Things that happened...post 7! (the last)

We had a family christmas party on Brian's side of the family the Sunday after christmas.
It was fun, and as usual, the kids were SPOILED with MORE gifts!
Aunt Shannon got them flashlights...which turned out to be the BEST.GIFT.EVER!

Apparently Brison uses his like a gun..

Brooklyn will ask for a flashlight almost everyday at home.

I don't see ANYTHING wrong with this picture...do you?

Maybe this is why she doesn't have good eye sight?

Cousin KC was there....along with Uncle Kelly, Aunt Roxanne and cousin Sheridan.

My kids ABSOLUTELY adore them!

Especially when they get to ride on shoulders!

Things that happened....post 6!

Since we were out of town the Sunday before Christmas...

I had to wait until the Sunday AFTER Christmas to take their Christmas outfit pictures.

Don't they look CUTE!

I love it when Brian will stand behind me and make them laugh....

Because he wasn't doing that for Brooklyn's picture.

But he was for Brison's....

Can you tell the difference?

I also wanted to post some pictures of my Christmas tree...

I LOVE my tree and am really happy when I get it all decorated.

The Santa in the top right hand corner is my FAVORITE.

I got it from my Great Uncle Stan when I got married.

He is a widdler...and he carved this out of wood for me!

I remember every summer at the family reunions,

he would try to teach all of us grandkids how to widdle.

It would always end up that we would just destroy a piece of wood,

but it was fun none the less!

and YES

if those of you who know me are noticing a little RED in my tree.

It is true.

HOWEVER...

this holiday season, I did find out that my boss, Susan

who is a HUGE Utah fan

has a BLUE tree.

So, I guess it's ok!

Things that happened...post 5!

Christmas Day!

The kids had fun opening their presents this year.

AND, this year I decided to simplify.

We did only 3 Santa gifts.

And that's the way it's going to stay.

Mom and Dad got them some clothes and stocking stuffers.

It was a really nice morning.

Brison and his stocking stuffer motorcycle.

Brooklyn and her new dresses....she had this look after EVERY present she opened!

AND she would exclaim...."It's just what I ALWAYS wanted!!!"

Brian BEYOND excited for the new Wii fit!

Then it was off to Mom and Dad's for breakfast.

Then it was home to get dressed and ready for the day...

and play with some toys.

Then it was back to mom and dad's for the Travis family gathering.

Then it was quickly to Brian's parents for Christmas evening.

Brison got a new BYU hat...

He was a little ornery, to say the least.

He was a little sleep deprived.

And NOT as excited to get his stuff as the givers thought he would be!

So SAD!

Brooklyn and her princess toys.

Her Aunt Shannon spoils her, and her cousin Mariah!

Showing off new gifts!

It was a really hectic, really fun day.

Every Christmas is....

I wonder when we can simplify that?

Things that happened....post 4!

Christmas Eve.

We always spend Christmas Eve and my mom and dad's.

When I was growing up...I remember Christmas Eve and my Grandma Steiner's house.

ALL the cousins would be there....

and when I say ALL the cousins, I mean it...there was probably 70 of them.

There would be no room to sit on the floor...and my Uncle Randy would usually be in the bedroom

asleep on the bed with all the coats.

anywhooo...back to NOW.

We have Prime Rib dinner

and then do a short...but hopefully getting longer as the kids get older

Nativity reading.

It usually consists of dad reading from the scriptures and the parents

taking a TON of pictures and the kids giggling at their outfits...

but hey, whatever works..right?

This year Gretchen thought it would be fun if the kids "surprised" grandma and grandpa

with a song...so they learned "Picture a Christmas"

and it was REALLY cute!

Brison even got up there and sang...usually the last word of the sentence..

but hey, he knew some of it so that's good...right?

Even on this very, VERY busy night...we had a special visitor.

It was really fun this year because it happened to be somebody who

knew the family REALLY well.

He even got a little smack on the cheek from Brian.

(no pictures folks, I was behind the video camera!)

Brooklyn and Brison were not scared at all....

All the kids were singing...well, at least those without the candy canes in their mouth!

Aunt Alli decided it would be fun for the kids to decorate sugar cookies for santa to eat that night.

I think she has decided to do this every year.

Let's just hope she can relax a little and realize that the kids are

GOING TO EAT THE FROSTING.

There's no getting around that with kids!

The honorary Christmas Eve p.j.'s!

It wouldn't be Christmas Eve without them!