Oh... we partied!

For lunch Meme & I met Elizabeth in Northridge to spend a little time together. Elizabeth is here visiting for Christmas and it was our only chance to see her & catch up. It was really nice to sit and visit without all the chaos that bringing the kids along entails. I sure love those girls and am so grateful for their friendship.

Later this evening the Wilde's and Keil's came over to ring in the new year with us. The kids had a great time playing and running wild while the Daddy's controled the wii and the mommies and Gram chatted. It was fun and totally relaxed. And completely perfect.

Happy New Year!

In 2010 we were blessed far beyond our imaginations in many, many ways, but none greater than welcoming our sweet Naomi Jean into our family.



She makes us better.
In every way possible.

Beautiful Day Outside

Today was absolutely beautiful so we spent some time outside enjoying it!
Jacob played baseball and golf and raced around on his new Razor scooter,

Georgie rode her new princess scooter and the old egg car,

and Naomi and I just enjoyed our time together.

It was heavenly.

New Toys

While Naomi napped and the kids played with their new toys I played with mine, trying to figure it out!

Glass Slippers

Tonight as Georgie showed off her new princess dress I tried out my new gift. For Christmas I got a new lens for an old camera. Hopefully (once I figure this thing out) my pictures will look much better now!

Funny thing about those new princess shoes... my sweet princess has too big of feet for them! Too wide and too long. Apparently these are not her glass slippers...

CHRISTMAS

Although this year has been very chaotic and I've felt like Christmas celebrations have been the last thing on my list... Jacob's excitement has been wonderful! He has looked forward to this day all month. Even when my excitement has lacked he has been over-the-top excited for Christmas.

I feel like I have failed him in so many ways this Christmas with all the festivities and merriment, but we have spent some time focusing on that miracle baby born in the manger all those years ago.

And he understands THAT is why we celebrate Christmas... so even if I haven't been the most festive, we got the most important part covered.

Last night as the kids were going to bed Jacob was concerned about where our Elf on the Shelf- Phineas was going to be this morning. John reminded him that Phineas wouldn't be here because he was returning to the North Pole with Santa, so when Jake woke up this morning he was a little disappointed that Phineas wasn't around... until I reminded him that Santa had come... and to check under the tree. Then he was very excited!!

{Naomi started the gift opening by discovering her Nativity}

{didn't take her long to get into that box of new princess dresses!}

After opening gifts, a yummy breakfast, and playing with all our new toys for a couple of hours it was time to head to Papa & Grandma Cheri's to celebrate and have dinner with them. We had a delicious dinner there and Jake and Georgie came home with new scooters... they are in heaven!

It was a really nice Christmas day.
{hopefully next year I won't feel so bah-humbug about the holiday...}

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve started with a surprise visit from Heather and the boys which lead to an impromptu pizza party on the back patio for lunch. It was great visiting with them and seeing all the kids excitement about Christmas. They truly are amazing friends. We love them so much!

After the Keil's left the kids and I made Gramma's sugar cookies.

And that evening the kids found their ornaments for this year hanging on the tree. (this isn't how we traditionally give them to them, but this year everything is a little different than usual.)

Jacob's is a sun with beams and a tag that reads "Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam, 2010" in honor of him being a Sunbeam in Primary this year, Georgia Ann received a sweet little mischievous looking fairy (because it reminded me of her... and because her "big sister" ornament has somehow gone missing in the chaos that is our lives right now!), and Naomi Jean's ornament is her "Babies 1st Christmas" spoon.

After a fabulous dinner of bbq'd flank steak, potatoes, green beans, salad, and rolls it was time to open our traditional Christmas Eve gift... jammies! The kids have watched me make them over the last month (not that they took an entire month but I started them before Thanksgiving and haven't had a chance to finished them until this last week.) And, although they knew exactly what they were, they were still VERY excited when they opened them!

Then it was time for bed.

Just before I headed to bed I snuck this picture of our Christmas tree. I'm pretty sure Santa had already stopped through. I'm super excited for tomorrow morning.
Merry Christmas to all...

and to all a good night!

Temple Lights

Tonight during a small break from the pouring rain we went to see the lights at the temple. Like usual, they did not disappoint.

The kids loved being there and feeling the spirit, as well as jumping in every puddle they came across and holding the umbrella. They were pretty darn cute.

We were glad to share the evening with the Keil's too.

Schlicher Family Christmas

Well, it wasn't our traditional Schlicher Family Christmas, but we were all together celebrating the holiday and that's what matters. The crowd wasn't as big as usual. The Santa was a little creepier than usual. But the desserts were fabulous as was the company. I love this family I was born into...