Merry Christmas Over & Over Again!

 Our Christmas seemed to last a long time this year. Maybe it was to make up for the shortened, condensed version we had last year. Whatever the reason we started opening presents on Dec. 15, 2013 and didn't stop until Dec. 31, 2013. Grandma Layne started it all off, by sending us home with a bag including 1 present for each day till Christmas ("The 12 Days of Christmas). The kids shared in opening 1 gift each evening until Christmas.

 Look at the difference in these 2 faces...one angelic and the other...??

 We enjoyed our small gifts throughout the season. Esaias barely seen in any pictures without this green fluffy friend he found at the ARC over Thanksgiving (The Grinch-also his favorite Christmas movie-watched at least 20 times) really enjoyed the anticipation of Christmas this year. He would get so excited each time the snowman was moved on our advent calendar marking the days till Christmas. If he missed a couple days and it moved further, he thought it was like magic, that Christmas was getting closer.

 Dad always celebrates his birthday 1 week before Christmas, and that just added to the opening presents and festivities.

 Danny flew to Denver and back on his actual birthday, got to see his parents, and come home for dinner and a special present for his office. Happy 38th birthday Dad!

 Day 7 keeps us moving closer to the actual holiday!

By Dec. 23, 2013 we were thrilled to be on winter break officially~ Uncle Eric and Auntie Lindsay came over for dinner and to share presents. Even though we couldn't spend time with Leilani on her special birthday, we are so grateful to have family here in Grand Junction with us!

 Davis posing for a picture before unwrapping the pirate surprise!

 Finally, Christmas Eve came, Mom and Dad decided to take on an all day project of switching the boys room's. This brought Mom and Dad their Christmas present: the first night without a baby in their room in over a year. We couldn't wait to watch a movie in bed without kids...it didn't happen on Christmas Eve, but the next night....YES!

 Here is our greatest gifts of all! These four beautiful Christmas packages! It was so nice to just be home with them. It was a much quieter Christmas than we are accustomed to, but I think we were all happy! We read the Christmas story from the scriptures, ate yummy take out wings from AppleBee's and watched some more Christmas movies!

 This bundle of Christmas fun, couldn't care less about presents, or toys! He loved just everybody being home and playing.

 Good thing I got all of these good pictures of him in his cute new jammies on Christmas eve, because by Christmas morning, he had to be changed into the backup pj's.

 Christmas movies were a hit!

 Marina made sure to leave Santa and his reindeer a special treat!

 Christmas morning everyone slept in...except for Isaac! I was worried about the little boys sleeping in their new room...they slept great! It was Isaac who couldn't sleep, the anticipation was too great! He was up about every hour on the hour. It was 6:00 am, when he came in and woke Danny & I up. We said, "Go back to bed! We don't get up early for 13 year olds, we will wait for the little boys to wake up on their own." Hehehe they were the last one's up, around 8:30am.

 The tool bench tells of Santa's arrival! I wanted a "choo" aka "drill." And the Buzz and Buddy (aka Woody) in the stocking were a definite fun surprise for Esaias!

 Marina found herself enjoying many "girly" treats in her stocking: headbands, fingernail polish, fake nails, the works!

 Isaac's first Christmas without toys...kind of sad, but he was so happy to get his "brand name" socks, underwear, and don't forget the neon yellow BYU sweatshirt!

 What toy can entertain and 3 year old and a 13 year old? Mini remote control cars, that charge in 90 seconds, have real lights, and go super fast! What fun!

 Is this ball for me?

 Christmas still continued for several more days, as we went to Denver to be with more family! Christmas with Auntie Marisa, G'ma Chris, and Papa Joe, G'ma Layne, and even Uncle Gabe took us all the way to New Year's Eve opening gifts!

 Our family sure loves their cousins! Lil' Ryan, and Oslin in their new Bronco gear!

 Marina and Lafai hangin' together!

 Lilli

 Auntie Marisa & Auntie Mara

 Uncle Ben loved his Disney Sing it game for the Wii!

 And G'ma Chris got a blanket with the kids picture on it! We even got it right when Papa Joe opened his 3 Crockpot set, and said, "I've been wanting one of these!"

Uncle Danny holding 2 boys!

So many presents, and so many places, I fizzled out on opening gifts, and taking pictures. But all in all, it was a good Christmas. It's always good to spend time with friends and family! We are also happy to be in our home, not moving, not in transition. Merry Christmas everyone!

The Stocking were Hung...

 Merry Christmas everyone! After 2 years of transition, and barely decorating, we are officially ready for Christmas this year. We haven't started wrapping any gifts, but the decorations and festivities have begun. We baked some this weekend, and we have watched plenty of Christmas movies already. Esaias can't get enough of the influx of new kid movies to watch. He is super excited to take part in all that Christmas has to offer! Oslin is pretty good with the tree. We didn't put to many ornaments toward the bottom, and he doesn't spend much time in the living room, so that helps. We like our traditional fireplace. It adds a nice ambiance to the whole theme!

Oslin has his own little stuffed nativity, and Esaias has the Fisher Price one to play with. They love looking at, and talking about the baby Jesus. I am so grateful to know that He lives, and that He gave us the greatest gift of all. We all need His atoning sacrifice. I pray that we will all take time to remember the reason for the season. Love to you all!

Aztec Dancing!

 Isaac and Marina had there first Aztec dance performance this weekend. We had short notice on the performance day, and I had to scramble to make their head dresses on Saturday morning. I was feeling pretty pleased with my efforts when they were done.

 Marina started dancing with the group after Danny found out about it through one of his Latina students on his Diversity Board. The group performs Aztec, Columbian, and Mexican traditional dances. Marina was a natural! Recently, the group was needing boy dancers, and we convinced Isaac to join. So, both of them are participating in this great opportunity. Marina loved watching "Living Legends" the BYU dance group that performs similar cultural dances. Now she gets to learn them for herself.

 Isaac's costume was at the church for him, so we didn't get a picture. They performed at Saturday afternoon's Mass at Immaculate Heart of Mary. It was exciting to do their first performance, and a good learning experience to visit a catholic church.

 The feathers on the headdresses are based upon hierarchy, how long you've been dancing with the group. They are just starting so their feathers are short, but in time they will grow to be the large peacock size feathers. When the weather gets warmer and they perform outside again, we will post the video.

 We had to throw this picture in. Today for church we braided Marina's hair. She's been wanting me to do this for quite some time. It actually turned out quite pretty. She has the best hair. It was a fun "do!"