Christmas Day!

We figured these kids would be up before the sun to open presents after seeing how excited they were on Christmas Eve. I finally had to wake everyone up at 7:30am to get the day started....after I had already been up for an hour and a half waiting for everyone else to wake up. 

Everyone gathered on Mommy and Daddy's bed. We always read the Christmas story from 3rd Nephi on Christmas morning and have family prayer before heading downstairs. 

 I took Gwen down first and showed her what Santa had left for her. She was pretty impressed!

 Adam and Tessa were not expecting bikes, so they were very surprised to see that Santa had brought them new bikes and helmets. Santa's silly elves forgot Tessa's peddles though. Santa told Mommy and Daddy to take the bike to Target. It is closer than the North Pole.

 They unloaded their stockings and were thrilled to find fruit snacks and spaghetti-o's. 

 Santa brought Tessa some nail polish that she loved and Adam got some new headbands and wristbands!

 They were excited to see that Santa got his treats. 

 There were 2 new BIG presents for Adam and Tessa that they didn't know about. Tessa was thrilled to get her very own trampoline and Adam was ecstatic to get a basketball hoop!!!

 Gwen did a good job opening her presents. She liked the paper! She got some new books, a Winnie the Pooh movie, a toy phone, and some blocks. 

 It cracked us up that Adam and Tessa wore their helmets all during present opening. Tessa was happy that her helmet had a crown on it!

Tessa got a new purse, some jewelry, the movie Brave, and what she had been hoping for...her Easy Bake Oven!

 Adam got a new basketball, a new folder for his playing card collection, some star wars legos, and a movie about BYU basketball.

 Mommy got spoiled this year! Eric surprised me with a bike, new pots and pans, some scrapbooking supplies, and a gift card for some new clothes (with strict instructions that it is to be used on me and not him or the kids). He knows me well.

 Eric got the new Batman movie, tickets to see the Di Vinci exhibit at the Leonardo in Salt Lake City, and a bike rack for the car. 

 We spent most of the afternoon and evening at Ma and Pa's house. The kids were anxious to open their presents as soon as we got there. 

 Gwen got more books, a puzzle, and a doll. 

She was not happy that I took her puzzle away so she could open more presents. 

 She loved her doll and gave it lots of kisses!

 It was a long and overwhelming day for Baby Gwen. She was about 2 hours past her nap time at this point.

 Tessa got some fun things! Ma and Pa surprised her with a new purse full of lotion and other fun things, a real camera (so she will stop taking pictures with Pa's nice camera), and a beautiful tea set.

 Adam got a new race track, Battleship (his new favorite game), and 3 new hats! 

 We were so excited to talk to Uncle David on Christmas, but it was even more exciting this year because we got to Skype with him for 2 hours!!! It was wonderful to see him! He is doing so well and is so, so happy!

 We all gathered around the computer for the 2 hours to talk to him. We even got to meet a family he had just baptized. They told Tessa she was so beautiful. David said whenever he shows people pictures of our family, they gush over how beautiful Tessa is. 

 6 more e months until he is home!!! I can't wait. We get to Skype again on Mother's Day too!

 While we talked to David, Tessa rubbed Ares down with her new lotion and they had a tea party. 

 After a long day for us, Mamma, Bampa, Lisa, Gordon, Ryan, and Alex were nice enough to come to our house for some final gift giving. 

 Tessa was thrilled to get some kits for her Easy Bake Oven.

 Adam got the game Headbanz-which we have already played and love!

 Aunt Lisa and Tessa helped Gwen open her present. A cute baby doll that Gwen LOVES!!

 Mamma and Bampa opened some presents from us. 

 Daddy got some movie tickets and Mommy got scrapbooking supplies.

It was a full and fun day and we were thankful once again to be able to spend it with family. It was wonderful to feel the magic of Christmas as we watched the kids have some of their wishes come true, and it was so good to see David and be reminded of the importance of the Gospel and missionary work. 

We are also so thankful for amazing friends who blessed our family this Christmas in more ways than they will ever know! It is easy to focus on the bad or frustrating things that happen in our lives, but we are thankful for the holiday season and the chance we have to take a step back and remember how truly blessed we are. We have the gospel, and eternal family, healthy and happy kids and wonderful family and friends. It really doesn't get much better than that!

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas Eve

We had a fun and  festive Christmas Eve. Before heading to Ma and Pa's house, we stopped by Mamma and Bampa's house for a visit. We were glad to see aunts, uncles, and cousins while we were there.

 We have been excited for Gwen to experience her first Christmas. She loved her Christmas Eve dinner! Especially the mashed potatoes!

 Adam, Ares, and Tessa

 Showing off his olive fingers.

 Tessa's dinner consisted of rolls and mashed potatoes.

 After about 16 years of not acting out the Christmas Story, my Mom decided it was time for the grand kids to start acting it out. She eventually made my siblings and I stop because of our irreverence. It always turned into a huge giggle fest. I'm not sure the grand kids doing it was any better. But they sure looked cute!

 Gwennie was our Angel

 Adam was our Joseph

 Tessa was our Mary-and yes, that would be Perry the Platypus as the Baby Jesus. 

 We really wanted Gwen to yell, "Shazam!". 

 Aunt Katy was the donkey (with reindeer antlers). 

 Pa read the Christmas Story and the kids "acted" out their parts. Tessa took her role as Mary very seriously. She decided to use Gwen's booster chair as the manger. 

 Then, Mary and Perry made off with the gifts from the Wise Men.

 Pa always reads the Polar Express to us and shakes a bell to see if we still believe. 

 Ever second he could, Adam was checking on Santa's progress. 

 The weather and roads were pretty nasty, so we were thankful to get home safely later that night. The kids were quick to get into their jammies and got Santa's cookies and milk ready for him. Gwen fell asleep on the way home, so she missed out on some of our fun.

 In keeping with Nielson tradition, we got to open a book on Christmas Eve. 

 Tessa got a new Pinkalicious book and Adam got the first book in the Magic Treehouse series.  They wasted no time reading their new books. 

 Daddy got a new Glen Beck book and Mommy got a funny book on motherhood. 

Adam and Tessa went right to bed, but had a hard time falling asleep because they were so excited for Santa to come! 

Finishing First Nephi

After weeks and weeks of reading, we finally finished 1st Nephi!! Now we get to go ice skating to celebrate.

Christmas Countdown

Christmas is practically here and the excitement at our house is growing daily! We had a few more countdown activities this week. Here is a quick look at what we have been doing.

Day 18-Christmas Tree Pictures
We made some crafty Chrismas trees out of different paper (not pictured).
Day 19-Decorate Cookies

 Wednesday we spent the day doing our holiday baking. Adam and Tessa were my frosting helpers.

 We made lots of yummy things this year!
Thursday-Day 20

Secret Santa! We had fun delivering our goodies to some family, friends, and Primary teachers. 

 Santa Adam and Elf Tessa

Day 21-Reindeer Pankcakes

We made reindeer pancakes for a fun breakfast on Friday morning. 

 Since Friday was a big day to be alive, we decided to celebrate the fact that we survived the Mayan Apocalypse. 

 We had a pizza party and watched "Muppet's Christmas Carol".

My apocalypse party consisted of doing laundry....does it get more exciting than that?

 The kids finished off their night with our favorite Christmas treat-hot chocolate with a scoop of peppermint ice cream!

Day 22-Nielson Family Christmas Party

 We spent Saturday afternoon up at Spring Haven with the Nielson clan. One of my favorite times of the year! I love Eric's crazy uncles!

 Adam and Tessa had tons of fun playing with many cousins. 

 Ellie and Adam

 Gwen took about 3 hours to warm up to being there. She was not a fan of having so many men around her. For some reason, the only man she doesn't burst into tears with is Eric. If any other guy tries to touch her or even say hi to her (grandpa's and uncles included-men she sees all the time), she bursts into tears. Eric is hoping not liking to be around guys lasts about 18 more years!

 All of the children performed for us. From our Nielson family, Ellie and Roxy played their violins and all the cousins sang, " I'm Trying To Be Like Jesus".

 Zeke, Ellie, Tessa, Adam, and Roxy

 Then all of the little cousins sang Jingle Bells and Silent Night. 

So many fun memories from our December. I have to admit that I think I am as excited as the kids for Christmas to get here. Adam is like me and cries when he is happy. I have a feeling we are going to see a few tears from him on Christmas morning and hear lots of excited screaming coming from Tessa! I can't wait!