I could never be a photographer.  

We left Nanny and Papa's house at about 10:00.  The kids were so worried that Santa would leave Richmond before we got home. They must not have been too worried since they were asleep within 10 minutes of the drive home. 

The kids went right to bed as soon as we got home.  

Not long after the kids fell asleep Santa showed up. We helped him set up the kids stuff. 

He left Brad a new set of golf clubs, Claire an art table and a Doc Mcstuffins doll and Harrison a Shake n Go Track. 

I love that we finally have a fireplace for Santa to come down. 

And that the stockings could be hung as well!!!

Can't wait until morning!!!