Lucy’s Birthday Party

I am totally going to revise this post and make it better but I couldn’t wait to post the pics from Lucy’s birthday….their is more to come. 

Christmas Day 2009

We are so lucky that our kids don’t wake up at 5 am on Christmas morning.  In fact we usually have to wake them up at about 7am.  We quickly got a picture of the present pile Santa left before we let the kids tear into it.  We always make the kids take turns opening things so we can see their reactions for every present.  They decided to open Grandma Buffalo’s presents and they loved them!  My favorite is Lucy’s doll, which my talented Mom makes for each of the kids when they are a baby.  She makes it to look like them and the kids love them.   The kids had a blast playing with each others toys.  After the madness was over we got ready and went to see the new Chipmunks movie- the Squeakquel.  Then we went for dinner at a chinease buffet.  It was a great Christmas. 

Christmas Eve

This year for Christmas Eve Grandma Judy and Grandpa Ron decided to have a buffet dinner at their house.  Who doesn’t love a buffet…………especially one cooked by Judy.  She’s the best.  We decided that it would be a “nice dress” night.  Translation – we would not let the kids pick out their own clothes.  Before we left the house I decided this was the only opportunity I would get to get the kids picture in their Christmas clothes in front of our fireplace.  I knew in the morning the house (and the kids) would be in utter chaos.  I sat all my beautiful babies in front of the fireplace and tried to get the perfect picture.  It always amazes me how cute my kids are in person but how incredibly hard it is to get a picture of all of them looking their best.  Poor Wes always does this way cheesy smile that looks like he’s growling, Lucy is disinterested and James is usually throwing a fit or looking really aggravated.  The last one is the best one I got this year.   At least I’ll remember my kids personalities with every picture I take. 

The buffet was awesome and we reenacted the Christmas story.  From the bible not the red rider bb gun one.  It was precious and may be one of my favorite holiday traditions.  Of course I have n pictures of it.  Maybe I’ll steal some off Mel’s blog. 

We came home early and unwrapped christmas pj’s.  Weston got some Christmas bakugan ones, James got “cowboy” (aka woody) pjs, and Lucy (of course) got christmas Disney princess pj’s…..shocker I know.  The ones Taylor and I got for each other didn’t fit either one of us so we put on some old ones and decided we will purchase our own christmas pjs from here on out.  The kids excitedly out out christmas cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer and hopped into bed.  As we were putting Weston to bed he said that he was so excited for the Prep and Landing elves to come and scan him to make sure he was asleep.  If you don’t know what I am talking about watch Prep and Landing on ABC family and you will understand.  It was a great Christmas Eve and Taylor and I fell exhausted into bed.

Hot Air Balloons

I love that in AZ at sunrise and sunset there are always about 6 hot air balloons in the sky. The kiddos love to find them and point them out. James screams "ot aiyah bayoon!" The best is when they are flying at night and you can see them glowing in the sky. It is so cool. One time James and I followed one that was descending near our house and watched it land. Tonight we were driving to a birthday party and saw 7 balloons all on the ground getting inflated. They were taking off one by one and the boys loved it. When there we two left that weren't totally inflated Wes was baffled. He asked me why they weren't going up in the air. He asked if they were already done flying an I said I didn't think so. He thought about this awhile and told me that he's pretty sure they hit a cactus and flew all over the place (like when you blow up a balloon and let it go) and then landed. I think he is probably right.

Christmas Crafts and Cookies

Christmas cookies are always interesting in our house.  There are more sprinkles on the floor and in the kids bellies than on the cookies, they turn out very creative, and they are gone with in 3 days of decorating them.  It is totally worth all the mess and sugar rushes to have these precious memories as a family.  We also made these cute little snowmen this year to complete the holiday creativity.  They all turned out cute.

The kids Christmas Presentations

I remember as a child having our Christmas plays and I remember being so excited to get up and perform.  I also remember how my parents never missed a show.  I never realized how long a show can be when your child is only in it for 5 minutes.  The show was very good, but really I just cared about seeing Weston and his class perform and seeing my nieces and nephews perform and I was ready to go after that.   It was a rough few hours with James and Lucy but Weston and the cousins did not disappoint.   They were all adorable.  When Wes got up with his class to sing a teacher noticed that his shirt had come untucked and ran up to tuck him in in front of everyone!  Poor kid.  I was all mama bear about it (shocker I know) but Wes was unphased.  Weston’s class sang a song about Santa’s reindeer and all the kids had antlers on.  One little cutie Jack was dressed up as Santa and was so funny!  I love this pic I took of him before they went on.  I think this is the first of many performances we will see Westers in.  Good job Dude!  Mel and I were most definitely the annoying parents that took to many pictures and embarrassed the kids.  We were given strict instructions not to wave to the kids but I kept doing it accidently.  I couldn’t help myself.

James had a way cute presentation at his preschool that was adorable.  The best part about it was that Jameson actually participated and sang.  James my be stubborn but he is the cutest little thing ever.  He rang his jingle bells and sang with all his might.  His darling teacher (my friend Jess) had gingerbread houses for them to decorate. (note – about 30 seconds after I took a picture of him with his house it collapsed.)  Next she had planned a Christmas party at the park with a scavenger hunt and yummy food.  Great job kids!

Polar Express

Are you sick about hearing about holiday traditions?  Another one we have is taking the kids on the Polar Express train ride.  We have been going since Weston was 3 and have gone in Utah and in AZ.  AZ is way, way better.   On December 9th we packed up and drove about hour north to Williams to go to the Grand Canyon Railways Polar Express watching Polar Express the whole drive. Mom and Ron came with us this year which was so fun!    You are supposed to go in your PJ’s and we had gotten the kids all coordinating PJ’s for the occasion.  James got to wear his “Lightning McQueen dress” aka Lightning McQueen robe and was thrilled.   As we drove up we began to see tons of snow and the kids were so excited.  They haven’t really seen snow since Utah because last year I had just had Lucy and we didn’t make it up North.  We met up with our buddies the Beazer's and waited for the train to pull in the station.  When the conductor announces that the Polar Express is pulling into the station I can only describe the look on my kids faces to the look they got the first time they went to Disney World.  It is absolute joy.   We were freezing and glad to get on the train.  The ride starts off and the car attendants/chefs read the kids the Polar Express book and serve hot chocolate and cookies.  Once everyone is warm the kids all rush to the window to see our arrival at the North Pole.  Out of the woods emerges a little town of lights and in the center in a huge sleigh with real elves loading him up is SANTA!  It is so magical the way they do it and I myself get chills watching the kids experience it.   Santa disappears and the train heads home.  They had the whole car sing Christmas carols and Weston volunteered to go up to the front of the train with a microphone and sing a solo.  My fearless little performer led the group in “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” and sang it perfectly!  Everyone was complimenting us on how good he was.  I was so proud of him.  Next, Mr.. Conductor came through to give each person a gold ticket.  Again, these people are like on the same level as Mickey Mouse four our kids.  Finally Santa burst through the doors and gave each person a bell to remind them to believe in the magic of Christmas.  The kids were over the moon and were ringing their bells all night. 

After we had gotten off the train Wes really wanted to play in the snow.  I warned him how cold it was and how he was in PJ’s but he really wanted to make a snow angel so I let him.  He was loving it until about 10 seconds after he had layed down in the snow he screamed.  I mean really screamed.  He seriously thought he was dying and kept screaming that he didn’t want to turn into an icicle.  I think he got that idea from The Santa Clause 3.  We got him warm and in the car and we headed home—to beautiful 70 degree weather.