Christmas 2012

Christmas Day...there isn't anything better then seeing the look on your kids face as they wake up Christmas morning and see all the gifts, Love it! We had a great Christmas Morning. We told the boys they had to at least wait until 6:00. So 6:00 on the dot we were up! We had fun opening presents in the morning.

Hum, what present should I open first?

Of course we had to go right out and try out those new remote control trucks...

Tanner at this point still wouldn't stand on his foot!

Trying them out at the tennis courts

and also at the pool

The boys also got a trampoline from Grandma and Grandpa. We set it up that afternoon (that proved to be a little bit of a joke) and they enjoyed jumping the rest of the day.

For Christmas Eve dinner we had our friends the Johnson's over and also 7 of our wards 9 missionaries. It was so fun to have them in our home and we enjoyed a really yummy dinner! Of course I didn't get any picture of that, but it was a great way to end the day!

We also enjoyed talking to all of our families on the computer. It is hard being away at Christmas Time, but so grateful the we can at least see and talk to them (thanks modern technology).

And then a movie to end the day!

Christmas Eve

Again this Christmas we weren't able to go home to St. George. We miss not seeing everyone and doing all of our fun traditions there, but it is nice not to have to travel over the holidays and try and haul Christmas presents home. It is fun to be here together and start our own traditions. This year we decided to spend Christmas Eve afternoon at the beach with friends, because why not! When else are we going to be at the beach on Christmas Eve except when living in Florida! It was a beautiful day perfect day at the beach!

Tanner hanging out with his toe. He wasn't able to do much but hang on the chair! Hayden had fun playing in the sand, and Mason brought his bike and rode along the boardwalk.

Couldn't leave with out getting ice cream, and Hayden insisted on having his own. Gone are the days that we can just share with him. Nope he wants his very own!

All the mommas and their babies!

Amie and Kelsi, Katie and Sophia, Joselyn and Everette, Me and Hayden, and Mckenzie and Quinn

Later that night we went home and had our traditional Christmas Eve dinner. I try to do all the yummy things Grandma Gwen does. Soup, bean dip, veggie tray, cheese ball, and of course Christmas Eve Slush!

While we were getting things ready for dinner we were all in the kitchen and someone runs by the window just above the sink where I was. They yelled something and run off. We all thought that was odd, then I noticed something in the window seal. Drew goes out and it was a bag of guess what... yep the gold coin! We were shocked! This is the 11th year we have received it. No matter where we are these gold coins seem to find us! Such a blessing!

After dinner we did the Nativity

 My cute Sheppard, Wise Man, and Joseph!

 Yes that is a teddy bear as Jesus. No dolls around this place!

 Daddy reading

After that we opened Christmas Jammies

And last we had to set out Cookies, Milk and Carrots for Santa and the reindeer, then sprinkle reindeer food on the lawn so the reindeer wouldn't miss our house!

Then it was off to bed! Everyone was so excited that it was hard to sleep, but eventually the boys all fell asleep!

Tanner's Broken Toe

Two days before Christmas, Tanner broke his toe. It was Sunday morning and he had put the corn baby in the microwave to heat it up. When it was done he went to take it out of the microwave and as he pulled it out, he pulled the glass turntable with it. We were all in the kitchen when it happened and Drew saw the glass land right on Tanners right big toe. It hit and immediately shattered all over. It took a minute of shock, then he dropped to the ground and started screaming. It was chaos. Tanner screaming, glass everywhere, me trying to get Hayden before he stepped on glass, Drew picking up Tanner to help him, blood everywhere! He was in a lot of pain and we did everything we could to make him comfortable. We immediately gave him Tylenol, but that didn't help at all. Drew called in the Pharmacy for something a little more strong, and also called his buddy who is an orthopedic resident to see what he though we should do. We finally decided that we should take him in and have it looked at. He ended up having two small fractures. They gave him a boot (which was 10 times to big) and sent him on his way. The first few days were a little rough. He wouldn't walk on it at all (or even stand up) so he just hung out on the couch and yelled when he need something. This got old really fast! By Christmas Day he realized he could walk on his heel and it would be okay. A couple of weeks later and he was right back to playing soccer and back to normal. We thought the toe nail would fall off, but it never did. His nail is still black and blue, but other then that he is totally fine.

Christmas Happenings

We had a lot of fun things going on in December that kept us busy busy busy! At the beginning of the month our friends invited us down to their house to watch the boat parade. They live right on the water and have the best spot to watch the parade. It was fun to see all the boats decked out in Christmas lights. It was a really fun night!

Can you see the guy being shot up in the air? So cool.

We also had some fun Parties...

Tanners Preschool party

And The Rhodes threw an Ugly Sweater Christmas Party

Mason insisted on coming dressed as Santa

 Then the Big Man made an appearance at the party, the kids were thrilled!

We did a white elephant exchange and I came up with this gift (that Drew had no idea about). A signed football picture of Drew back in the day. The Rhodes ended up with it and it immediately was placed on their shelf next to other family photos! (And it still remains there!)

Had to get one photo of us in our ugly sweaters. I feel like we look like a totally disfunctional family here! We have a lot going on... ugly sweaters, want-to-be Santa costume, reindeer antlers, some sort of armor... you know just the usual!

And last, we have Mason and Tanner sleeping under the Christmas Tree, a tradition they love!