We started off with making M&M Christmas trees with the kids
Hey, Boo....That icing is for the tree! Caught Ya!!
Papa Howie is really getting into this project....
Brady is content just playing with the toys.....
Hey Quick.... Get the camera!
Brayden is actually coming over to make a tree!
Nice job Brady!
So much for the candy tree.....
This is much more fun!
Karah's tree is just about done....
LOOK OUT! Here come Luke.... YUMMY!
Papa Howie putting on the finishing touches
They younger kids (and Shawn) strung fruit loops to decorate the grandkids Christmas tree.
Come on Lukie... Come help Grandma "T"
Almost finished with the fruit loop garland
Decorating the Tree...
Aunt April helping out Lukie
Now he's got the hang of it! Take them off so that Karah can put them back on.....Boy this is fun!
Each year we try to make a new ornament for the current year with the kids pictures on them so that we can look back over the years to see how they have grown. Ashlee made them this year and they turned out really cute.
Lyssi putting up her picture ornament
Grandma "T" with her little angels!
Karah really enjoyed this time decorating
Boo making sure everything is "just right"
Brayden found the choo-choo train decorations and that was it! He ABSOLUTELY loves trains and so he was occupied the rest of the night just playing with the trains. There was no way on earth he was going to put them on the tree. He insisted on keeping them out to play with when he comes back to Papa Howie's house!
CHOO-CHOO....
Cute picture of Dawn......
Temple Square Lights...
We all bundled up nice and warm and left to go see the Christmas lights. We decided to take the TRAX train up to temple square. This way we could all travel together and we would not have to worry about parking. Brayden (like I mentioned before) LOVES trains so he was in HEAVEN!
Chuga-chuga....Choo-Choooo
April and Lyssi ready to go....
Luke.... Calling for dinner reservations!
BURRRRR... It's cold out here!
Snuggly warm and on our way
Cuddled up with the man I love!
Ash and Ty
Papa Howie with his little buddy....
The babies were bundled up in their strollers the majority of the night. Wish it was me!
The lights were beautiful. We didn't stay too long because it was FREEZING and the kids were tired and hungry. We went into the Joseph Smith Memorial Building to warm up and get some family pictures. We thought about eating at our fabulous restaurant there but decided to go somewhere that the kids may enjoy better.
Sisters and friends....
I love watching my girls interact with each other and draw closer together since April has moved back to Utah. I think the cousins are going to be as close as I was to mine when I grew up. I think it is such a blessing in their lives to live so close and enjoy each others company. There is nothing better in this life than family. That is what is truly important!!!
I love my family with all of my heart!
Oh... just in case you were wondering.........
I love Howie too!
Dining Out.......
Well so much for the Roof with the kids. We settled for the Golden Coral so the kids could choose what they eat. They seemed to love it.
Jack's eyes look a little drowsy in this picture. I think he is about ready to crash for the night! Time to go home to bed kiddos!
Bedtime Stories.....
Twas the night before Christmas......
And all through the house.......
I always enjoy reading to my grandkids. This is the same book that I read to my girls as they grew up and each Christmas I pull it out I remember what a joy it was raising them. Christmas is a magical time of the year and I am so happy to be spending it with my kids.
Jack enjoyed the stories from afar... As long as he had a place to drive his trains around he was happy. He was always in ear-shot of the stories and once in a while he'd come take a peek at the pictures. I sure love this little guy!
Time to throw the kids in bed....
Piggy back rides to bed from Papa Howie
Steve usually takes the kids to bed whenever they sleep over. He runs them all around the house in his arms or on his shoulders and then finally plops them into bed. It looks exhausting to me as he races up and down the stairs with them. I love to listen to their squeals and laughter when he does this. I am glad that he is the one that made up this little tradition and not me. I am way tooooo old for all of that exercise.
Waking up to open presents.....
I think Alyssa was the first one awake this morning.... Looks like she wants to eat fruit loops for breakfast. Hey.... Lyssi where did you get that cute necklace?
Jack Jack waiting to open presents. Notice what is STILL in his hand. I think he fell asleep grasping that choo-choo train as tight as he could. Darn.... I wish I would have bought him one for his Christmas gift. It would have been a hit! Better yet, if I could sneak that out of his hand somehow and wrap it up as his gift he would love me FOREVER!!! (oh wait.... I think he loves me anyway)
April with her girls
A few more pictures before we open presents
Dawn and her boys
Me and the crew
The best part of Christmas is the wrapping paper....
Just ask Luke!
Eating breakfast with the cousins
Getting ready for church....
Ash and Tyson were not able to go to church with us this year but it was so nice that they were able to spend so much time with us this Christmas weekend. They went off to go to church with the Veenendaal family.
Sweet Kisses from Boo...
Christmas 2007
These last few pictures just totally crack me up. There is a funny story that goes along with them. If you take a look on my coffee table I have this tray with three candles in them. Each time my grandkids come to visit us they seem drawn to this table. Now keep in mind that they have a HUGE play area downstairs which takes up the entire basement and it is FILLED with toys.
I often find them in this living room area playing with the wicks from the candles. Now this is just not April's girls that have this obsession..... The boys are also drawn to these candles for some strange reason. One day as they were all playing at my house it was unusually quiet. I wandered upstairs to find all four of them standing around this table taking turns slowly pulling up the wicks and then replacing them to their original position. Up and down.... Up and down. Brayden also loves to pick off the outer cover of the tall candle and it has slowly become bare! I always gently remind them that this room is for Grandma "T" and that the toys are all downstairs. I think they all know this rule but it is a hard thing for them to stay away from.
The funny part of these pictures is that right before we left for church this morning I found Karah playing with the wicks again. The moment I snapped this picture she realized she may be in trouble. I had caught her red handed!!!!
She instantly pulled out the CHARM as she bent down and said "CHEESE" take my picture grandma "T". Karah has me wrapped around her little finger and I think she knows it. How could I possibly scold her after she looks at me with her big baby blues and smiles that incredible smile. 
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