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!

Adam's Polar Express Party

On Thursday, Adam had a Polar Express party at school. They had a reading train and had to fill the train cars up with books they had read in order to attend the party. Each child was supposed to read 15 books. Adam set a goal for himself to read 100 books. He reached his goal and then some, reading a total of 110 books on his own the past 2 1/2 weeks. He got to wear his pajamas to school and take his favorite pillow and stuffed animal. They watched the movie Polar Express and had doughnuts and hot chocolate. Each child received a ticket for the party and by the time he got home, Adam's ticket was water stained and bent. I asked him what happened to it, and he said he had kept it in his shoe (just like on the movie).

He was so happy he met his goal and we are so proud of him!

Gwen's First Spaghetti Dinner

Tonight Gwen ate her first spaghetti dinner. Judging by the mess she made, I would say she enjoyed it!

 She polished it off pretty quickly. She had quite the stash in her lap, but she got most of it in her belly. 

 I put her on the table to clean up her high chair a bit before we took her up to the tub, and when I turned around she had grabbed a cookie and started chomping away on it. 

A good dinner and dessert!