We got Crabs (and a fish)

Grandma M got the kids a cute little aquarium to get some crabs in. They were so excited when it came time to got to the store with her and pick some out. The boys both picked a big one (boy) and we got a fish for Chloe.
They names the crabs, Sherman and Grandpa Crab, and the fish got named, Nemo.
They are loving their crabs and it has been great for the boys to take care of something.

Zoolights

I have been wanting to go see the Zoolights for a few years now. Since we thought they were included (and were told they were) in the season pass, we bought it when we went this summer. Well, they're not! I was so mad that I told them I wanted a refund because that was the only reason we got the season pass.
I think I wasn't as nice or calm as I could have been, but the guy quickly gave us free passes and we went in....
It was fun. The lights were fun, but it was spread out all over the Zoo (obviously), you couldn't see any animals, and it was really cold. I am always up for Christmas lights, but with little kids, this is one we will probably wait to do again until they are older. If only there was a way they could make it so we could drive through them....

Chloe, in Grandpa's Room, with the Wallet

While visiting Seth parents the other day we noticed that we hadn't seen or heard from Chloe for a while. So the search began for where she could be, what she could be doing, and why she was so into it.
And this is where our search ended....

...with Chloe in Grandpa M's bed, surrounded by his emptied wallet. Credit cards and cash were all around her. She was just giggling and so delighted with what she had found.
I had never been prouder! :)

Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas. We went up to Seth's sister's house again to spend a few days and be together on Christmas day.
It was fun to be with family, get away for a while, and have a fun time being lazy.
They have a great pool right down the street from them that we love going to. Chloe experienced the slide for the first time and we had to keep yanking her off the ladder before she tried to go by herself!
The kids loved being with their cousins. They think it's great that they have a drum set there and were constantly counting out, "a 1, a 1, a 1-2-3-4". It would follow with great beats and many smiles.
The days were filled with football, napping, eating, and anticipation. We had a great time sitting together singing Christmas Carols, reading stories, and playing their piano pieces for us all. Chloe even got in the spirit and played a few of her own compositions for us!

and waiting for Santa. The After all was said and done it was off to bed and kids could have sworn they saw something out their window as they were going to bed!

Christmas morning was great. The kids loved coming out to a room full of toys and presents. It was fun to see what they got most excited about.
For Sam in was his new Chuggington Trains set and trains,




for James it was his Silly Eyes and Light Stick,




and for Chloe it was her stroller.





Seth got his zipper fixed on his favorite jacket,

and I got surprised with an amazing gift, Season Tickets to the Hale Center Theater! I was so shocked I could hardly react. It's not something I ever pictured Seth doing, so I was a little quiet about it until later. I am so excited to be a Theater-Goer.
We had fun getting presents for the family this year. we let the kids choose for their cousins. Sam of course told them right away what he got them. We had a little talk about "secrets". :) We got Jake a Dr. Mr. Potato Head for his office along with a puzzle cube I made. Jaime got holiday banners, Sandy got some holiday art and Mom got sippies, and Dad got a bunch of "good for" coupons for all the things he usually does for us anyways. We had a good laugh about those (like- good for one computer fix, one free Chloe dance, one lunch with Karen, one day at the arcade with the boys...)! :)

I made my traditional Christmas Breakfast for everyone. Growing up my dad would make a delicious breakfast for us all (eggs, sausage, hash browns and cinnamon rolls), probably to counter act all the sugar we would always eat out of our stockings. I took it a step further this year and had to have a cute table for it. I roped Madi into helping me do it and she and I had a blast together!

We ended up coming home on Christmas day due to lack of sleep and a sore back (on my part). Seth and I were going to try to share a room with Chloe, while the boys shared a room with Tori. The boys did great, but Seth and I quickly realized that Chloe is still not at an age where she can sleep through noises and share a room. Poor So it was to the couch for Seth, and I, after a failed attempt the first night and trying to sleep in a twin bed with Chloe (and we were joined by James very early the next morning), slept on a mat wherever I could find room.


The boys and Chloe were so excited to be home. They went right to bed and woke up slowly the next morning. They were so glad to be able to have their toys all to their own!:)

It didn't end there for us, though. We called up my sister and had her family up for her birthday. We had a fun dinner together and then ditched the kids for a movie, Sherlock Holmes. We then sent Joy and Ben home and kept the kids for the night. It was fun.

It was a fun 3-year-running streak of Idaho Christmases, but we are excited to finally have a Christmas in our own home, for the first time, this coming year!
We are so blessed. I am so grateful for the fun Christmas Season we had to see beautiful lights, be with friends and family, give and get, and remember when and how our Savior came to Earth and what that means for each of us.

The Many Adventures of Peter Pan the Elf

I just had stop and account for all the fun Peter Pan brought us this year....
We can't wait until he comes back next year!

Tumble Bumble

Have you ever read this book? It's one of our favorites.




It goes on to add more friends as the characters walk along, and ends like this...


And that sums up how my day was yesterday. I started with my 3. Then our usually Tuesday friend, Jonah showed up. Then 2 more friends, Erick and Bryant came to play. Then the kids 2 cousins Thomas and Joseph came to join in the fun....

Let's not forget to mention that Haven and her brother, Ryder stopped by later for piano, and then Emma for her tutoring.....
Tumble Bumble!
(Total head count for the day-13, hosted for lunch 9) :)