Christmas Eve

We stopped by the Waldron's first on Christmas Eve. We did our gift exchange and got to talk to Elder Zach Waldron in Mexico. Here's Trisha and I waiting to open our gifts. I got a bundt pan that I have been dying for!
Vance scored at the Waldron's. He got a Cars mat from his cousins (which he has been playing with nonstop) and lots of Toy Story 3 stuff from Grandma and Grandpa. He was a happy boy opening presents!

Then we went to my parent's house to spend the rest of the evening with them. We ate and ate and ate...

After we finished eating all the yummy food it was time for the Christmas program. It's kind of a talent show type thing. Every family does something: read a book, sing a song, do an activity, etc. Logan and Amy started it out with a Silent Night piano duet. Logan did amazing!

My part of the program was a sticker Nativity thingy (my mom had all the stuff). Vance and Colton thought it would be more fun to put the stickers on themselves than on the paper.

Kelsie played a Christmas song on the flute and did an amazing job!

Grandma read a really cute book to the kids. They don't always listen too great, but they must've felt Santa watching them because you could have heard a pin drop as she read this book.

My sisters and I finished the program with our rendition of the song "Sisters" from the movie White Christmas. It was hilarious. My pictures turned out horrible, but you can rest assured knowing we had fabulous choreography and vocal skills.

We also had the White Elephant. My mom and dad always buy awesome gifts for this. This year, Chad helped me end up with a super cute watch and Mac lipgloss - my favorite.

Chad has been working hard on redoing Vance's fourwheeler. Nothing was mechanically wrong with it, but it looked a little worn. Vance is obsessed with orange so Chad made him a black and orange fourwheeler. It looks brand new (Vance thinks it's brand new). We gave it to him Christmas Eve since the four-wheeler was already at my parent's house. HE LOOOOVVVVEEEEDDDDD IT! Look at his face - he was freaking out. When he walked outside and saw it he started yelling, "Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! It's an orange four-de-door!" He then jumped on it and starting making loud vroom-vroom noises.

Vance could hardly wait to ride his "new" four-wheeler. I knew Vance would love it, but for Chad's sake I'm very glad he did. Chad was so excited and you never know how a toddler will react, but this was a HUGE hit. Dad scored major brownie points!

Every year we get new jammies. We usually go all out and get what I think of as "outfit jammies." These are jammies that are cute enough you would wear them to the store or the ones you take on vacation wear other people see them. Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about! They aren't the usual tye dye shirt and mismatch stained sweat pants ;)

This year we got UNLV jammies. Here's a better look at Chad and Vance's. Do you think maybe Vance is a little tired?

We set out donuts and chocolate milk for Santa because Mommy forgot all about cookies. Vance was BEYOND excited about this part. He wouldn't stop talking about Santa eating the donuts and was constantly checking to make sure they were still there. He kept reminding me, "Now don't eat them all gone mommy. You got to leave them for Santa Claw!" He was REALLY worried about me eating them for some reason.

After we tucked Vance in to bed, Santa's elves worked as quick as possible so they could get some rest before Christmas day!

Gingerbread Houses

This morning the Waldron's came over to make gingerbread houses with us. This is a tradition that I love!
I am usually in charge of the glue gun. Putting the houses together with frosting takes too long, so we prefer a little glue to get the job done.

Papa helped Vance make his house. Our kit came with Rudolph, Santa, and the Abominable Snowman. Vance was most concerned about where those three characters were going to go.

Grandma held baby Elias and helped supervise.

Here's Papa and Vance's finished product!

When Vance finished his, he went to help Uncle Jon and Aunt Carleen.

Grandma and two of her favorite boys.

The two gingerbread houses and gingerbread train that Aunt Mariah and Aunt Sierra made.

The whole clan. We missed Chad because he had to work :(

I can't wait for tomorrow!

Orange you glad...

We had a Cousin Christmas Celebration with all the Vance's cousins on my side of the family. We sent out invitation that said, "Orange you glad you're invited?!" The theme for the evening was - ORANGE (inspired by Vance's favorite color). All the activities and even the food tied back to oranges.
We started out with a game. One person would go out of the room while we hid an orange. When the person came out we sang Christmas carols to help them find the orange (loud when they were close, soft when they were far away). It was well...ugly singing but so fun!

Then Uncle Chad made peppermint orange-aid. You cut a whole in the orange, stick a candy cane in, and start sucking. While the kids enjoyed their treat I summarized the book "Frankie's Orange". The book has a really cute message about the importance of giving theat I wanted to tell the kids.

They listened...kinda. It's the thought that counts right?!

Then I took all the kids in my room while Papa and Uncle Chad hid the presents that we got for them. The presents had their names on them. The rules were you can't talk and you can't touch anyone's present but your own.

Vance and Colton found theirs!

The girls had a little bit harder time. Some one may have hid them ridiculously hard!

Eventually everyone found their present and it was time to open them!

We made everybody shirts that said "Orange you glad it's Christmas?" On one sleeve it also had a little spot that said "I love Uncle Chad & Aunt Alli!" The "o" in love was an orange.

We told them one gift we can give at Christmas is kind words. Then we busted out red and green Sharpies and everybody wrote something nice on everyone's shirt. Some of my favorites were "master daredevil," "fastest reader," "fun to play with," and "good at wii." The kids had a lot of fun with this activity and I loved it because they were all truly being so nice to each other!

Who gave these two a Sharpie??!! They drew some nice pictures on everyone's shirts ;)

We finished the night with everyone telling their best knock-knock-orange jokes. My favorite was told my Logan and went like this -

Knock knock

Who's there?

Orange

Orange who?

Orange you glad Uncle Chad and Aunt Alli are the best aunt and uncle ever!

He may be a brown noser but it works for me ;)

After the jokes we had lots of orange snacks and watched the Rudolph movie. Then it was time to go to sleep!

In the morning we had donuts and chocolate milk before all their moms came to pick them up. Colton and Vance decided they would be in charge of the donut rations. After some prodding they decided they could share.

It was a fun night with the kiddos, but I definitely remember why I only do sleepovers with all the kids about twice a year. A little side note - how awesome are these flashlights from the Mathewson kids?!

Orange you glad it's Christmas tomorrow?!

Christmas Sunday

I got this braniac idea about a month ago to make Vance and Chad matching ties for Christmas Sunday and to make me a matching headband and pin for my sweater.
Well I realized on Friday night that I had exactly one day to start and finish my project because I had successfully procrastinated for an entire month. Luckily my amazing sister wasn't too busy and helped me do it. Everything turned out so cute. Here's a close up of the headband -

Here we are all ready for church!

Vance showing off his Christmas Sunday outfit. This is the first time he has worn this suit. He. is. a. stud. period.

My two favorite boys looking absolutely handsome together! Chad - I know you hate suits, but you look so yummy in them ;)

I love wearing matching outfits and the only time I don't feel retarded doing it is Christmas Sunday. I already can't wait to match again next year...I'm a loser...I know.

Christmas Baking

My mom and I did some Christmas baking together. We made mint brownies and turtles and had way too much fun in the kitchen!

Proof my mom and I are wired differently is in our chocolate making. I wanted to make sure they all looked pretty so here are my neatly dipped turtles on clean wax paper.

On the other hand here are my mom's...well...dipped turtles. She was a mess. She assured me they all taste the same no matter how pretty they look. I'm still not buying it. Did I mention in the process of dipping she managed to cover my hand in chocolate?!

Here's the finished product. Let me assure you - they turned out great and are DELICIOUS!!! (However the neat and pretty ones do taste better ;)

Thanks Mom for a fun two days of baking!

Lots of Fun

We have been thoroughly enjoying the holiday season. Here's what we've been doing lately:

Ethel M's Cactus Garden. We met up with some friends from our ward to take the kids to the cacti decorated with Christmas lights. I'm not sure they really noticed all the lights but they absolutely loved climbing all over the rocks.

Vance loves Merrick and Harley and is always asking for Harley. I think we might have a little crush on our hands.

I remember thinking this display was a little lame, but I was wrong. It was actually pretty cool and the best part is it's free!

The Live Nativity. I have been going to this since I was a little girl and now it's so much fun to take my own child. Here's some of us waiting for the show to start.

Something happened at this year's nativity that I have NEVER seen happen before. Right when Joseph started walking Mary sitting on the donkey in, the donkey kind of bucked and Mary fell right off! Luckily she okay, probably more embarrassed than anything.

One the way home when we were asking Vance his favorite part, he replied, "When Jesus' mommy fell off the donkey!" I'm glad the spiritual message sunk right in. Oh well - better luck next year.

We also had the Lake Party. Growing up we went to the lake all the time with 3 other families. As we've all grown up we try to get together at least once a year. It is ALWAYS blast. These are some of the funniest people I know.

This year we had a traditional gag White Elephant. It was definitely the best part of the night! With this group anything goes so we had everything from the Brokeback Mountain DVD to a homemade shirt with a picture of yourself captioned "Golden Child"

to sex books to training bras to Superman briefs.

After the white elephant we did a little Just Dance 2 and visited. I already can't wait until next year.

One night we were bored and lucky for us Grandpa was too. We picked him up and took Vance to go see the snow at Town Square.

He couldn't wipe the smile off his face. He also entertained us with a little dancing which he never does.

We babysat our friend's ADORABLE little girl. This baby is so freaking cute I could eat her. I was beyond excited to get a chance to babysit. Vance loved her too. He shared all his blankets, cars, and monster trucks (all things baby girls love right?) with her which is saying a lot.

When our friends came to pick her up, Vance told them "That ours baby!" I think I know someone who is definitely ready for a little brother or sister.

We had our ward party and took Vance to sit on Santa's lap. This is the first time he actually wanted to sit on Santa's lap (I think a little peer pressure helped motivate him). Unlucky for us he now insists Santa is bringing him a Big Buzz Lightyear. Looks like Santa has some last minute shopping to do.

I hope your Holiday Season has been as fun as ours ;)