Christmas Night

Justin's family came Christmas Day and we opened another load of gifts! The boys loved it! Everyone started ripping into them so fast that I didn't get a chance to get pictures. Grandma and Papa Merrill gave this to Macall and she LOVES it!! She giggles and squeezes it any time she sees it!

Christmas Morning

Christmas morning was so much fun around here. We decided we would keep the opening of present orderly! HA The boys let that last about 5 minutes before they started ripping open all the presents. They opened every ones! I may have opened one of mine :-)

They love these Michigan helmets and jerseys! Taylor didn't take his off all day!The boys got Justin a red light saber and couldn't wait to fight!The boys found the treats that Santa left for them.Avri in the sledThe boysJustin was spoiled and got a new TV for Christmas. This is the 3rd TV he has gotten in the 7 years of Christmas together. No more TV's!!! Me and Tay. I think this is the only picture of me!Aves and her new phone. This is also the last time we saw the phone. Hmmm. Bought a new one at Target today for 75% off.Macall

Kind of like Where's Waldo. Where's Macall?

The Loot from Santa

Santa was pretty quiet and came when Justin and I were still awake :-)Taylors...Braxton's...Avri and Macall's...Mom's...Dad's...

(quality, not quantity for us this year)

Christmas Eve

After 7 years of traveling for Christmas we decided to stay home. It was also the first Christmas in our house (we moved in the second week in January). Justin and I made a yummie turkey dinner and enjoyed some time with our kids. We told the boys they could open one present and they were so excited. They would have been more excited if it would have been a toy but nope, they got new Christmas PJ's.TaylorBrax and Aves. They look so much a like!CallersTwo of the cutest Santa's I have ever seen!

We put out Christmas cookies and a Dr. Pepper for Santa. The boys thought it was pretty funny that Santa would like Dr. Pepper! I told them that when I little Santa liked Pepsi!

Merry Christmas 2010

We hope you have a very Merry Christmas! We love you all!

Dinner

Dinner time at our house can get a little crazy. The girls whining at my feet, the boys are "so hungry", and Justin gets home just in time to sit down to eat. The girls are screaming for the food. The boys fight over whose turn it is to say the prayer, not wanting to say the prayer, or over the color of their plates and cups. They ALWAYS fight over who gets to sit by Justin. We have come up with a compromise and we have moved his chair so that he sits in between them. Justin does not sit IN the middle he sits "by the middle" and all are happy.

The food covered girls. A picture only a mother (and maybe a few Grandma's) could love.

Sugar Cookies

Kamdon and Kyler came over on Tuesday and we decorated sugar cookies. I went to the store Monday night and Smith's didn't have any Christmas color decorating supplies so we ended up with green, blue, and purple cookies!!! Lots of laughs with these 4 wild boys!

So this is what you get when you try to take picture 5 minutes before church. They turned out fine but the lighting in my house was aweful so we had to use the flash and let me tell ya, I don't know how to take good pictures with the flash. Plus I am STILL learning how to really use my camera. Maybe next weekend when there is family here for Christmas we can get a picture of the whole family. Until then...

I love my kiddos!

OUCH

Macaller's fell the other day and bit a hole in her tongue! OUCH!!! I didn't see what happened but found her face down on the floor with blood coming out her mouth. It was so gross and so deep. Usually issues with your tongue heal fast but it has been 3 days and it is still looking so sore!! Poor babe!

Camp out on the floor.

The boys have had a nasty cold this week and every time I ask Brax how is doing he says, Not good Mom. I have a cold! Taylor tells me he doesn't need medicine cause he feels better right now. Tonight they are camped out on our floor because this mom needs her sleep. Too many trips up and down the stairs!!! This morning I ended up sleeping in the guest room so I didn't have to go up again. We hope they get feeling better because they have a sleep over planned with Quinn and Elliott on Friday (and let's be honest, I got a babysitter for the girls so I am looking forward to a night out with Justin). They have been so excited to play with them all week too.

Feel better my boys!

Temple Square

Tonight we ventured down town to Temple Square. The boys were excited to go. As soon as we parked they were so excited to see the Temple. It was a great night to go. Not too cold and not too many people. It was a quick trip around to see the lights. Avri lost her boot so when we stopped so Jus and Jalayne could go look for it all the kids lost it. Braxton's hands were hurting because they were cold (who forgot his gloves??), Taylor was hungry, Macall was just mad, and Aves toes were cold! Actually I think she was the only one not crying. No luck on finding the boot either! Dang! It was nice to get out and be at Temple Square though. Everything was so pretty. Love it there!