Christmas

On Christmas the boys woke up to a tool and engine workshop that Santa had left out all built and ready for them to play with

They had fun exploring how to make the engine work and use all the tools while all the adults had time to wake up (:

tons of presents

we had fun opening them

Grammy Bunny, cousin Brian, Aunt Linda, and Great Grandma Sue

Corey with help from Jackson, Donovan, and Isabella

and playing with them too

Papa Bob with his new Cal Bears "the play" tie, and his new drill

Isabella in her baby's first Christmas hat and onesie

Christmas Eve

We got to spend the holiday at Aunt Linda and Uncle Rockys house in Sacramento this year.

On Christmas Eve the boys got to open Bella's gift, a new activity center



Jack helping Mommy put it together

Van helped Papa Bob while Daddy and Isabella caught a nap in the recliner

The boys also got to open their present of new pajamas to wear to bed

And also the present that they got for each other




Corey decided to take them out separately to get presents for each other, the boys loved it! Here they are with the ones they picked out

Corey opened the present that my Mom found for him. It is a reindeer that rocks and sings "Grandma got run over by a reindeer". Corey and the boys loved it!

Then finally it was time to get in their new pajamas and set out cookies and milk for Santa

They were a little concerned that Santa couldn't get through Aunt Linda and Uncle Rockys fireplace.......

So they opened the door!

Getting ready for Christmas

Here are some pictures from before Christmas when Aunt Stacey and Uncle Tim were here.

Here are Grammy Bunny and the boys making a gingerbread house

Aunt Stacey and Van

Uncle Tim with Bella and Van

Jessie making cookies

Gorgeous Isabella

Christmas crafts

Since Isabella has been born it has been an adjustment trying to figure out how to give each kid enough attention. I realized that the boys really needed a project to do with Mom! So on Monday we started with a trip to Michaels for craft supplies. I usually dread going to the store with 3 kids, but they were sooooo good! ( mainly I think because they each got their own pair of kid scissors, which apparently is very exciting when you are 3 and 4!) We got construction paper, glitter, buttons, glittery pipe cleaners, mini flower pots, styrafoam balls, felt, jewelry beads and bells!

So this morning it was time to do the craft! I got out all the supplies and thought to myself, "you are crazy! what were you thinking trying to do this with 2 little boys while you're 4 month old is sleeping!" But I had promised them snowmen, and snowmen we would make! We had tons of fun picking out all the different beads and colors, and getting messy. This ofcourse took all day because there were frequent stops to take care of Bella, but it was worth it our snowmen look great!

Mommy's snowman

Donovan's snowwoman ( he wanted his to be a girl) named Dennis LOL ( sorry Uncle Dennis)

Jacks snowman named Harry

We also made reindeer. The boys cut out the body and head, and I traced their hands and cut them out for ears.

Jackson's is on the left, and Donovan's is on the right

the ELF on the SHELF

Grammy Bunny got the boys a wonderful new book a few weeks ago. It is called

It comes with your own Elf, and tells a story about how your elf sits in your house and watches you every day, and at night he flys to the north pole and tells Santa all about you.

There is a website ELF ON THE SHELF where you can register your Elf's name. My kids chose Elfie, which is apparently #2 on the list. Here are the rest

Top 20 Most Popular Elf Names
1. Buddy2. Elfie3. Jingle4. Jack5. Fred6. Charlie7. Jingles8. Max9. Clyde10. Elvis
11. Sam12. Jolly13. Twinkle14. Rudy15. Nick16. Eddie17. Frisbee18. Bernard19. Fisbee20. Hermie

There is also a place with fun activites to print out for the kids

So if you love to read to your kids, this is a wonderful holiday book, and site!