Merry Christmas...

Christmas morning we planned to open gifts at seven.  As soon as we opened the door to our room, Easton was out of there and down the stairs faster than we could grab him.  So, we have no pictures of his face when he saw everything.  Madi wasn't as fast.  She was content to lay in bed and watch cartoons.  Derrick helped her down.

Excited at what Santa brought!  (I didn't take a picture of everything before we got into it.  I thought I had, but I guess not.)

Santa brought lots of fun stuff and left it in their stockings.  He also got them both a ball.  Grandma and Grandpa got them some treats too! 

Easton's favorite part of his stocking was "keen" (McQueen) and "may" (Mater).  He LOVES them! 

Showing off Red... 

We got Heidi a U of U fleece blanket.  The bag I put it in looked a little more wedding than Christmas.  :D  

Opening the goods... 

Easton's big gift was the Little People Wheelies Race Track.  He was totally excited as soon as he started opening it!  He wanted it out of the box!!! 

Madi really wanted Cinderella dress up, so we got her a chest of Princess dress up stuff.  She was pretty excited. 

Cinderella... 

Waiting for daddy to put together his new toy... 

Look at the car aunt Heidi got him... 

The track is a hit!  They both love playing with it and we have had lots of fun with it since Christmas. 

Here is Madi's pile of gifts.  Some highlights:  Grandma Shar made her a doll.  Grandma and Grandpa Hawkins gave her a Disney Princess art kit and some dry erase books to help her practice her alphabet and numbers.  Aunt Heidi gave her a princess Color Wonder kit, Belle, Aurora and lip gloss.  Santa brought the Lorax, a Cinderella watch, candy, and lots of "lip sticks".  She got 25 different lip things.  Mom and Dad gave her My Little Pony's, dress up stuff, books, Barbie movies, the mermaid Barbie clothes and some other little things. 

Derrick and I got spoiled too.  Derrick got screwdrivers and a waffle iron.  I got some books, Cd's, jewelry, a game and spatulas.  Heidi gave us a gift card to Applebee's.  Mom and dad gave us a stocking and two lanterns to add to our camping stuff.  Ty & Jodi gave us a new game. 

Easton's didn't all fit in one picture.  Grandma Shar gave him an outfit.  Grandma and Grandpa Hawkins gave him a zoo book that makes noises and a wooden stacking train.  Aunt Heidi gave him two Cars, a Finn McMissile flashlight car and a Cars book.  Santa brought him McQueen, Mater and Red, a bunch of Hot Wheels, treats and a football.  Mom and Dad gave him lots of clothes, books, a movie and some other little things. 

Aunt Heidi also got a Play-Doh Candy Shoppe for the family.  It is a hit!  We have played with it a lot!  Thanks Aunt Heidi! 

Christmas Eve...

Since mom and dad didn't go to California this year and Heidi was here from Cali, we decided to go to their house for Christmas.  We are glad we were able to be with them and make some memories.  Every Christmas Eve, the kids get new pj's.  Madi got Cinderella jammies and slippers.  She was excited about them and looked so cute in them.

Easton got Cars jammies and slippers.  He thought they were great, especially the slippers! 

This kid is growing up so fast.  He has such a fun loving personality.  He loves to laugh and have a good time and loves attention. 

Look at that scowl.  He wanted to get off the chair and I told him he had to stay there for a picture. 

Happy Christmas Eve!!! 

Easton was doing something he wasn't supposed to and we told him to go put his nose in the corner.  He walked over and threw himself on the floor and then scooted under grandma's skirt.  He stayed under there and sulked until grandma said no more.  Silly kid! 

Sporting his new pj's... 

Hanging out with aunt Heidi and Grandma... 

Derrick's family always opened a few things on Christmas Eve growing up.  We have always just done the pj's, but I talked Derrick into letting them open their puzzles too.  :D  

Madi in her "pajammies"... 

Easton has fallen in love with his aunt Heidi over the last couple months.  She is his new best friend and is totally going to miss her now that she has gone back home.  We will have to plan a trip to go see her someday. 

Madi got a princess puzzle and Easton got a Cars one. 

Santa...

We didn't have any Christmas words and I saw these Santa letters and loved them.  I really like how it turned out.  It was nice to do a craft.  So relaxing...

Leatherby's and Temple Square...

On Dec. 21st we planned to meet up with Chris and Annie at temple square.  We picked up Derrick and had a little time so we stopped at Leatherby's for a bite to eat.  The one downtown is nowhere near as good as the Taylorsville one but it was still pretty good.  Madi and Easton, waiting with anticipation...

Madi wanted a pink ice cream cone.  This is what they brought her.  :D  A little big for a three year old. 

No worries, Easton will help!  They both loved the ice cream and ours wasn't bad either. 

Chris and Annie were running a little late so we walked around City Creek for a few minutes.  We stopped at the Disney Store and it was SOOOO crowded.  The kids love that store and neither of them wanted to leave it.  We stopped by Macy's to drop Santa a letter and then walked across the street to temple square. 

I love walking around temple square, any time of year, but Christmas time is my favorite I think. 

Madi and Easton were both super excited about the fountains and water features.  They loved seeing the lights but the water was definitely their favorite part. 

My favorite temple...

Checking out the lights... 

The reflection pool and this statue surrounded by the lighted floating bubbles is my very favorite part!  It is so beautiful and so peaceful (or at least it would be if there weren't 300 people surrounding you). 

Madi and Easton walked along this and loved watching the water as the rest of us looked at the nativities and the luminaries. 

Madi with one of the luminaries.  They are so pretty.  I enjoyed seeing all of the intricate designs.

Our family... 

 ...and two of our favorite people, Chris and Annie!

Madi's hands got cold so Annie gave her a little hand warmer.  It did the trick and she was a happy camper after that.   

Easton caught a ride on Chris' shoulders since Derrick was carrying Madi.  Thanks brother! 

Mr. Cord stayed warm while we were there and woke up to say hi while we were in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.  The kids played in the kids area and we talked and warmed up a little.  After that we went to get hot chocolate at Hatch's in the avenues.  It was the best hot chocolate I have ever had and also the most expensive.  It was $5.50 for 10oz.. Wowzer!  We all shared one and got a cranberry Italian soda to share as well.  Those were much more reasonably priced and the flavor was so good!

Fun with friends...

Since it had been a long time since we had seen Chani and her kids we decided to take the kids to the mall so they could run some energy out and play together.  I love the playgrounds in the mall during the winter months.  It is fun for the kids and nice for me to get out of the house without paying a fortune to go some where.  Chani went looking for a shirt and I needed to return something at Sears.  We took turns watching the kids while the other did their errand.  Poor Chani got the raw end of that deal!  Sears took forever to return my thing.  I only got a e-receipt when I purchased it and I thought that was fine.  I pulled it up on my phone and everything looked good to me.  Unfortunately it was missing the RC# and the lady said they can't return electronics without it.  Half an hour later we finally get it figured out.  So frustrating, especially since I was buying something else that was the same price AND I had what was supposed to be my receipt.  Sorry Chani, I owe ya one! 

Nash was so cute!  He was all smiles while we played.  He is getting so big and growing up so quickly.  It is fun for Easton to be able to play with him. 

My little lady... 

Another of Nashy.  Guire was having a rough time and didn't want a picture taken.  After we were done there we walked around Costco and then hit Subway for a quick lunch.  We always have a great time hanging out with Chani, Guire and Nash.  Thanks for another fun day! 

Something new...

Every year I struggle to know what to get Derrick for Christmas that will be a surprise.  This year I decided to do the Twelve Days of Christmas.  It was lots of fun for me to do.  I didn't take pictures and I wish I would have.  Here is his song...

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me

one cell phone charger.

On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me

two bags of Kisses.

On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me

three polo shirts.

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me

four pair of slacks.

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me

five razor refills.

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me

six car fresheners.

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me

seven Gatorades.

On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me

eight gold coins.

On the nineth day of Christmas my true love gave to me

nine bags of chips.

On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me

ten chicken nuggets. 

On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me

eleven hot cocoas. 

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me

twelve yummy snacks.

The twelfth day I used the snacks to make a candy poster.  I will post what it said in a later post.  It was a lot of fun and I think it surprised Derrick so that was good. 

Funny thing, on day seven I had left six Gatorade's in my trunk and just brought one in to put the tag on.  Since I knew he would like it that day at work I told him that day seven was Gatorade and it was in the trunk.  When I talked to him later that day I asked if he felt jipped.  He said "No, I like Gatorade."  I said "I know, but you only got six.  The other one is in my craft room."  He had not put together the fact that on day one he got one thing and on day two, two things and so on.  I got a good laugh that by day seven he still hadn't put it together, especially since on the third day he thought he was opening his waffle iron and I said "I didn't get you three waffle irons."  Love that man!