Out like a lamb

Some people really know how to party.

We prefer pajamas.

We're rocking the puzzle scene.

We ring in the new year with the best of them.

And then we go straight to bed. Because we are SO TIRED. 

Goodnight 2016. Nice knowin ya.

Christmas is over. School is out.

Christmas is over and we still have a couple weeks of no school. What shall we do with our time? How shall we entertain ourselves?

Grandma Kathleen votes for a dinner out at Red Robin! We're always happy to bond over bottomless fries.

Mathew jumped on the opportunity to go to the temple with the ward youth. Cold and beautiful this time of year.

Mark and his 4 am buddies popped over to visit coach Jacob. I don't think I would wake up that early for friendship in any form, but that's one of many reasons Mark is a better person than I am.

 Mom and I were unstoppable in our puzzle doing. This one was easier than it looked.

And so was this one was even easier....which mostly makes up for our first puzzle and those three missing pieces...WHERE ARE THEY???

We made a fun playhouse from a refrigerator box and some Christmas lights.

Hours of creating their own petroglyphs. Which is almost as long as it took me to drill all those holes.

And don't forget we have loads of make up just waiting for some luscious lips!

We took Grandma to the airport so she could make it back to the Utah siblings in time for New Years and we got cracking on cleaning up all the holiday decorations. It's time for clean. It's time for space and peace and vacuum lines.

I love my big kids. I love that Mathew can climb this ladder and removed those garlands. You go, Maf!

Undecoate that tree, Eef!

I'm feeling excited about the New Year!

Christmas Day 2016

Out of sensitivity to Grandma Kathleen, we managed to wait a little longer to start our Christmas morning festivities. It was, like, 6:44 am. That's crazy late. CRAZY late.

Santa really understands how fun it is to have a mini-jug of cold chocolate milk ready and waiting on Christmas morning. He gets it. Mini anything is a rarity in a big family. We usually err on the side of bulk grocery shopping.

 The kids received the 'all clear' to explore the contents of their stockings. Interestingly, there were little cartons of chocolate within. Santa is branching out. It's almost like he takes advantage of any surplus company party snacks might be handy. Awesome thrifty Santa.

Everly was pretty thrilled with her new Paw Patrol Set! I know what she'll be doing the rest of the day!

And sweet reading Laney was going to have a cozy day with her new Ranger in Time books. 💗

Mathew was pretty sure he might be getting an iphone for Christmas. Too bad it was just an iphone charger...

On the other hand...Mark got more than he expected from this massive Fererro Rocher! He's trying to show Gma Kathleen the size difference...

Laney opens up her big one! That box is sorta ukulele-shaped, I'd say.

Bingo!

Megan unwrapped her box set of Amulet books. Oh yes, there will be much delicious reading today. 

Grandma received not one, but TWO fabulous scarves for amongst her loot.  She should have made it know a bit earlier that she's not a huge fan of scarves. Whoopsie!

And finally.. the iphone did appear. And it brought much joy.

Anna had a gift coming that required NO PEEKING.

An awesome new bike! She will be cruisin and ringing her sweet teapot shaped bell. Dad really knows how to pick em.

And then it's Ethan's turn to close his eyes....

An ELECTRIC GUITAR!! That's teenage heaven...

We cleaned up the paper, collected the fanciest of the bows and ribbons and filled our recycle bin with boxes and packaging. Everyone found a spot to lounge and read or sip on their chocolate milks. Everly found a sister to give her a blue eye shadow make over and it was magnificent.

We had our three missionaries over for Christmas dinner

And mom and I finished up this puzzle. Even though we lost three pieces! If I weren't so tired, I'd probably lose some sleep of them.

Merry Christmas!!!

Christmas Eve

It's Christmas Eve, so we better hurry up and do the Nativity....luckily, we have a golden dress in the dress-up box for Anna and her cute little haircut, as well as a Mat's big brown coat to transform him into a donkey that seems particularly enraptured with the angel's news. 

I found the perfect Nativity book at the library. I wish I had written it down, because it told the story perfectly and had gorgeous pictures. I'll have to get on the hunt and figure it out. 

And finally, it was jammy time!

A sparkling owl for Anna!

Heart pants for Laney!

Dark purple for Mom...I hope she liked them!

Bruce Lee for Mathew :)

Cubs for Mark (always Cubs for Mark).

Golden unicorn for Everly!

Understated grey for Meg (Always understated for Meg...she has her mother's style).

And super soft red fleece for me! (Mark is consistently excellent at picking pjs! And he never hesitates to include fuzzy socks)

Soft, thin grey for Ethan, destined to double as school pants...

When the jammies are all on, Megan ran outside with the littles to sprinkle reindeer food on the driveway. She's a good little mama.

I love the glow of the tree. The countdown begins!