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Break Time

During Christmas clean up, the kids took a few breaks to try out a favorite present — the Bumpers!

So far, we haven’t had injuries.

But it’s only been two days!

Christmas is always great — but I’ll admit that this year it was a little different. This year, Christmas fell on a Sunday, which is cool because you get to really celebrate the real-deal Christmas on the actual day. But because of church, everything got pushed back a bit. And on top of that, we usually celebrate the Denison’s Christmas on the 24th, which is awesome. But this year it didn’t work out, so we went over to the Denisons for a few hours too. That being said, it was different, but it was still awesome!

The kids woke up in their jammies, and were so excited to see the goods that Santa left.

They had just enough time to open their stockings before church.

Pippi was mesmerized this year — and opened everything she got out of her stocking right away.

Let’s just say that by church, she was on a major sugar high!

The kids sang a few songs during Sacrament meeting, and I had goosebumps from my nose to my toes.

Following church, we went to Grandma and Grandpa’s house, where the kids got perfect presents. Mermaid blankets for the girls (they loved them), a race track for Dash, and a drone for Scout. We spent a few hours hanging out, had some food, and the kids all played with their toys.

When we got home, the we all just sat back and relaxed, as everyone lazily opened presents.

It was a perfect pace after a long month.

Dash got “Red Thunder”!

He went straight out and rode it for 30 minutes — he was SO excited to finally have a big boy bike!

Scout got a ukulele, to support all of his singing lately.

We heard that thing being strummed off-tune, all afternoon!

I loved it.

Navy opened up a whole new wardrobe, and a sewing machine!!!

Pippi added more animals and friends to her stuffed family.

And all of the kids score on some new walkie-talkies, that kept them entertained for hours.

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I love Christmas — it is literally my favorite day of the year. And it isn’t the presents that make it for me. It is the whole family together, laughing and oohing and aahing for everyone else. I love giving treats to others, and I especially love watching my kids give gifts to others. It is a lot of work, but worth it every time!

But the second everyone finally gets to bed, after the whole day — Operation Clean-Up Christmas gets going….and it might be the most under-the-radar-fun of the season!

A big thank you to Chloe and crew for making OCUC a reality!

And an even bigger thank you to those establishments around town, who keep empty dumpsters waiting for us.

Christmas Eve ‘16

I love Christmas Eve. I love the hustle and bustle that precedes it, and I love the chaos that follows my spiritual message. This year, I passed up the starfish story and the X-Mas story for “Footprints”. It was a hit! Afterwards, we did the family present exchange, which included everyone this year.

All of my kids scored rad presents, and loved giving their gifts even more than getting anything.

My dad had me, and wrapped in his classic way!

So I returned the favor, because I had him!

His season tickets to BYU volleyball games were a nice surprise — out of this UPS envelope they came in!

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My favorite part of the night, was when I got to give the PJ’s to the family.

I was so excited about them.

I figured that since my kids almost always end up in one of Daddy’s T-shirts, why not create a family T shirt for their PJ’s.

So I included camping, fishing, CTRing, saving, Chinese, traveling, water sports, piano, shells, hammocking, a picture of each of us doing something we love, a home with Nonnie’s big heart, and even a little baby’s footprint for our little Skip-Doc.

Sweet Dreams…

Then the boys headed for milkshakes, and the girls and I created this masterpiece.

Santa was really sneaky, but luckily we snapped a photo of him to show the kids in the morning.

This year, we named the tree appropriately.

And Megan did not disappoint with the stocking stuffers. When she saw our stockings, she almost keeled over at how huge they were. I told her she should just stuff the whole bottom with paper, but she assured me that she had plenty to fill them. And did you notice….there is now a stocking for Blush!

Meegs — you are insane!

Two Greats

What a scene - one of the mini greats sits in one of the greatest great’s lap.

Lucky her.

Hansen Pyramid

You have to love, the kids who love your kids.

That is why I love the Hansens — every single one of them.

Kid’s White Elephant

Britni dreamt up a kid’s white elephant gift exchange.

I was obviously game, and it ended up being a blast.

Navy was a great sport about the whole thing!

Royal was not. When he saw that Scout gave his Pikachu stuffed animal as a white elephant gift, he didn’t quite get it, and was totally bummed and bugged. It was actually hilarious, and when Britni was getting so mad at his reaction, it even got funnier! Leave it to my family to bring tears to a party.

And if Royal hadn’t provided them, we can always count on Pippi to bring them!

Even though there were a few misses, it was a night full of mostly wins.

Second annual…next year!

Pirate Tooth

A few weeks ago, I remember Pippi coming inside in tears. Apparently, she had hurt her mouth, and there was a little blood to confirm. I didn’t think about again, until she shrieked back when biting into an apple earlier this week. I thought, “She must still have a sore tooth from that bonk”. And now…