**Christmas**

Every Christmas eve since I can remember we go to lunch and a movie with all my cousins and aunts and uncles. We still carry on this tradition, the family has grown a little... well a lot... but we still do it. This year we went to Chilis and saw Yogi Bear.

Tyler and Brad





Rob, Nick, and Brad

Randy, Elese, Dawson and Julie

After the movie Sean wanted a dang churro, so I drove to Taco Time praying they had one. Thank goodness they did too because Sean would not have been too happy, I totally forget most places closed early and we made it with a minute or 2 to spare. Right next to Taco Time is Arctic Circle and I just could not drive by without getting me an Oreo shake. (I could eat one every night and be ONE happy girl) We started our own family tradition this year (which I think almost every family does), but hey... why not, so we gave the kids some new pj's and Despicable me. I love Despicable Me, we chowed on our shakes and had a good night laughing. Before we went to bed we put out some cookies and milk for Santa and spread out some reindeer food and carrots for the reindeer. Sean was so excited, I did not think we would ever get him to sleep, but we told him Santa would not come unless he was asleep. (I am going to miss playing the Santa card, especially when the kids are being naughty)

opening his pj's




showing off his How to train your Dragon
pj's and Lightning Mcqueen slippers






Carsy's Toy Story pj's and Mickey slippers

My boys

Me and my boys

Spreading the reindeer food

Cookies and milk for Santa

Christmas morning

The boys woke up about 7:15 on Christmas morning, my parents were coming over at 7:30 so we went outside to see if the reindeer ate their food, and they did. They even pooped in our yard (Sean thought that was pretty funny). Then we went back inside to see that Santa only left a few crumbs on the plate. Sean could not wait to open presents, he stood in the hall shaking and said "I am so excited!!!" then he ran into the living room and said "wow!! there is 500 presents!!"

Showing him where to look for his

name so he knew which presents were his

Grandma and Carson

Loving his Phineas and Ferb toys

Carson showing off his opening skills

Pop and Sean

After so much fun at our house opening presents we got ready and went over to grandma Tschaggeny's for brunch. With everyone's crazy schedule I am glad the entire family was able to get together for Christmas. I love my family so much and am grateful for all of them!!

Tommy, Brad (no matching shirts for Christmas),

Lance and Sean

Grandma, Ash, and Mandy

Sean and Piper on a horse ride with Uncle Bobby

Piper, Sean and Kohen being little monkeys

on the couch

Tyler, Elese and Ashlee

Grandma showing off

her new robe

Ash and Carsy playing ball

After a fun afternoon at Granny T's we headed over to my mom's, we were able to play a game while Carson was taking a nap, (Tommy actually found a game he could win! j/k) then Grandpa Snider came over. Then we had an AWESOME turkey dinner (my mom is the BEST cook ever!!!) Then.... MORE PRESENTS!!!

Opening presents from grandma, grandpa

and grandpa great

Carson's turn

Reading his books he got

After the kids opened their presents we had yummy ice cream cake roll for desert. After that we were able to do a video chat with Matt and Chelsee. They were not able to make it this year for Christmas, but this was the next best thing. We got to see everyone open the gifts we got each other. We had such an amazing Christmas this year, we were spoiled rotten. This was the first year without grandpa Tschaggey and grandma Snider but I know they were looking down on us. I just can not tell you how blessed I am, I have a wonderful family who I love more than I can explain and I am so thankful them!!! Here's too the new year!

Oh what a night!!

Last Saturday we finally had time to decorate the gingerbread house our awesome neighbors made for us. Sean was super excited to put all the candy and frosting on.

Patiently waiting for dad to build

the house (Since he is the expert house builder)

Putting the shingles on the roof

Me and Carson helping... (eating that is)

Sean is trying to see how many gum drops

he can stack before they fall over

Sean wanted a "S" and "C" on it

for Sean and Carson

Sean's little snowman on a sled that

he made all by himself

After our mad decorating skills we got ready to go to my grandma Tschaggeny's house for our annual grandkids sleepover. Before that the whole family met at grandmas house to go to the cemetery. It was pretty cool, the entire cemetery was lit up by candle light. This is our first sleepover without grandpa, it will never be the same without him, but this was our way of having grandpa there. Miss you SOOO much Grandpa.

This year my mom and dad took Sean and Carson so they could start the tradition of having a sleepover at their grandma and grandpas house. All of my cousins kids slept at there grandparents house too. As much as I love my kids, it was so nice not having to worry about them and just enjoy some yummy food, fun games, cousins and my siblings (minus Matt and Chelsee, we missed you guys very much.) We all look forward to this tradition every year. We ate some pizza and lots of finger foods (you never starve at grandmas house) then we played some games. We started out with some Catch Phrase, then we played the name game and then we finished off with boxers or briefs. About 2:30ish we got all the air mattress blown up and started a movie. Most of us fell asleep during the movie, but some of the boys stayed up all night playing the wii. Lets just say I did not get much sleep that night, but we had lots of fun. We woke up to the yummy smells of grandma fixing breakfast. I am so lucky to have such an awesome grandma, thanks for all you do!!! I love this time of year because of all the old family traditions and new ones we start, I love my family so much!! HoPe YoU aLl HaVe A VeRy MeRrY ChRiStMaS!!!!

Mike and Tommy eating some grub

Elese and Ashlee .

Playin the name game

Think Ash think, boys against girls

at Catch Phrase

Me and Grammy T

All the girls getting ready for bed

WAIT.... now all the girls (can't forget Grandma)

The whole crew

Holiday fun

Last Saturday we went to my dads work kids Christmas party . This year it was at Clark Planetarium. We got to watch a movie on the big IMAX theatre, we saw Light Before Christmas. It was a cute show and even more important Carson sat through the whole thing. (it was only like 30 minutes and he had a big bucket of popcorn to keep him occupied, but... he did it!) After the movie we got in line to visit Santa. Sean told Santa he wanted a guitar again. After they saw Santa we went to Pipers dance recital, she did so good!!

Carson and Ashlee climbing on the moon rocks

Sean had to jump from rock to rock

Telling Santa he wants an orange guitar
Carson telling Santa he had had enough of him
Our little climber

After the dance recital we ran home for a few hours before he went to the Bowcutt Christmas party. We had a really good time. Ya can't go wrong with food, family and games!!

The kids checking out all the candy they won.

Ready to play some games!!

Monday our awesome friends The Larsen's invited us to go to Zoo lights with them and of course we said yes! (even if they never come with us when we invite them, j/k, we always call them last minute and they have had other plans :) ) Tommy was supposed to go with us but he got stuck at work. We had such a fun time seeing all the wonderful lights, reindeer and the big man himself..Santa. After that we were all hungry and we headed over to Red Robin to feed our hungry belly's. Tommy was able to join us for dinner. We are so thankful and blessed to have such wonderful friends and family to spend this holiday season with!!!

Bet ya can't guess what Sean told Santa he wants

My boys

Melissa and Kambree visiting with Santa

Santa's reindeer

Sean and Kambree

Sean, Carson and Kam

Looking at the lights