Kreesmas 2016

How can Christmas 2016 be here and gone and 2017 happening tomorrow? This year seemed to go by more quickly than years past- maybe it's the kids, maybe it's our crazy schedule, maybe it's having Mark back. Who knows, this year was one that I wasn't as sad to see go as 2015. 

We crammed a TON in the month of December! We started the month off with the MoTab Christmas concert with the Blackhursts and Nguyens. For once, they didn't do a lottery system and I actually got tickets. The concert was great and we had a fun night with these crazy people- I daresay we even converted Aish to liking Vietnamese food. 

Mc's Christmas clay Williamson family

One of my favorite things to do during Halloween/Christmas is to drive around and look at the lights for Family Home Evening. I always remember Winder Dairy's lights and since we were out that way, we drove down Winder Street- NOTHING like I remembered (like two houses only had lights) and then we stopped by 4233 Charles Drive. Lots of good memories and Christmases playing Nintendo all hours of the night in this little house. We also did the drive through lights at the Olympic Oval with Grandma Mary Ann while daddy was in Blanding.

Santa at Heartland. The kids and I stayed after the last day before Christmas break and got to see Santa, do some crafts and have snacks. 

We went bowling with the Thomases and Ty Ty, Cash, Jade & Noah. The kids had a blast and my bowling game is a little rusty. 

Mc had her Christmas dance recital. She did AWESOME! She looked so grown up and I love her costume.

Ornament Day at Mary Ann's- one of our favorite crafting days (Enzo, not so much). Mark's ornament made it one second on our counter before it met it's demise. I was super stoked about my Nightmare Before Christmas wreath, Mc did an excellent job painting and Kingston made about 15 peel and stick ornaments. 

The kids had specific things they wanted from Santa this year. Mc wanted an American Girl Lego house, Kingston a remote control monster truck and Enzo, a garbage/dump truck. Santa sure delivered and so did Alex (Legos, stuffed cats), Mimi & Papa, Mary Ann, G & Chris. Our kids are sure taken care of at the holidays. We were excited to get a renewed Thanksgiving Point pass, a day of sledding in January,and new books. 

Christmas Jammies. 

Legos from Alex. The ghetto blaster and parrot were my favorite. Kingston was pretty proud of himself (Thanks, Alex!!)

Letter to Santa, oreos, carrots and lego reindeer. 

We did catch Santa again this year! 

All their wishes came true!

Christmas morning we woke up to layers upon layers of snow! It was awesome! It was a Sunday this year so we had church at 10 for an hour. The kids woke up at 7, presents were opened by 7:23, Mark started shoveling the driveway and the kids went out to play while I made head sized cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate and Enzo played with his garbage truck.

Sacrament meeting was so great (being only an hour helped). The songs were perfect. Bishop Whiting gave a 5 min talk about the Savior and his birth/sacrifice for us. My heart felt full and it was nice to be there, where were supposed to be, worshipping the Lord on the day of his Birth.

SNOW

Christmas Kiddies all ready for church. Also, Mc's glasses. 

Sunday Selfie- while Enzo screams "noooooooooo"

Christmas Day we went to Mary Ann's after church for breakfast casserole and presents. She always gives the kids new books which I love. Kingston wasn't sure about "Walter the Farting Dog" but he has learned (like any boy) that it's hilarious.

Then to Mom's for white elephants (we gifted a pillow case with Mom and Dad's face swap from the cruise with a "Sweet Dreams" caption-winner!), more food and spoiling. The kids got to watch a movie, play games, listen to Mimi read a story and eat reindeer cookies.

New snow gear from Mimi & Papa

COUSINS

2.5 hours and 75 pages of directions and the Lego house was completed. 

Kingston was super excited to tell everyone he got his own glass bottled Sprite. Mc & her Lego house (again with the glasses). Enzo and his garbage truck- I am pretty sure this will be naptime for a while. Mark made me this Tsum Tsum tower and surprised me with the Tsum Tsums I wanted from Disneyland. I love it! Mark got his track day and all is right with the world.

 

Christmas has been boxed up and put away for another year- I am hoping that this was the last Christmas we celebrate in this house (fingers crossed the house goes up on the market again next week) so it's great that it was such a good one. We didn't do a ton because we went to Disneyland and I think it was just perfect. On to 2017! Who knows what this year will hold but that is part of the excitement as we wait to see what the Lord has in store for our little family. 

All aboard the Polar Express

The Polar Express did not disappoint. I had a vision in my head of what I wanted it to be like (for the kid's sake) and, it seriously exceed my expectations! The weather was cold, there was snow, hot chocolate, singing, family, Santa, a bell. It was so great! I loved watching the kids in their jammies and seeing their faces when we passed Santa waving from the North Pole outside and then coming in the car to chat with them. The train car was warm, the cookies from Mrs Claus tasted like fresh/raw cookie dough and the Santa was legit. Enzo LOVED riding the "Choo Choo/" and did pretty well because he could just roam around the car and hop from seat to seat. We also happened to be there the same night as the Ellett/Clark family. It was good to see Mark and Marcie and Jen and her family too. 

It is always fun going with cousins. Brynlee and Mc sat together, Kingston and Cash and Baby Noah (who wasn't so fond of the loud train and peed on the seat). Christmas memories with my kids will always be my favorite. 

We were sad that Brittnee didn't get to come but, Alex got to join us instead. 

Best cousins. 

The kiddies and the elf. 

#lighttheworld

One of my favorite traditions every year, is getting an email from my sweet friend, Lindsay at the Adoption Exchange and selecting children/siblings to purchase gifts for. We had six kids total this year- one tiny baby, a few siblings and kids that are around my kid's ages. I think that is is the funnest part and something that can continually remind my kids (at any age) how blessed they are. These kids need coats, boots and clothes but, like any kid, have toys (Legos, barbies, coloring supplies) that they hope to find Christmas morning too. I love shopping for them. I love talking about them all the month of December and thinking about them Christmas morning as we open our own gifts.

The church also issued a challenge #lighttheworld where every day we do something to remember Christ and this was a great way to kick off the 25 ways in 25 days. I love my Savior and want to try and remember him and his sacrifice every day, not just at Christmas.

Diddneyland 2016

For almost a year, all the planning had been done secretly. Plane tickets booked, hotel, rental car, Disneyland tickets. All of it. We decided the week after Mc got baptized would be a great time to surprise the kids. Santa really wanted us to go to Disneyland for Christmas. It was hard keeping it a secret for so long but SO worth the sweet video of Mc reading the letter from Santa the day we left (she almost cried when she read that Brynlee was coming- adorable!).

The entire week before, we like geniuses, decided to get our house ready to put up for sale so that we could have a million showings while we were gone (we had one). The night before, we packed the kid's bags and got ready to leave first thing in the morning. The challenge, the few days before we left, Mc was diagnosed with walking pnuemonia and had been throwing up for two days. I was SO worried that she would be too sick to enjoy the trip but she was back to her old self by the first day at the park (prayer and Priesthood blessings at work).

We also made the executive decision to leave Mr. Lorenzo Niels home with Grandma Mary Ann, Mimi and Alex. It was such a SMART decision. No stroller. No bum changing. And we were able to go on EVERY ride (that we could force the kids to ride that is). He will be old enough to go the next time and for that I am excited.

California welcomed us with perfect weather- shorts and minimal jacket wearing the entire trip. The hotel was close to the park so we rode the tram back and forth every day. Continental breakfast, swimming pool, fire pit. It was great.

The park is just as magical and amazing as it is at Halloween. I truly have grown to love Disneyland and what it offers my family. I had a thought that Heavenly Father must really like Disneyland- it's clean, wholesome fun and SO much happiness. You can't beat it.

The kids had a blast! We were so glad to be traveling with the Thomases. The kids would go back and forth between the hotel rooms and play. Mc and Brynlee were inseparable and we hope that Tyler and Jade will come next time so K will have Cash. I just love taking my kids. I hope that we can continue to go every two years or so.

We ate in the park most days. Had Monte Cristos, Dole whips, churros, the most delightful gingerbread men I have ever eaten (and I may never find one to rival them again) and the $8 corn dogs.

Most of the rides took convincing to get the kids to go. K was pretty much scared of the "hills" but once he rode, he would say how awesome it was and want to go again. The Tower Of Terror (the name is more scary than anything) was the biggie but the kids rode, albeit Mc crying ALL through the line, all the way to the door, all the way to her seat and through most of the ride. They loved Pirates, Soarin', Space Mountain,  Toy Story, Haunted Mansion (which is always my favorite for the holidays) and Thunder Mountain. The lines were surprisingly short (except for Cars- which always has the longest line of all time) and the park was at a low point which was awesome for us.

Souvenirs were important as ever- Mc chose a limited edition Holly doll from the Tower of Terror. A cute doll that you can only buy in the park and was a perfect choice to remind her that she can do hard things. We discovered the Lego store in downtown Disney later in the vacation and the only bribe that lured Kingston to the Tower of Terror was a a Lego rally car. I got our yearly ornament that says, "Final Check out 2017" from the Tower of Terror since it closes in January and will be converted to a new ride. I will miss it. Glad we got to ride it one last time.

K conquering Splash Mountain. It might have taken a bit of fibbing ("we will tell them you don't want to go on the hill") but he went. And he had a blast. 

K on Space Mountain

Mc on the Tower of Terror

Final Checkout for the Tower of Terror

K was whining about riding the Tower of Terror and a sweet vendor lady (her name was Bette), said if he would go, he could have a free Icee. Notice the cute Mickey ears she made for him! Brave kid, sweetest lady. 

K at the Lego store. The coolest sculptures made all out of Legos. 

Our last ride, on the last day! 

We spent three full days in the park and enjoyed every minute. I wasn't ready for it to be over and to go back to real life. Thursday was our "free" day so we went to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. It was by far the best aquarium I have ever been too! So much to interact with- we got to touch Jellyfish and see sharks inside their eggs developing. The otters were being fed while we were there, we got to touch sharks, stingrays and see newly hatched Seahorses. We stopped at a hole in the wall Donut shop on the way home that was pretty good- "just look for a sign that says Donuts" was the recommendation that we got from a friend, didn't disappoint. That night we let the kids swim and play, take out from Olive Garden and then we headed back to the snow and ice, school and jobs that were waiting in Utah.

Aquarium of the Pacific

This HUGE touch pool. The best part was all the volunteers were Senior Citizens- they were so sweet and knowledgeable! Totally would do that if I lived anywhere near this place. 

Picture with the Diver in the HUGE tank. (Mc's fake glasses)

Touching Jellyfish

Shark inside the egg- hatching December 15. Mc keeps saying if we leave now, we won't miss it. I wish. 

Channeling our inner Beetlejuice. 

We took the kids to the beach really quickly (since there were quite a few homeless people) and let them put their feet in and enjoy the sun and sand. 

Sure did miss this kid. Even though every time we talked to him all he did was the "Hulk Face". He was extra happy to see daddy. 

There was something extra special about this trip. I think the timing was perfect for us and the Thomases. I think that we all needed that bright spot in our lives. 2016 has been really good to us and I am so glad that we got to spend some quality time with the kids (and Enzo on Facetime). I love making memories with them- this one, hopefully, will be one that they always remember.