4th Week of December, Christmas on

We had a wonderful Christmas.  The boys were super excited to see what Santa brought them.  Thankfully the boys slept in until 7am so we weren't up super early.

Nyles and Carter Christmas morning!

 Opening up gifts from us.

They each got a digger to play in the sand.

 Then some gifts from Santa.

Carter got his owlet he's been asking about and Nyles got some Legos.

Carter got puzzles and Nyles got his Magic 8 ball he's been asking about.

Carter got a Rubble digger and Nyles got a big set of Legos!

Candy and treats in their stockings.

Playing w/ their Playdoh construction sets while I make breakfast.

Steve helping them put together their coloring submarines.

They definitely wanted to play w/ them more than color though, surprise surprise :)

We had crepes for breakfast, then I cooked up a ham for lunch.  It was a big ham so I offered to bring it over to LuDean's to feed everyone.  I made funeral potatoes and rolls as well.  Stacie/Phill, Melanie/Brandon, and Dave/Joann all showed up about that time as us, around 2pm.  We ate lunch and played some games, including the new game from Aunt Diane "Blank Slate."  It was really fun!

Dave keeping score.

Aunt Diane let Carter play a kids game on her IPad while we played the game.

Dave and Joann then came over to our house a little bit later where we exchanged gifts.  They gave us another fun game and an annual pass to the Aquarium again.  Thanks so much!!

Carter playing our new game where you have to draw w/ your nose.

  Nyles giving it a try.

My turn.

Joann's turn.

 

Dave trying.

And Carter one more time.  It was pretty fun!

On Thursday we went over to Fat Cats Bowling.  Nyles got a free game a little while ago, so we've been waiting to go over Christmas break.  Ironically it was super busy, but we got our turn after waiting a bit.  It was a lot of fun and the boys said we should go back again soon!

The boys pretending to play a Ghostbusters game while we waited.

Nyles going first!

Carter's turn.

My turn.

And Steve's turn.

Cute Carter.

Nyles having fun!

We then went through a car wash.  The boys think it SOOO fun!

 Steve helped Nyles make a pirate ship w/ his new Legos.

The boys playing w/ their submarines like bummer cars.

Later playing w/ Lincoln logs and their diggers. 

Steve took the boys to the church to fly a drone our neighbors gave us as well.

Carter gave it a try.

Friday we went to the Aquarium.

Crossing the rope bridge in the Jungle Room.

Being silly sitting on a frog.

Saturday Steve took Nyles and our neighbor Jacob Anderson to go ice fishing.

They went up near Brigham City in Mantua.  They didn't catch anything, but still had a great time.

 

Nyles had a blast had said.  He got to wear his waders.

4th Week of December, up until Christmas

We had some fun adventure this year leading up to Christmas, spending time together.  Here are some highlights.

Elf taking a ride in Nyles' airplane.

Sunday we had our Jerusalem dinner at Melanie/Brandon's house in Midway.  This is where we mostly eat food from the time of Jesus, sit on the floor and think of Him.  Then we turn off the lights and each person is given a candle.  As we bear our testimonies we get to light it (or turn it on if battery operated).  As we all continue to bear our testimonies the room gets brighter and brighter.

The 1st "Jerusalem dinner" the family held back in 1999 (20 years ago).

Left to Right: Melanie, Jeff, Carrie, Dave, Joann, Stacie, Steve and Brandon.

Monday we played around outside.  Carter saw a bug as he was going down the slide and stopped!
Nyles was kind enough to move it so he could continue down the slide :)

The boys pretending to be "baby lions" on the trampoline.

Nyles made a Santa beard, so Carter sat on his lap and told him what he wanted for Christmas.

 The boys playing the matching game. 

 Carter later snuggling in a blanket while playing..

That night we met up w/ cousins to go around "This is the Place."

Getting an ice cream before heading over.

Nyles, Conor, Carter, London and Dave at "This is the Place" for their Christmas celebration.

Lynsie and Carter writing a letter to Santa.

Carolers (the lady third from the left is in Dave's single ward).

Listening to Scrooge tell the kids his story.

Making candles.

Lynsie, Nyles and Conor making their candles.

Steve and Carrie making one too.

Pretty tree.

We then took a break to have hot chocolate and donuts that Dave brought.  Thanks Dave!

Luckily it wasn't too cold as we were walking around.

Carter, Nyles and Conor being silly waiting for the train to come.  

Then over to decorate an ornament.

Lastly to see Santa.  The kids putting their names on "The List."

London, Carter, Lynsie, Nyles and Conor w/ Santa.

Nyles telling Santa what he wants.

Coloring their ornaments some more the next day.

On Tuesday, Christmas Eve, we went to see Santa again at Cabela's.

Carter and Nyles w/ Santa.

Then they got to decorate a plate AND frost a sugar cookie!

They also got a cute stuffed reindeer animal.

Dave and Joann came over for dinner (enchiladas), then we read the shortened version of the Christmas Story.  Afterwards the boys got to open up a gift. 

 They got pajamas and a blanket/sleeping bag.

They both changed into their PJs pretty quickly and got in their blanket/sleeping bag.

Nyles got polar bear PJs and Carter got dinosaur ones.  Nyles was especially happy about his robe that came w/ it.  Nyles blanket has dinos on it and Carter's has Paw Patrol.  You can also see our candles we made at "This is the Place" the night before, burning on the table.

The boys were pretty pumped up for Christmas the next day.  After playing w/ Grandma and Grandpa for a bit, they went to bed excited for Christmas morning!  The boys kept looking to see if they could see Santa and his sleigh coming.