CHRISTMAS BREAK TOP TEN!

Fullerton had Christmas break from Dec. 22nd to January 4th (Ike had to report on the 3rd) and we made good use of that break! We hit the road right after school on the 22nd and got back to Nebraska on the evening of the 22nd. We started in New Hampshire and ended in Ohio. We got to see both sides of the family and had great weather. It was an all around an amazing trip! So here is my top ten list of things I loved about this Christmas trip. But actually this list is in no particular order because EVERYTHING WAS AMAZING!!!

#10 The Car Ride

I know, almost fifty hours in a car with three kids doesn't sound like most people's wildest dream but I thought it was awesome. The boys were all great. I actually had time to cross stitch. Ike drove almost the whole way. It was pretty great.

#2 Grandma Carr's Stockings

I barely had time to cross stitch a tiny portrait for my sister during the last six months but somehow, my Mother-in-law managed to cross stitch a new stocking for all of us coming for Christmas. She is amazing!

This fireplace. Holy Cow.

#3 Visiting My Grandma McMahon

My Grandma McMahon is in a nursing home in Vermont so on our way to Ohio, we took a little detour to see her. It was wonderful. She held Hudson and it was by far the most excited she was during our visit. 

 

#4 Meeting the Fiancés

My sister Katherine has been engaged for over a month now but Ike's brother Adam got engaged on Christmas day! I love both of my soon to be family members! And theres nothing I love more than a wedding and this summer I get to go to two!

                                                                     Look at those cuties!

 #5 Actually Being With My Mom On Her Birthday

I can't remember the last time I was actually with my mom on her birthday. It was awesome! 

# 6 New Year's Eve

We all went to my sister Jessica's house for New Year's Eve and despite an Ohio State tragedy and Jackson vomiting all over himself, it was still a really fun time! 

#7  Date Night with my Lovee!
Ike and I took advantage of my parent's good will and snuck out for a date by ourselves! We saw Rogue One and got some dinner alone! It was kind of amazing.

#8 The Game!
Ike, his brothers and his dad got to go to the Patriots game on Christmas Eve. It was an awesome experience for everyone. Ike's dad got to go to a game with a son in his 30s, in his 20s and in his teens.  Meanwhile, the ladies at home, spent hours baking cookies and having a good time of our own.

#9 Visiting Abigail and Jeremy
While we were in Ohio, we took a little trip over to Kentucky to visit Ike's sister and her adorable family!

 #10 The Magic at Grandma and Grandpa Carr's
 The Carr house really is magic at Christmas. It was so wonderful. We all had on our Christmas PJs, we did all the Christmas traditions Ike has been telling me about for the past eight years, and we all even made it through the Moose in the Hoose without falling asleep (it took 60 minutes to read!!!!). I don't know if it was the candy cane juice, the new bathrobes or all the Christmas cookies I ate but this Christmas Eve made me feel like a kid again.

 Look at those handsome men in their robes!

 The ladies don't look too bad either!

 Honestly, I should have made this my top 20 because now that I am done I still have a bunch of things I want to include! But this post is long enough. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

Shepards, Spritz and Songs

We had our Church Christmas party on Friday and it was a blast. The Primary kids put on a Nativity and sang some songs. Jackson and Brady were shepherds. They were a little bummed that they didn't each have a staff but I can only do so much and staffs ( staves?) were over my limit. Ike has had to go to almost every home Junior High and High School basketball games so I have been playing single parent for the past week or so. In fact today the house has just been messy all day and Jackson came home from school, walked into the living room and said, "Wow! You've been busy!" I still don't quite know what to make of that.

Today Brady and I had our yearly Spritz cookie making date. We make the cookies and he helps me crank them out of the tube and then decorate them with sprinkles. We then eat the majority of them together before anyone else gets home.

Tonight was Jackson's Christmas program and that was really cute. I'm assuming the kids aren't allowed to sing Christmas hymns because every song was about either presents or Santa. I was still a really cute performance though.

 Look at those cute shepherds!

 Hudson wants food for Christmas!

 Jackson wants a Lego Star Wars set...we will see if Santa can afford that.

Brady wants a Hot Wheels track.

 Brady's traditional Spritz cookie wreaths!

Brady is SO EXCITED about his elf. He made it in Library story hour.

 Jackson was front and center in the Christmas concert!

The after-performance glow!

Christmas makes my dining room table unusable. 

I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause!

Christmas time is really the most wonderful time of the year. People are more giving and kind. There is something magical about a dark room lit up by a Christmas tree in the corner. I even love the cold. We got our fist little tease of snow last night. Just a dusting but it was enough to make Jackson ask to build a snow man and a snow tunnel. It wasn't quite enough snow but he and Brady still had fun dragging their feet in it to make snow tracks. We made chocolate chip cookies and brought them to a few friends in the branch. Then after, the kids and I spent about a half hour driving around Central City looking at Christmas lights. Like I said, this is just the most wonderful time of the year.

Ike gets to play Santa for the Elementary School Christmas program on Tuesday and tonight we got his suit ready. He needed some extra stuffing in the belly but in the end I think he makes a pretty good Santa! He even let me take a few shots of him in the costume!

 Delivering some early presents?!??

 Lookin' good Santa!

 Still handsome even with the white hair.

 The boys are going to be shepherds in the branch Christmas party this Friday.

Jackson makes a pretty cute shepherd.

On a side note, Hudson turned 7 months this week. Look at this cutie:

Countdown to Christmas!

Now that Thanksgiving is over (where did November go by the way!?) it is officially time to focus on Christmas! Christmas time really is the most wonderful time of the year. I'm not even trying to be cliche or anything because it really is the best. People are more kind and giving. There is something about the Christmas spirit that just brings out the best in all of us. Ike and I went to the temple today and the visitor's center had their annual Gingerbread house display and it was an awesome way to kick off our Christmas season!

 The boys getting ready to go in!

 Brady is holding the scavenger hunt paper!

 Whoville

 Jackson was excited to find snoopy!

 Playing in the gingerbread house!

Tooth Fairy Comes to Town!

Jackson has started losing his baby teeth and it has been fun because this is a first time for us.  I personally think he looks cuter with a few less teeth.

6 Months.

6 Months! Has it really been six month since this little (big) man came into our family. All of the boys have been good babies but Hudson really takes the cake. This kid is the happiest baby ever. I can't help but fall in love with him over and over every time I hold him. It doesn't hurt that he sleeps 12 hours a night.

I love my boys.

Remember back in the day when I used to actually blog? Well I am going to try to get back on the wagon. October has been a busy but really great month. Hudson is getting so big. He has to be 20lbs now. He wears a size 12 month and he is all smiles all the time. He will be six months old in a few days and I can't believe it. I finally had some more pictures taken of the boys. We are amazingly lucky to have a good friend who likes to take pictures as a hobby. She is so talented and always does an amazing job.