Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve

We started out with a candlelit dinner. Gary's Mom and Dad sent us this lovely centerpiece made from real flowers. We had a special made pasta dish, rolls, and salad it was so good!

Papa Rey joined us for Christmas this year, it was nice because we never have spent a Christmas with him before.

We had our traditional Jammie opening,

and a Jammie fashion show!

Jonah had snowboard monkeys,

Violet looked lovely in her cupcake jams,

and Ryker looked so handsome in his penguin, snowman, and polar bears

Gary wowed us with his flannels....

Papa Rey offered to take some family photos of us. Just overlook Violet's vacant stare and Jonah's sideways glance. Pictures with toddlers are the best! I know one day this photo might come in handy for a good chuckle. Gosh I love their rosy cheeked jammie combination though!

We grabbed some candy canes for dessert and made the trip over to Layton parks lights, fun as always!

Lastly, we made up our santa plate, an orange, reindeer food, and a sugar cookie!

We read a story about Jesus birth and The Night Before Christmas. I love how excited my kids get, it was so easy to put them to bed. They wanted to go to sleep right away so they could see what Santa had brought in the morning!

Gingerbread House Making & A New Tradition

It has become an Abadian tradition to put together a gingerbread house around Christmastime. The kids get so excited to decorate their home with goodies, treats, and frosting. I actually really love this activity also. Our Ginger men got eaten within the first week and bits and pieces of the house keep magically disappearing as the days go by. It's a delicious way to have fun and be creative!

Aren't these cousins  Ava and Ryker adorable? I especially love Ryker's crossed eyes. They had so much fun dressing up as Santa at Grandma Andi's house. 

We started another new tradition this year with our cousins on Gary's side of the family, where we have the kids act out the nativity. I wish I would have gotten pictures but I  was helping the kids. They all did so amazing and it really brought in the true spirit of Christmas into our hearts and minds, plus the kids loved acting it out. Ryker was a shepherd, Violet was a wise man, and Jonah was our run away shepherd. I am looking forward to this new tradition for Christmases to come!

Recitals and Class Parties

This year it was so fun to see my kids performing in their recitals!

Ryker has just started piano, he is learning a lot of new songs. For his Christmas recital he chose to learn rudolph the red nosed reindeer. He practiced so hard and I was so proud of him for getting up in front of all of those people to play his songs. Great first recital Rykes!

 My little pianist.

 Violet has been dancing since the beginning of the school year. They danced to the jingle bell rock and they all looked so adorable, such a sweet group of girls. Violet loved her jingle bell skirt.

 All of the dancers!

 Vi and her besties Claire and Hannah.

 Christmas Class Parties

Violet's class party included making a hat, treat, and ornament. There were also games and storytelling. These cute kids had a great time!

I also got to go to Ryker's class party this year. It was my birthday so all of his class sang happy birthday to me, it was so sweet! I was the storyteller, we read the shoemaker and the elves, and the twelve days of christmas, it was so much fun!

Santa's Lap.

Platinum blonde santa

This Santa was at the Air National Guard for Gary's work Christmas party. Ryker laughed a little when he saw him, Violet hid under the table, and Jonah was reluctant to get too close.

 I love all the hands here trying to help Jonah transition from afraid of santa to Santa's not so bad.

There's a high five

a  hand holding a candycane

and Gary's hand holding.

 It didn't work as you can see in the blurry photo below.

 Family party Santa

He was a little better, a little rounder, and older. Plus he brought presents!!

Ryker asked for a Bow and Arrow & a pocket knife this year.

 Violet got coaxed to the lap by this Santa
(presents and candy canes help.)

She asked for a toy puppy.

 Jonah actually sat on this Santa's lap too! He latched on to that present like there was no tomorrow.

Second times a charm

Lesson learned: Take the kids to see the creepy santa first.



Violet's 4th Birthday Party!

My dear sweet Violet had a birthday. This year at her request, we had a friend party. She was so very excited. We decorated with Hello Kitty and made strawberry cupcakes for all of our guests.

 I love her expression, she is such a sweets lover like her Mom, she didn't want to have to wait until the party for a taste. This is the cutest pouty face ever!

 Grandma Jen and Auntie Summer came to help entertain our guests. We played pin the nose on hello Kitty, pass the puppy, bouncy house, and freeze dance.

 Here's the birthday girl! Oh yes, and she reffered to herself as the birthday girl the whole night long. "Im the birthday girl", she would say.

 Cute girls!

 Handsome boys!

 Vi got lots of good gifts from friends! Lucky lady.

It was a pretty great party!!!
Violet you have been such a light in our lives, you are so bright and happy. We are very thankful for you and the sweet spirit you are. Happy 4th Birthday sweets, Mom and Dad love you so much!

Violet the photographer

My little lady has developed a love for taking pictures. Every once in a while she will snap a few shots with my camera. These make me laugh.

Her cute foot

 Our christmas tree

 The back of my head, only after she combed my hair of course.

 My cereal bowl

  My personal favorite her belly and her cute liitle face.

Christmas Happenings

Here is some of what we have been up to this holiday season:

Temple lights, spectacular as always.

The Kaysville Christmas Parade, I love this especially the Grinch.

And Christopher Pop-in-kins our delightful Christmas Elf whom hides in a new place every night.

Isn't this picture absolutely amazing? Temple square is breathtakingly beautiful. I hope my children will always have fond memories of visiting and walking these grounds at Christmastime with family.

 Gorgeous.....

 The Kaysville Christmas Parade.

Kaysville will always have a special place in my heart even though I am a Syracuse citizen now.

I especially love this parade which includes, Santa, hot chocolate, live Christmas music, the Grinch, and

candy canes. Here is my cute fam all bundled up for some holiday fun!

 Big blow up Santa was awesome, he got caught on a telephone wire, It was pretty funny.

 Santa passing out candy canes.

 Gotta love Ryker giving Stan Bird a high five.

 Lots of Santas here

 My cute girl in the car after the parade.

 Christopher Pop-in-kins

This is our first year with our elf. I look forward to many more years of adventures with this guy. He is so adorable and he brings so many smiles to my kiddos. The best part is when they are well behaved he might even drop them a prize or two before Christmas.

 Ryker and Violet were behaving very well, they were doing all of their chores and not teasing one another so Christopher brought them one of his favorite Christmas stories.

They loved it and I love him for encouraging extra good behavior.

Thanks Christopher pop-in-kins!