{Christmas}

What a beautiful Christmas it was.  

Laid back, calm (not counting the sugar hyper kids), and full of lots of smiles and giggles.

Christmas Eve could not come fast enough for our munchkins.  They knew there was a present for each of them marked under the tree to open on Christmas Eve.  And despite it being the same thing every year, they had no idea...

New jammies of course!

Mom! Quit taking pictures!!!

:( hee hee hee

Christmas Day we woke to the kids excitement at Santa's "15 presents!!!!!" at 7:30am.  It was so cute hearing them squeal!

Here are my favorite faces from that morning.

Braddock didn't quite get what was happening.  But even with his chocolate covered lips he was so stinking cute.  Cars and trucks are very much his obsession right now and Santa spoiled him!

She doesn't even know it's just gloves in there, but the excitement on her face is priceless! I am soaking this all in before she hits the teenage years :P  Cherry is loving anything artsy these days.  Santa brought her a camera and boy oh boy is she having fun!

Lillie loves everything.  A girl that is so easy to please. Her favorite gift is without a doubt her Tangled costume.  Which she never goes a day without wearing. She would sleep in it if I let her!

It's amazing how much fun gloves are! hahaha :) Damon's favorite gift is his Hulk toy.   He is obsessed with Avengers and super heroes.  (yes, he is still all about the sharks too. Which his baby sister got him a whole set of).

This may be my favorite picture. It may be because a non cheeser on this man of mine is rare.  And in this picture all I see is the pure joy as he is watching his kids get so excited.

We almost completely forgot about the main gift we had hiding in our room.  Until Cherry said, "Ah man, I wish I'd gotten a scooter!" It literally is the ONLY thing she asked Santa for.

So we blind folded the kids while we brought them in.

Now I just need winter to go away so they can ride them outside more :)

Off to Grandmothers house we go! We headed to the Finleys for a short visit.  Braddock was still under the weather and not being his usual cheery self.

Grandma and Grandpa nailed their gifts for the kids! 

I can not tell a lie. I already stole Cherry's freaking awesome coloring book one night and had fun :)

Then momma and I ended our Christmas Day with a visit to Aarons grave.  It's been a month since I'd been and I am so grateful I can go there.  I miss him so much.  And the holidays seemed a little off this year after losing him.  But I am still so grateful for the time I had him in my life.  And for all the beautiful memories I have with him.

And now that the holidays are done.  I have GOT to get ready for our little Mason!!!!!!!

Santa!

Best Santa visit.

EVER!!

I have been trying to take the kids out to visit Santa for a couple weeks now.  But something  always comes up.  Usually I am too tired or sick, or the kids are too naughty to bother.

And on top of that, I am really picky. Say whaaat? Ya, I know :)  I am not about to go wait in a line with 4 kids for over an hour and pay $20 for an out of focus 5x7.  

So I asked around for where people recommended a super cute Santa and I found out about the Sugar House Santa!

Best $5 I have EVER spent on seeing Santa.  Yes, $5! To take my own pictures.  Completely worth it! Not only that, but he was the most darling Santa.  With the sweetest laugh.  He spent time with each kid with no rush.  Did I mention there was no line? And it is just this cute little Shack right off the road.  1100 E and 2100 North if you want to know :)

Lillie was so cute. She is absolutely fearless, and jumped right up there first.

Damon I think was a little afraid Santa knew he hadn't been so perfect the last little while.  Santa even questioned him and I was trying not to laugh. But he's been a good boy and even gave Santa a high five.

Cherry is so my kid it cracks me up.   She was very shy about Santa.  You can see it on her face, but as they talked he melted her and she completely warmed up.

Braddock was just as cute as can be.  Totally clueless to what was happening, but since everyone else sat on this weird mans lap, why not?!

I love this season.  And seeing my kids excitement and enthusiasm over all the little things.  It brings so much joy to my heart.  And I find I am (almost) constantly smiling.

This season has been great.  Despite not being my usual energetic self, and not doing my usual Christmas activities with the kids. 

 We have some sweet someone who has been doing the twelve days of Christmas.  Each night they ring and run a little bag of goodies with a symbol of the season.  The kids wait with so much anticipation every night for that bag to arrive.  It has been so much fun.

We had one night that was about the symbol of the star.  Last night as we came home late from grocery shopping, the girls were pointing at the bright star in the sky and saying it was Jesus.  Too cute :)

What a beautiful time of year this is.

2012 Christmas Advent

I really did mean to post this at laset 16 days ago.  Before the counting down to Christmas officially began.

But better late than never right?

I once had a plan to make a new advent every year.  Reality check.  That is so not going to happen.  But this year I did whip up a little paper crafting advent and I love it!

Starting with 2, 12x12 thick cardstock papers as my backdrops.  And coordinating accent papers to go with it.

 I cut out the accent papers for the pockets, and distressed the edges with ink.

Then played around laying them out until I liked what I had.

Then I lazily glued (ok, I didn't even glue! I photo stickied them!) the pocket edges down(If you want it to last better, sewing them down is a much better idea).

Then I added dates and trinkets and embellishments to make it pretty.

I made the advent slips out of those pre-made tags from the craft store.  Again inked the edges, then added twine.

And Ta da! This is how it turned out!
 I would give you a list of my advent ideas.  But they in all honesty are lame.  I am 8 months pregnant and just can't do what I normally would.

So mostly they are; have a treat, drink hot cocoa, watch a Christmas movie, freebie nights etc. 

:)

I had the perfect place on my mantle and hung the advents from twine with cute little wood clothespins!

I hope everyone is having a beautiful holiday season!

December Begins!

It started with a hot date night with my hot hubby! Couldn't ask for a better start!

Honestly, I was not looking forward to getting dressed up for the big fancy work Christmas Party.  I mean hello, I am 30 weeks pregnant.  I get winded vacuuming! 

But it really was fun.  It was nice to get out with out the kids.  The food was really good.  And sure, after a little over an hour I was done, but hey! We still went out :)

Photos courtesy of Cherish

Of course, with December first, comes the arrival of Christopher Pop-In-Kins!

He greeted the kids.

Waited on the wreath with goodies for when they came home from church,

and has even been chased by scary dinosaurs!

Stay tuned for what other things this crazy elf comes up with!

Christmas! Yes, we did have it :)

Oh my word, December was nuts! And then ended with a bang too!

I bet you were thinking we boycotted Christmas.  With my 5 yr olds behavior, I was seriously tempted.  But I caved. I'm a sucker for cheery happiness.

Christmas Eve that same 5 yr old came down with the flu.  Poor guy was up literally until 4am throwing up.  Santa had to be super sneaky. So the boys hung out with me while I did some cleaning.


Christmas morning went a little something like this....







The kids had a great Christmas. We all did! I felt a little spoiled this year. The kids definitely were.

The day after christmas was the official Finley family party.  Filled with lots of kids, food, laughing, and just hangin out.
My mom decorates for Christmas so amazingly.  Her home is always cozy and sparkly and I love it.


These boys just 3 days apart are already "playing", if by playing you consider trying to eat the others head, stealing binkies and staring at eachother



The little cousin girls.  I sure wish they didn't live in Boise! They have so much fun when they get to play together.
To the point that we find them passed out :)


I even snuck in a tiny nap with my little man.


We had our annual white elephant game.  It was a hoot as always.  Nothing like seeing your older brother wearing a lace dress.


The day became a little solemn.  We got word that our dearest Grandpa in Nebraska was taking a turn for the worst.  By the end of the day we had all figured out how to carpool out there.  I found sitters for our older 3, packed up bags for me and baby and left the next morning for Nebraska.

I have so much to post from that trip but it will have to wait :)  It was the hardest thing I have ever done.  Telling my Grandpa goodbye, while he is not yet gone. Knowing it will be the last time I see him alive.  But I am so grateful I did. 

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season!