New Years 2010

Where else but Vegas would we like to spend our New Year? Its the only place to be to bring in the new year. We had a blast as usual playing games and stuffing our faces. The perfect host- She cooks for us and provides plenty of entertainment.

Happy New Years and in case you were wondering its apple cider.
And yes our faces are a crack up. Oh the many faces of this game. I took 2ND and had a ton of fun knocking others out:)

We all had a blast and know where we will be next Dec. 31st. The END

Christmas

OK well if I don't hurry up and get this posted it is going to be next Christmas. I am not sure where my love of blogging has gone but lately it just feels like a chore. I know that I should continue to document our life so I am trying to get over this feeling. We had another fabulous Christmas and nothing other than having B home could have made it better. We spent the day as we always do. We had to get our kids up sometime after 8 to open gifts. They are so my children and love to sleep in, even on Christmas Morn. As you can tell by their faces they were so excited to see if Santa came.

He came alright and brought Ty a new bike and Tate an Ipod touch. We gave Ty the cutest doll house with so many cute accessories. I'm not sure who likes it more her or myself:) She finally got the harmonica she had asked for the entire year and many other instruments to go with. Tate got a Red Ryder BB gun as well as some cool helicopters, a pitching machine and a few other little things.Tate had so much fun picking all of us gifts from the Reindeer Lane store at school. I love that they offer that at the school because then the kids are able to pick things out for our family by themselves. I honestly cherish all of the little trinkets that I have gotten over the years. Tate picked out a highlighter for me that smells like vanilla. He said since I love to smell good he knew I would love it. He seriously melts my heart. He gave Chad a measuring tape that says Dad.

At my parents it was organized chaos! Mom and Dad gave all the girls these easels. They were so excited and I know that my girls have used them a ton. With these they also gave them chalk, eraser, markers and paper. They were a huge hit amongst the kids and it has made the school playing that happens on Sun. nights even better.
Look how cute Gma Hiatt is. I love that they make the rounds and still come see their kids on Christmas. For as long as I can remember they have been a part of my Christmas day.

We are also blessed to be able to spend our morning with this cute couple. To me there is nothing more important than family and to be surrounded by loved ones makes Christmas so special to me. My parents also gave each and everyone of us Gma and Gpa Hiatts book that Susan put together. I am so glad that my kids also got one so they can read it and learn more about the amazing people that they are.Then it was on to dinner and more festivities with the Cummard side. We had a fun time visiting and laughing till our tummies ached. The kids all bring their new loot and show each other what they got. Brecken and Tate were playing games on their new Ipods. Tate showed off his skills with his new gun and everyone took turns shooting at the target.
Ty has ridden this bike constantly since Christmas. She sneaks out so she can ride down the road. Look at how happy she is in this picture. Good job Santa this bike will for sure be money well spent!
After all the playing was through we ate a fabulous dinner which mom made and we opened gifts. Mom and Dad were so generous and hooked us kids up with money and the kids all got fun stuff. Mom made all of the little girls matching necklaces that are so cute.

I love this picture. Ty adores her daddy!!

Ty is such a snuggle bug and made her way around snuggling with her favorites. She loves her uncle Jace and is always asking if she can stay the night with them again.

This pic kills me. Look at the height difference:)

I will just end by saying how blessed I am. We have such amazing families and are so fortunate that we can spend Christmas with both sides. As wonderful as Christmas was I would have to say the greatest part was shopping for and giving Christmas to a family that would have otherwise gone without. My kids truly benefited from being willing to give up some of their gifts and get this family gifts instead. I am grateful for the blessing it was for me personally. I appreciate my Chad who works so hard so that we can have the comforts that we do. Most important I am thankful for the birth of my Savior and the life that he lead.

Christmas Eve

Linda, B, Gram, Ty and Sandi

Kyle and Sonny

This year for Christmas Eve we pretty much did what we do every year. We went to the Harts and stuffed ourselves with food. The kids each opened a gift and the adults played the white elephant game with a twist. Its always good to see everyone and enjoy the company and have fun. Typically I don't get to have B with me at their house because she would normally be at her dads. This year was the first year that Brooklyn has not been with us on Christmas morning. We started doing every other year so that Christmas day was not so chaotic for everyone. Though I can see the benefits I sure missed her being with us. After the Harts we went to mom and dads house and B opened all of her gifts before she went to her dads. She also handed out the gifts that she got for us.

Before she left the kids all got their Christmas jammies so I could continue on with that tradition. I think every year they have opened up jammies on Christmas Eve. After they got their jams she handed out her gifts. She got me a red rose made out of feathers. It smelled good as well. I love the Santa store at the school because the kids put so much thought into what gifts they get for the family.

B got Chad a Scooby Doo figurine that says dad. The cute part about that is Chad talks in his scooby doo voice so she said it reminded her of him. I just love the thought that goes into it. Tate was given a whoopie cushion that he jumped on and popped the first time he blew it up. She gave Ty a little diamond stone because Ty loves to think she has magic stones. We all loved our gifts from B and they made us all feel special.

After that she opened up her gifts. Her main gift was a camera. She loves to take pictures and wanted a decent camera to do so.
She had been wanting an alarm clock and also an ipod docking station so she got two for one. Her last big gift was Rollerblades. She has some at her dads and surprised me at how well she does on them. Larken and Madison got roller blades also so they have been having a blast tearing up and down the street on them.

Grandma and Gpa got all the girls easels with markers and chalk and paper. She loves to play school and was so glad to get that so she can be even more official now. After the gifts were through all the cousins showed up and we hung out for a while before we took her to her dads. I sure felt an emptiness without B on Christmas Day but was glad we could celebrate before she left. It made our Christmas Eve a bit more exciting!

Grandpa Ed loves the kids. I thought this was a sweet picture of him reading a book to Tyson.

Hiatt Family Party

Once again the Sat. before Christmas we were able to be a part of the Hiatt Family Party. I love being a part of this tradition that Gma Hiatt keeps alive. From as far back as I can remember we have had the same party, a visit from Santa, food and the same acting out the story of Christ birth. I love that my kids are blessed to be a part of this tradition. Don't you just love how as kids get older their parents really embarrass them? Well it started in our house and as you can see on Brooklyn's face she was not happy I was front and center taking pics. I keep telling her she will be happy when she is older that I have tons of pictures of her.Ty was an angel with Tori. Well she was supposed to be an angel but during the entire story was making faces and sticking her tongue out. I think the donkey part would have suited her better:) I love her to pieces but we all know that she is not an angel! Tate and his typical happy face. No tears this year for Ty but she defiantly wasn't to sure about Santa. She just wanted her gift.I think that B thinks she is to big to be siting on Santa's lap, I beg to differ :)