We got ready for Christmas. . .
The boys/men decorated the outside of the house. . .
making sure every light was perfect!
(and I tried not to think about my 12 year old on the roof)
And Kara and Mommy put up all the decorations inside the house together!
And then it was time to decorate the Christmas tree!
It was Kris's turn this year to put the star on!
And then. . . we enjoyed the tree all season!
There might have even been some slumber parties by the tree!
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS. . .
We love looking at Christmas lights each year!
This house had snow falling from the roof!
The kids loved it!
Mom with Boys. . .
And Daddy with his Girl. . .
WE HAD COOKIE BAKING DAY
with our favorite Girls. . .
And the gift exchange. . .
Everyone was happy this year!
CHRISTMAS PARTIES. . .
We had 15, yes 15. . .
12 year old boys over to the house one night for
MINUTE TO WIN IT GAMES. . .
and food!
My house smelled like a locker room by the time the night was over. . .
but to see (almost teenage boys) leave with a smile
made it all worth it!
My husband took me on the BEST
Christmas Date ever!
To see my Favorite Christmas Movie. . .
on the BIG SCREEN!
We spent the entire afternoon in Old Sacramento
and then headed to the Old Crest Theatre in Downtown Sacramento!
We took our
SAN FRANCISCO/OAKLAND TEMPLE TRIP
and met the REAL Santa. . .
And my Baby Sister and her Baby got to go with us!
It was so fun having Jana and Lily stay with us for a few days and join us on our adventure to the city this year!
Kody and Lily are only 1 month apart in age and they had so much fun together already!
It rained so hard while we were driving to the city and I thought the trip was going to be horrible with all the rain, but it was the only day we had to take it and I wasn't going to let a little (ok a lot) of rain stop us. . .
but when we got to the city the rain stopped.
We walked around Pier 39, had lunch at Boudins, and then walked down Fisherman's wharf to Ghirradelli Square!
I almost had to remind myself we were in SAN FRANCISCO.
There were no people. No lines. No traffic.
It was the perfect day to head to the city.
Then we headed to Union Square.
I wanted to go to Macy's to see Santa Clause.
I don't think my husband was thrilled that we were going to a mall on the Friday night before Christmas to stand in a huge line to see Santa. . .
but then a Christmas Miracle happened.
Kyle walked into HOLIDAY LAND at Macy's
and he turned into an 8 year old little boy again.
Christmas is Magical!
And there was absolutely no line to see Santa.
We walked right in and got to spend about 15 minutes with him.
He was great.
Even Karalyn sat on his lap. . .
like I said. . . CHRISTMAS MIRACLE!
If I were the perfect mother my kids would have been ice skating instead of watching everyone else ice skate. . . but I'm not. And we had something more important to do. . .
We headed over the bridge to see the Temple.
The lights were amazing this year!
It was beautiful!
It was cold, but dry. . .
Until we started driving home, and then the rain came, and came and came and came!
And Finally,
CHRISTMAS EVE
came. . . and we spent it with these fun cousins!
We started the evening off like this. . .
And ended the evening. . .
LIKE THIS!
CHRISTMAS WAS HERE!
It was so fun to have Grandma and Grandpa spend the night at our house and be with us for Christmas Morning!
Kale got the phone he's been asking for for over a year!
When we went to Grandma's later that day Kody was playing with all of Grandma's toys and I realized that. . .
Kale's very 1st Christmas present he ever got from Santa Clause was a phone. . .
(the same phone his brother was playing with)
and 12 Christmas's later Santa got him another phone!
but. . . when I turned my phone on a few days later and to find this. . .
I was rethinking Santa's decision!
But the smiles. . .
over something as simple as
Hello Kitty press on nails. . .
makes Christmas all worth it!
Christmas Came and Went!
