christmas time is best with kids!

 

Lots of fun activities this time of year! I would definitely agree that Christmas is exciting as a kid but its even more exciting when you have your own kids to share the spirit with! Here are a few of our favorite Christmas activities:

 

Gingerbread houses! Our kids have a lot of fun with this one. Of course Mason is very technical and Sophie eats more candy than she actually puts on the house.

 

Finished products....Curtis, Mason, Christina/Brooklyn & Sophie

We haven't gone to our ward Christmas party the past two years because it hasn't been starting until 7 p.m. and since our kids go to bed at 7:30 we usually opt out of going.  This year we decided to try it out and it was actually a lot of fun.  They just had finger foods and a hot chocolate bar and our kids had a blast running around with all the other kiddos that were there. Santa also paid a little visit. Mason and Brooklyn both went to him but Sophie refused to get anywhere close which is why she does not have a picture with Santa :)  

 

Next up is our Christmas Eve tradition of making cookies for Santa. I'm pretty sure Sophie just ate all her frosting straight out of her bowl.

Another Christmas Eve tradition....opening up Christmas pajamas.  

 

Our tree. You can't tell that we have a toddler in the house can you? The first day we decorated our tree, the whole thing was decorated. By the time Christmas rolled around we had moved all the ornaments out of B's reach which made the top half look over crowded and the bottom half bare.  After 3 kids you learn to just roll with it.

Christmas morning. My kids look so excited don't they?

 

Our kids had no suggestions for what they wanted Santa to bring them. Whenever Mason sat on his lap (Sophie refused to get anywhere close to him) he just told Santa he wanted his present to be a surprise. That made it super easy for Santa :) He brought both Mason and Sophie LeapPads and so far they have loved them!

 

 Santa brought B a little house that has different things to do on it (turn on a light, ring the doorbell, open the door, etc.). He also brought her this little baby that she is holding in her hand in this picture.  She loves that baby! She carries it everywhere with her. Good one Santa!

 

 This is just a random photo that I got of B. I NEVER get pictures of her smiling so I was super excited to get this one!

A few days after Christmas, my parents came down to visit. We had a coupon for an aquarium that is about an hour away so we decided it would be fun to go with grandma and grandpa. The kids absolutely loved it!! 

This is a cool 360 degree tunnel that they had at the aquarium. Fish, sharks and stingrays all around you, even beneath your feet. 

 

After the exhibits they have a few different pools where you can touch different types of sea life. They got to feel things like starfish, shells and urchins which they thought was pretty cool then they got to play in the play place for a bit before we headed back home.  

 

We hope all our friends and family also had an enjoyable holiday season! We look forward to seeing you this summer!