Christmas

We were blessed to have my family come to our home for Christmas. I think the best part was that we had plenty of room for everyone to come to our home! On Christmas Eve we had a big lunch with our extended family on my dad's side. The kids had fun running around but they also enjoyed a little downtime watching Home Alone 2. Let's not forget the delicious food -it would not be a family gathering without food! Later in the afternoon all the guys ended up heading to the church with the kids to play basketball. While the girls stayed at the house and chatted. Don't ask me how the guys actually played basketball with all the kids, I am sure there was not a lot of basketball actually being played.

That night we headed back to our house for pizza. The boys loved sitting at their little table together. Then we each enjoyed opening one present of super soft Christmas pajamas. We later spread out food for the reindeer, set out cookies for Santa (glad my mom brought cookies with the stomach flu we unfortunately did not make our usual Christmas sugar cookies), and read "The Night Before Christmas." We usually read the story of the birth of Jesus Christ in our scriptures. This year I thought the kids might get more out of the movie "Joy to the World." While the movie was great the kids still only lasted a few minutes.

For Christmas Tim's parents gave us a new camera. It is amazing! Thanks! I am still getting used to it so sorry for some of the blurry pictures.


Aaron enjoyed playing with the boxes and the wrapping paper that had already been taken off.

Both the boys headed to bed very early that night. They were exhausted from all of our family fun. Plus Aaron still was not feeling the best with a ruptured ear drum. After Ian double checked that the Christmas lights were on, he headed to bed. Ian believes that Santa can't find your house unless you have Christmas lights hung. It took us a while to figure out where he was getting this from, then we all sat down and watched one of our Christmas favorites "Prep and Landing." The show is all about how the elves prep the homes for Santa to arrive. While the elves are at Timmy's home there is a terrible blizzard making it hard for Santa to land safely. The elves quickly grab as many Christmas lights as they can from a nearby house so that Santa can see to visit Timmy. It is a great family show! We are guessing that is where he got that you must have Christmas lights hung for Santa to visit.

After a late night of preparing everything for Santa to visit :) the kids finally woke up! Ian woke up around 8:30 am while Aaron did not wake up until 11:00 am. Yes, I could have woke Aaron up but who would wake a sick sleeping baby. So our plans were a little thrown off. Ian has been counting down the days til Christmas. All of Christmas Eve he kept shouting "one more day then no days." Of course when he woke up Christmas morning he ran to put a button on the snowman. Apparently that means that Christmas can officially begin (the snowman has 25 buttons you put on to count down the days to Christmas)!

He than looked to see if Santa enjoyed his cookies and fruit leather that he left out.

While waiting for Aaron to wake up we all enjoyed a wonderful juicy roll breakfast with eggs and juice. Then since Aaron was still sleeping we decided to go ahead and open stockings. Tim had worked a graveyard shift on Christmas Eve so he spent most of his morning in this exact position on the couch. The kids stockings were overflowing with tons of Santa love -Ian's favorite being his light up toothbrush!

Pike also enjoyed his stocking. He got a few new treats and a fun stuffed squeaky toy.

Grandma and Grandpa Foster arrived in style in their pajamas. Actual grandpa arrived in his regular clothes and we made him go and change into his pajamas right away. He did not want to be caught in the car in his pajamas in case something were to happen.

Aaron finally decided it was time to wake up, eat, and opening presents. Aaron does not care to open presents. He would rather have you unwrap them for him so he can just enjoy whatever might be inside.



After being very very patient it finally came time to head downstairs and see if Santa did truly come.

Ian was so excited he could hardly speak. Aaron headed straight for the entertainment center to see what trouble he could get into without a second glance at any present (insert video 0154).

Everyone in their Christmas pajamas.


The whole gang ! Did you notice every single person is looking and smiling at the camera? If that is not a Christmas miracle than I do not know what is :)

Aaron finally opened one present from Grandma and Grandpa Diamond and was quite excited. Then he took off to go and play in the playroom. He would come back and check on us every now and then but mostly to climb on top of things. He is currently sitting on top of the food storage my parents got us for Christmas. Thanks!

Ian got a bunch of dress up clothes and a trunk to put them all into for Christmas from my parents. We were all cracking up laughing at him. You can easily see why! These were his two favorites.

We did discover a few new things about Aaron this Christmas. Number 1: He does not like masks. They scare him to death. Number 2: When a tickle-me-Elmo starts moving it also freaks Aaron out. As seen in the video below. Poor baby.

If you read my previous Christmas post you know that Ian has been begging for a real tarantula for Christmas. We are pleased to now be the proud owners of a remote control tarantula (if you thought I was going to say a live tarantula you are out of your mind)! We are grateful that Papa and Nana sent this instead of the real thing. Thanks! Ian and Hunter were loving playing with the spider while trying to scare people. It has definitely got a lot of use and almost been killed a few times.


The kids were blessed with so many fun things. They have been enjoying absolutely everything. Ian still has no desire to go to school, he just wants to stay home and play with his toys.






Andrew is attempting to figure out his sudoku rubics cube! Did you figure it out yet? Below Ian is opening his Buzz lightyear laptop from Grandma and Grandpa Foster. He carries it around as if it were his very own ipad! So cute -thanks!

My dad got a new putter from my mom. While my grandma and grandpa Diamond got a Apple TV from all of their kids.

Grandpa Foster always gets a box of chocolates for Christmas. This box was definitely like no other. My mom on the other hand is known for sticking her finger in the bottom of chocolates then putting them back in the box. No wonder my grandpa always hid them right away. Grandpa was kind enough to still share with everyone. The directions for my mom were very specific -the one you take is the one you get! The box even came with a guide on the top. Apparently my mom bit into a chocolate that she did not like. When attempting to get another chocolate from behind she literally flipped directly over the back of the couch to try and get one. She blames the pajamas but none of us believe it, she just wanted her chocolate.

Aaron anxiously waiting for his medicine. Which he loves. All I have to do is hand the syringe to him and he will suck it out. Then cry in hopes that you will give him more medicine. He still has his ear infections as of today. We go to the doctor for the forth time for the same thing on Wednesday! Fingers crossed that all is well!

We all enjoyed a wonderful dinner, and toasted that the house would clean itself. Nice picture mom :)

The kids continued to play with their toys all day long. Aaron's absolute favorite toy picture below! While Ian enjoyed driving his train from Uncle Wally and Aunt Carol.


That night we had a blast playing the new XBox Kinetics that Hunter got for Christmas. The fruit ninja game was our favorite. Everyone played...yes I mean everyone!

All in all it was a wonderful relaxing Christmas. We enjoy the opportunity to be able to spend time together with family. We also loved being able to video conference with our family all over the country. We have been very blessed this year and look forward to the next. Thanks to all for the wonderful gifts! So sorry that everyone left with the stomach flu :( I thought this picture of grandpa summed everything up! Merry Christmas!