Santa Clause

 We attempted a trip to sit on Santa's lap.  It went a little something like this:

 So grandpa decided to show the ladies that Santa is not a scary man at all.

 Yes, these all look alike.  But I love the progression.  Every single one makes me laugh.

 Santa vacated his throne for a minute and the gals didn't think it was scary once he was gone.

 After having been there for about a half hour, the girls started to warm up a little.  Poor Santa was working so hard, too.  He had candy canes and polar express bells he was using as bribery.  It only worked marginally.

 We convinced them to shake their bells while we all sang "Jingle Bells".  I love that they are trying not to smile.

 Sage finally told Santa that she wanted a doll house for Christmas this year.  She whispered it about four times before she found the courage to shout it out for him to hear.  This girl melts me.

Cousins

 My siblings and their families that don't already live in AZ are in town!  It's always chaotic and crazy but so fun.  The cousins LOVE each other and LOVE to play non stop and sometimes LOVE to scream.  I LOVE it all.  Especially meeting my sweet, happy, easy-going little baby nephew, 

GRAYSON.  

I LOVE him.

 And these two ladies love each other.  I think they could pass as siblings.

 
Good times with 12 grand kids in grandma's kitchen!

And after this busy day of fun, we had to whip out grandma and grandpa's Christmas pj's a few days early since they all needed baths.  The boys had no desire to pose with them on, but the ladies were all too willing.  So cute!

12 months

Yes, I'm almost two months late taking these things.  I put it off because it's a little nightmarish getting her to sit still anymore.  

And a final recap.  Yes, I have bows in every size, shape and color known to man.  I sure love this little brown eyed beauty. 

 Charlotte's Joy School group acted out the nativity the other night.  Unfortunately, the little stinker has not been doing great at going to school.  I leave her there kicking and screaming.  So she wanted no part in the activities at the party and refused to wear her little costume.  Oh well.  She shook her little jingle bells, and looked cute doing it.  :)

Clint and I in our seriously ugly Christmas sweaters for a party at Crossfit.  I look nasty in the worst way.

 I swear Sage is getting so big way too fast!  I think her picture she colored at church Sunday is a masterpiece.

 Our hand print ornaments turned out too big, too thick and heavy to hang on the tree, and too grinchy-green for my taste.  We might be re-doing them.

Temple Lights

 Our annual trip to the temple was a success.  It was not crowded at all, which was unexpected and very nice.  The girls loved it and were happy the whole time.  Emery rocked her outfit that is way too small.  We love to see the temple and are so blessed to live so close to one--soon to be TWO!

December so far

 Sage completed her first solo puzzle.    (And then did it 30 times after that.) I was and still am so proud!

 Our new rental came with this awesome washer and dryer set.  I think it's safe to say that 1: I will forever be a washer/dryer snob from now on and will require a front loading set!  They are unbelievable! and 2: Charlotte is obsessed.  She likes to sit and watch the clothes and gets SUPER excited when she spots something of hers.

 Every Monday and Wednesday, I pick Sage up from preschool carpool at this little shopping center.  At said shopping center is a little whole-in-the-wall Water n Ice ice cream shop.  The girls beg.  Every time.  So...last week we went in.  I let them split a little cupful and it was like magic!  They were so happy and excited!  I'm pretty sure it is now a $1/week MUST HAVE.

 

It's still in the high 70's, low 80's here.  So pretty much every evening is spent outside taking walks in our new neighborhood.  The girls (esp C) love to strike a pose.

 Speaking of striking a pose.....

 And putting all three pics up here was a  must.  I seriously crack up at the different facial expressions.

Christmas Festivities

 We are putting our advent calendar to good use this year.  It's quite possible that I wait until the night before each day to decide what to put in each little slot--how much time we have to devote to each Christmas activity determines what we are able to do.  Some days it's just singing a Christmas song that we have time for--but thankfully my ladies think even that is the most amazing thing ever.  They LOVE moving the candy cane from one day to the next and finding out what fun activity we get to do each day.  I love their enthusiasm this year.  They are totally into things and it's so fun.  Red (elf) has made his appearance, and after seeing him drinking from a straw, roasting marshmallows, watching a movie with Barbie, etc--Sage is convinced he is alive.  She gives him a wide berth and REALLY keeps her distance.  But loves him, too.  They love looking for him each morning.  We took them to the dollar store tonight to pick out gifts for each other and for a few special people.  Charlotte had a hard time -- she didn't quite understand why she wasn't getting to pick anything out for herself.  But she had fun picking out for other people.  Sage was in heaven and really thought about what each person on her list would really like.  It was precious.  We love driving them around at night to look at lights.  Even the smallest sting of lights on a tree gets the most enthusiastic "oooohhhhh it's so beautiful!" out of them.  Every. Single. House.  It's awesome.  I sure love these three.

 Before I had kids, I was not a fan of trinket type ornaments.  But now I'm pretty sure my big tree will eventually be theirs to decorate.  I LOVE pulling out the ornaments they make each year and seeing how excited they get about each one.  I'm pretty sure I'll be that person who has boxes full of hand print ornaments from all of their kids from every single year.  And I'll cry when they break.

 Our entryway set up.  Christmas overload!

 Playing piano with grandpa while grandma sets up the tree

The girls had a ball decorating the tree.  We had probably 20 bulbs at the very bottom of the tree and one or two at the top.  I might have snuck in later after they went to bed to re-arrange.  I LOVED their expressions when we had them turn around to see the tree lit for the first time.  So sweet.

 Santa's little helper.  Or destroyer.  Whichever.