Christmas Day 2011!

Christmas Eve 2011!

Our Christmas Eve was pretty low key this year. We had an Italian dinner with my parents, and then we did the nativity play with the kids running the show. James was pretty sick, so that was a huge bummer! Jackson starred as the inn keepers, Paul as Joseph, Alanna as Mary, Blaze was the Angel (the cutest I've ever seen!), and my dad was the narrator. We read the biblical account of Christ's birth, and I was amazed at how much the kids could tell me about it on their own. They each got to open one present that I picked for them - they all got new church clothes to wear the next day. Luckily, my kids all love getting new clothes and dressing up for church!

Perkins Christmas Party!

Super Mario Brothers...

Breakfast With Santa 2011!

 This little girl had been waiting all year to wear her pj's to school! She got to sleep in until 5 minutes before go time and we didn't even do her hair! All of our kids so far have gone to Miss Lisa's preschool for 2 years, so we are very anxious to attend breakfast with Santa each Christmas. There are cinnamon rolls and treats from Santa Claus!

 Paul asked Santa for a "Surprise!"

 Jackson wanted a box of chocolate covered cherries!

 Alanna wanted a candy candy - wish fulfilled right then and there!

Sweet little Blaze wasn't even scared to sit on Santa's lap with his siblings. I'm sure he would have wished for a less crazy household! He loves being home alone with his mommy to "rule the roost!"

Christmas "Staycation" !

 "Staycation" is a word I think James may have made up, meaning you go on vacation without really leaving home. We booked a hotel in Salt Lake (only 25 min from home) for Friday night, and had a little "staycation". We went out to dinner at PF Chang's and enjoyed a fabulous dinner with 4 pretty well behaved children who weren't afraid to try some "different" foods they were served.

 Our hotel was in walking distance to the restaurant, and then we walked to Temple Square. No matter how many times I go to see the lights there at Christmas time, it always seems so peaceful, joyous, and magical. To me, it's one of the most beautiful places on earth. It was very, very, cold the night we went - which was okay because it was a little less crowded than the night we went last year. It also allowed us to make it up the the Christis, and we would have loved to just hang out there if there wasn't a crowd of people in line to have the opportunity to see it also. When I was little, I absolutely loved this room that is fully covered in murals of space. I'm sure my kids feel the same way, since they wanted to come back the next day to spent more time in that room!

I love the idea of "staycations" for our young family. We didn't have to spent much time in the car, and they just love getting to stay in a hotel and lounge around watching movies and being read to. Sometimes it's good just to get out of our usual environment and forget about all the work we have around the house. When we are all in one small space, it's much easier to spend quality time as a family and make memories.