Happy New Year

2017 was a great year.  Not a perfect year; we all have things to improve on, but overall is was a year worth remembering.  We are excited for 2018 and the start of another fresh year.  

We spent New Year's Eve and the wee hours of  New Years' Day at our friends, the Ramptons, house.  It was a really nice group of friends and we all had fun laughing together and playing games.  We staying until 3:00 in the morning.  That is late even by our standard, the girls stayed up the whole time.  They slept in the next morning until 11:00am and then they all went to bed early that night.  

Estelle was still blowing her New Year's horn two hours after we rang in the new year.  

Natalia and all the men did a puzzle for a good portion of the evening.  It was kind of funny how much they got into it.  

Christmas Day at Grandma's House

The Christmas fun just kept on coming.  After our fun morning at our house, we headed down to Grandma and Grandpa's.  The girls had another stocking of fun stuff and then we ate again.  We never really stoped eating the whole leading up to Christmas and then on to New Years.  After anther feast we opened up family gifts.  Everyone had a good time and the girls had lots to be excited about.  Estelle got a new dress and ran to bathroom to put it on.  She danced around the living room and twirled and twirled.  Sienna got a Wonder Woman sweatshirt that she was really excited about.  Natalia got a lamb that she carries around with her everywhere and sleeps with at night.  It is cute that she is getting so grown up, but still loves her snuggle toys.  Everyone got Legos and we all had fun helping the girls with there Legos the next day.  

The army hats were a big hit this year.  Luke opened one up and I could see the look of envy in Sienna's eye.  She was happy for Luke, but I could tell she wished it was her gift.  Then she opened up the same thing and was so happy, but I could see Eli about in tears because he wanted one too.  Guess what his next gift was.  They were all so cute running around the house in them.  

We stayed the night; all five kids had a sleepover on the floor in Grandma and Grandpa's room.  They stayed up super late watching movies;  they had fun, but everyone was a little tired in the morning.  There was lots of napping by some.  It was a really fun couple of days.  We played lots of games, did Legos and played with new toys, watched the kids run around and have fun together.  We ate lots of treats and just had fun spending time with family.  

Christmas Morning

I love Christmas morning!  Everything about Christmas is great.  I love focusing on the Savior, serving others and the feeling of joy and hope that come during this season.  But I am not going to lie, I also love watching my kids enjoy the joys of materialism on Christmas morning.  It is extra fun because they are kind girls that are just as excited to see their sisters open gifts as they are about their own.  They love getting and wrapping gifts for each other.  They love everything they receive and they never seem to be disappointed; they are not spoiled, so they genuinely seem appreciative for everything they get.  I love watching their faces light up with joy and wonder.  I love seeing them excited and full of anticipation.  

Christmas morning did not disappoint this year. Santa left them full stockings and fun gifts.  The tree was in abundance of fun surprises as well.   

We have a few Christmas morning rules that must be followed before anyone can go downstairs and see what Santa brought.  Rooms have to be clean (the girls keep them clean all week before Christmas so that they do not have to worry about it on Christmas Eve or Morning), beds have to be made, prayers said and hair brushed.  Natalia and Sienna finally had to wake Estelle up...they were all excited.  I like to tease them a little in the morning and make them wait on the stairs.  I ask them questions and they can hardly contain themselves as they wait to go down.  

Estelle found her candy canes and Christmas was immediately a success.  

Sienna got a Captain America Sweatshirt and to say that she was excited about it, is a major understatement.  She has worn it almost every moment possible since then and she almost goes into a panic attack if she gets food or anything dirty on it.   

I love these looks of joy on my kids' faces.

Sienna is always really excited for people to open the gifts that she got for them.  She is so thoughtful and really cares that others will like her gifts.  

We got lots of Legos this year and everyone was happy about it.  Jodee and I did not get any, but everyone else did.   It took me several years of marriage to realize that Hector really just wants toys for Christmas.  He got a really big Lego Batman set...he had that same look of joy that the girls do.  

Sienna has been wanting her own bow and arrow.  She was a happy girl.  The whole family got an Ukulele.  We have been hearing lots of beautiful music.  We got some new family games and have been having fun with those as well.  

We found some fun surprises hidden in the tree as well.  Elfie left each of the girls a gift card to Uno.  Then they found Disney lanyards and pouches filled with Disney Trading Pins.  They were so excited about their pins that they missed all the hints we were giving them about going to Disney World in a few weeks.  They just kept saying, "we should go to Disney sometime so we can trade these."

As if that was not enough, they then found another gift in the tree.  They unwrapped the Dolphin Tale movies...which they love so much, but on the back was a note telling them it would be more fun to see the Dolphin in person.  They have been wanting to meet Winter, the dolphin from the movie, ever since they first saw the movie.  We are taking them while we are in Florida.  

It was a really fun morning.  We loved having Jodee with us.  We had lots to be excited about, but we left everything in the living room and got ready to head down to Grandma and Grandpa's house!