A peaceful Christmas

We stayed home again this year for Christmas. Actually, there has only been one year since Cooper was born that we haven't stayed home for Christmas. Randall and I have decided that we much prefer to stay home and relax with our children and start our own holiday traditions. We look forward to spending the day at home and enjoying a day together as a family. Here was our day in a nutshell:
8:00 am The kids woke up (Yes, it was absolutely beautiful to sleep in a little bit)
We had family prayer and sang "Happy Birthday to Jesus"
After Randall pushed the record button on the video camera, we all went out into the living room to see what Santa brought
The kids played with their new toys from Santa and got to open one gift from under the tree (Randall couldn't wait to give them the belts he had made)
9:45 am A Christmas Breakfast of crepes with fresh strawberries and cream
10:15 am Open presents from under the tree
Cooper had made a little gift for Randall and I at preschool, and he insisted that we open them before anyone else opened any presents. It was so cute! He made gingerbread ornaments. Mine was a star complete with glitter. Randall's was a gingerbread man.
After opening presents the boys played with their new stuff while Lainee took a nap.
2:00 pm Christmas dinner (Ham, mashed potatoes, green salad, Fruit salad, and homemade peppermint candy cane oreos for dessert)


The kids received a play pop-up tent and tunnel from Santa Claus. It has been a real hit!


Cooper received an explorer kit, and this little instrument came with it. He calls it his "pocket knife."


Now that Lainee is crawling, we've had to re-baby-proof a few things. Luckily, we have the perfect learning stairs (there are only 2). Lainee was sitting at the top and decided to lay down; she thinks it is funny to hang upside down.

Christmas spoils

Randall worked really hard on some personalized home-made gifts this year. He made a new leather belt for both Cooper and Carson, complete with their initials; some hair clips for Lainee; and a beautiful hair accessory for me. I am quite impressed by his handiwork. The boys LOVE their new belts and are excited to show anyone and everyone who will take the time to look.

Thank you honey for the very thoughtful gifts! You're the best!!!

Dr. Lainee

Lainee was playing with Cooper's play stethoscope the other night before bedtime. It was such a cute photo op that I couldn't pass it up. By the way, she is also crawling now. I thought perhaps she would be a bit quicker to crawl than the boys were. Nope, she started crawling shortly after 10 months just like Cooper and Carson did. Now she is getting into everything. She really likes the Christmas tree and the presents under it. Fortunately, she goes for the bows, rather than ripping off wrapping paper.

Ward Christmas Party

This year Randall and I were asked to do the nativity for our ward Christmas party. Little did I know this would actually entail not only being the actors, but also being in charge of the entire program! It all worked out in the end...



Randall was Joseph, I was Mary, Cooper and Carson were shepherds, and Lainee was the cutest little baby Jesus you've ever seen! We enlisted a few other children in our ward to be the inn keeper, angels and wisemen, and had an older gentleman in our ward be the narrator.


Randall also sang a song and played his guitar ("Belleau Wood"). He did a wonderful job. To round out the program we had a 1st Presidency Christmas message from the Children's Friend reading, the primary children sang "Away in a Manger," and a couple girls in our ward sang "Silent Night." I think it all turned out rather nicely, if I do say so myself ;)



After the program was over, Santa Claus made a special appearance. Lainee didn't like sitting on Mrs. Claus's lap.

Cooper's School Christmas Program

Cooper had his school Christmas program last night. The preschoolers sang 2 songs: "Up on the House Top" and "Away in a Manger." They performed actions while they sang the words. It was so cute. And unlike last year, Cooper actually sang. He's been singing the songs for a month and knows all the words. He's actually become quite the singer lately, singing practically anything he hears!

Good point!?

So, Monday afternoon we were having lunch after Cooper's morning at preschool. Cooper was commenting on how they didn't get to play (free-time) very much at school that day.
Me: "Well Cooper, that's okay, because we go to school to learn new things. So somedays we get to play there and some days we don't.
Cooper: "Ya, that's a good point..."
Me: (Trying not to laugh)
Cooper: (2 minutes later) "I don't really like that point, though."

At this 'point' Randall and I busted up laughing. Where on earth does he come up with this stuff!?

Family Pictures

We took family pictures the week before Thanksgiving. It was a nasty windy day (and when I say windy, I mean WINDY- there was a carpet of tumbleweeds constantly blowing across the road!) and I was worried we'd have to cancel. But when we arrived at the park the weather was about as perfect as you could wish for a November afternoon. I guess we were in a little bubble for a few minutes- just long enough to snap some photos. And I think the pictures turned out beautifully!

Bath time

I know, I know... I shouldn't put up naked pictures of my kids. But this is just too darn cute!!!