Christmas with the Family!

As previously mentioned we went up to Utah for Christmas. (It snowed the whole way there so the trip took a whopping 15 hours. Thank goodness for DVD players and the Leapfrog game.) But we had so much fun and tried to fit in as many activities as possible. We loved spending time with family and friends and it was so great for Sam and Cooper to finally spend time with their cousins! Here are our fun family photos.

Christmas lovin' everywhere.

Nick testing out Coopers Bob the Builder's hard hat.

Grrrrr.. Give me something to build!

Cooper and his cousin Gabe watching some "BUZZ".

Christmas morning at its Best!

Best Friends Forever! Sam and Ellie were inseparable.

My favorite face of the trip. I believe he wants his Sprite!

Highlights of our Utah trip...

• Seeing our new niece Brinley. We came up a day early because she was in the NICU so we only got to see her once the whole time, but she is beautiful and it was worth it.
• Letting Cooper run around with his boy cousins Gabe, Jaxon, and Ashton. Boys will be boys and I say let them!
• Seeing some old friends and catching up.

Downfalls of our trip...

• Not getting to spend enough time with our family. The trip went by too fast and I didn't get to spend enough time with everyone.
• Missing some of my old friends. With the short time that we were there I didn't get to see a couple of my closest friends and wish I could have spent one extra day visiting.

All in all it was wonderful and we already miss all of you! So come visit soon!

Our Own Little Christmas Before Christmas!

Because we were going up to Utah on the 20Th of Dec we decided to have Santa come and visit our house a little early. We had Christmas on the 16Th and it was awesome. Christmas Eve was full of Christmas carols by the piano, Christmas books and Christmas jammie's. The kids left cookies and milk out for the 'Big Guy'. The Coops decided that Santa wouldn't mind sharing a bit!!

I was so excited about Christmas that I ended up having to wake up my kids. Whose kids sleep in until 9am on Christmas morning? OK... so they were up with us playing until midnight but honestly! I on the other hand couldn't wait!! My favorite part of Christmas??? Staying up late with my hubby putting everything together while watching some Christmas movie on TV. LOVE IT! And the next morning of course!
Sam is obsessed with princesses and ponies so we combined the two this year and got her the Cinderella and Prince carriage. Cooper decided he had to try out the horse just to make sure it was safe!

Cooper got his Harley and wouldn't leave the seat to open other presents all morning!

How did we get him to finally leave his Harley bike... SUGAR! Break out the stocking treats and he found a new love quickly!

I think Sam was more excited about Nicks gifts than her own. I let the kids go to All Dollar and pick out whatever they wanted for daddy for Christmas. Poor Nick ended up with a furry baton, some coloring books, and a back scratcher! Sam was so proud of her gifts for her dad; standing over him impatiently waiting for him to open his gifts.

And above all the wrapping paper and opened candy canes, hugs were everywhere.

This was by far the best Christmas that I have ever had, EVER! As my little family grows up and becomes not so little anymore it brings Christmas to a whole new level. Watching my little kids and husband all together and seeing their smiles and feeling their hugs and kisses, it brings the meaning of Christmas to a new level! I LOVE IT!