New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve was pretty low key this year.  Jeremy worked during the day.  Then after dinner we packed up and headed to the Beyeler's home (a family in our ward who lives really close to us) to go to a New Year's Eve Family Party.  Loads of people were there and there was lots of food and gads of children.  The adults played games and chatted and ate.  And the kids ran WILD.  

The party ended around 8:30 pm, so we took the kids home and busted out some bubbly (Cherry 7up - we're that cool) in fancy plastic "wine" glasses and had a special "toast" and cheers to the new year!  We talked about what we were most grateful for in 2013 and what we were most looking forward to in 2014 (it was unanimous: BABY GIRL!).  We count down to the new year and cheered!  And by 9 pm all of the kids were tucked soundly in bed. :)

Happy New Year!

Note: 2014 started with a bang!  Caleb woke up at 2 am with a fever.  Jeremy ended up staying home all day New Years (which he hadn't planned) because Caleb was so fussy and miserable and I started not feeling well.  Caleb recovered within a day or two from his mysterious fever/cold.  I on the other hand got sick and sicker... but that's for another post. 

A Super Date: Happy 9 Year Anniversary to us!

To celebrate our 9 year anniversary Jeremy and I got to go on a SUPER DATE.  Brent & Michelle watched our kids from noon - 7 pm, then drove them to our house and put them to bed for us, and left Michayla there babysitting.  It worked out great for us and was completely awesome.  It really felt like the break that I think we both needed.  We drove down to the Plaza and made the most of our time together.

First Stop:  Ingredient for a delicious lunch.

Second Stop: Nelson Atkins Art Museum

Third Stop: Movie Theater to see Saving Mr. Banks

Fourth Stop: Window shopping, Christmas light gazing, and Starbuck's Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Last Stop: Dinner and dessert at The Cheesecake Factory (only my favorite restaurant!)

Yay for a day and evening out with my best friend and the man of my dreams.  I loved having the chance to relax and visit and talk and just spend time together.  I am seriously grateful that I get to spend my life with this man.  Best. Decision. EVER.

Snow!

The best daddy in the world took these 3 goobers outside to play in the SNOW.  They were so eager and excited to get all geared up and get out there and play.  They had a blast!

Relaxing

After opening the presents it was time to PLAY with the presents.  The rest of the morning was spent playing and creating.  Jeremy and I were playing with the kids and it was just relaxing and FUN.  After playtime and showers we headed to Brent & Michelle's house for an hour or so to say hello to them and see what fun things Christmas had brought to their house.  Then it was home for lunch (frozen pizza - yay for keeping it simple!) and naptime and quiet time.  During quiet time both Jeremy and I got to rest (a Christmas miracle in and of itself!) and we still had time to squeeze in some one-on-one playtime before Caleb woke up (Jeremy and I each took 10 minutes to rotate playing with Elise and then Isaac - and vice-versa - it was a joyous 20 minutes - we should do that more often!)  After more playtime it was dinner time.  We enjoyed a veggie tray, roast, salad, rolls, and festive Cherry 7up.  Yum!  Dessert was pumpkin cake.  After dessert we tried something new - a Christmas bow flashlight hunt.  After the kids were all ready for bed, we hid approx. 20 Christmas bows all over the basement playroom.  We gave each child an empty gift bag and a flashlight and they hunted for the Christmas bows.  The Christmas bow hunt was a BIG HIT.  I think we re-hid the bows 3 times? :)  The kids all loved it! (Isaac was pretty bummed when we were done). 

Finally we headed upstairs to sit around the Christmas tree and sing a few last Christmas songs before heading off to bed.  It was a simple, relaxing, fun, JOYOUS Christmas Day!!!

Christmas Morning: Presents!

Then it was time for the kids to open their presents from Mom and Dad... Caleb got bubbles, playdough, and an indoor climber with a slide.  Elise received puzzles, slippers and a Cinderella figurine, and a craft kit.  Isaac was excited to get maps, a chess set, and a big box of Legos.  

Christmas was simple this year at our house - but you know what, that felt good.  It felt joyous and not excessive.  Every year we are trying to find a happy balance between having fun filled family celebrations and traditions and yet maintaining simplicity (and staving away entitlement), etc..  This year felt like a big success. :)

Christmas Morning: Giving Gifts to Each Other

After our Christmas breakfast it was time to start opening presents!  We dove right in and opened the presents from Granny Jo and Poppy Rod.  The kids were excited and happy to find books, hats, mittens, and activity books.  

And then we opened the presents that the kids had given to each other and to Jeremy and I.   I think this was one of my favorite parts of Christmas day!  It was SO heartwarming to watch Isaac and Elise in eager anticipation as they watched others opening the gifts that they were giving to them.  The hugs and joy and smiles were priceless.  Oh yay for happy family moments!!!

Christmas Morning: Stockings!

Thanks to the time change traveling back from AZ - the kids slept in on Christmas morning  - only until 7:00 am - but hey, we'll take it.

 

First things first, we snuggled up in the bed in our room and watched a (VERY) short video of Christ's birth and talked about how today was finally Christmas and how Christmas was about Jesus and His love for us and our family and our love for each other.  We sang a Christmas song, said a family prayer, and then headed out to the front room to see the Christmas surprises!  Isaac and Elise were excited about their stockings and looked through them at all of the fun goodies inside.  We got lots of cute questions from them "What's that?" (from Isaac about his Whoopie Cushion) and "Why is there an orange in here?  That's silly!" (from Elise).  Caleb - on the other hand - wasn't interested in his stocking.  He wanted to open the PRESENTS that were finally out under the tree.  And he wanted to look at all of the fun stuff that Isaac and Elise were taking out of their stockings - but it took some coaxing and a few minutes for him to actually decide to take stuff out of his own stocking. :)

 

The stockings held simple things like electric toothbrushes, toothpaste, fun shampoo/body wash, a box of cereal, an orange, a Reese's Pieces filled candy cane, a 2013 photo album with fun family photos, and a few fun surprises for each child.  Elise found lip glosses, a hair brush, and rings!  Isaac got a KC Chiefs football and a whoopie cushion.  Caleb got a couple of toy cars and a Mickey Mouse ball.  It was simple but the kids were happy.  It was peaceful, happy, and wonderful.

After stockings it was time for our Christmas breakfast!  We had our traditional Monkey Bread and fruit (strawberries and oranges) breakfast.  YUM.