Christmas Magic 2011

SOMEONE is excited for Christmas

We went to the festivities at The Riverwoods mall again this year. It was freezing, but we really love all the holiday stuff they do... Santa

a carriage ride...

and big horses to pet. Kyla LOVES horses.

My family has a jean stocking tradition - my mom made all of ours growing up. So, I made Brandon, Kyla, Kash, and Makaida a jean stocking to match with the rest of the family. This year I finished Makaida's right before Christmas.

We spent Christmas in Idaho with my family - the kids went sledding with Grandpa

or just hung out with Grandpa

and Grandma

Brandon is the most wonderful Dad ever to celebrate holidays with. Here he is cutting out reindeer antlers and noses for all of the nieces and nephews.

And here are all the nieces and nephews as reindeer

The kids acted out the story of Jesus from the Bible - you can see Kyla is a little out of it - we were right in the middle of increasing her prescription dosage and it was doing crazy things to her

Kash was a darling shepherd, Kyla was a sweet little angel

Makaida was baby Jesus and Uncle Dan and Aunt Alisha were Joseph and Mary

...and apparently, Brandon was a camel

Christmas Eve gifts from Grandma and Grandpa

All the cousins in their Christmas Eve Jammies

My kids in their Christmas jammies

Before bed they got chocolate ornaments

Kash is pretty excited about it...

Brandon helped all the nieces and nephews write letters to Santa that we put on the tree

Best present of all, right?

Kyla and Kash's Santa letters

All the nieces and nephews on Christmas morning

Buzz Lightyear!

Basketball shoes

Yes, that is a mix of Buzz Lightyear, Spiderman, AND Captain America

Opening presents was so much fun this year. Kash was absolutely delighted. Kyla was adjusting to her medicine and got so overwhelmed that she just laid on the floor. She had a pile of presents to open and she could not even concentrate on opening them. She even fell over once or twice. I was so concerned about her that Christmas morning was a tad stressful. After about two weeks, Kyla finally adjusted or something, because she has been fine ever since. I still have no idea what really was happening. It was really strange. After we opened presents we went to church! I actually really love having Christmas on Sunday because it helps keep things in perspective.

We also stayed the week after Christmas. We went to the petting zoo and fed the goats

and checked out the monkey they have. This monkey really liked Brandon. She walked right up to him and sat in front of him. She did not like women or children. She would hiss at me if I came too close. They think she must have been abused before they saved her. Cute little thing.

Brandon spoiled me for Christmas and got me an ASUS Transformer tablet and keyboard. The kids loved it.

My dad will regularly put the grandbabies to sleep. It is the sweetest thing ever.

On the drive home, Kash wanted EVERY toy he got for Christmas to be by him in his car seat. It was hilarious.