Merry Christmas!!

Makenna helping mommy do the dishes......On Christmas eve Madison let me know that we hadn't yet made cookies for Santa....I asked her if we should make snickerdoodles (they are easier to make than sugar cookies) she said that Santa doesn't like that kind, he likes sugar cookies. I also thought that maybe we could just put out some of the m&m's we had laying around the house, she didn't really like that idea either...lol......So, we made some sugar cookies and the girls helped me by putting sprinkles on the cookies (and the counter and floor :) ) We had lots of fun and Santa really enjoyed them.....

All of the kids Christmas eve in their new pjs...

Braxton just got done opening up the gift he got from Landon......a cool thermometer....

Landon in his new hat so we can go up to the snow and his ears will stay nice and cozy.

Madison and Makenna....Makenna just opened up the gifts that Madison got for her.....a cute soft and cuddly puppy dog and some bottles for her baby dolls...

Madison and the doll that she got from grandma and grandpa.

Madison in her new "hello kitty hat" it looks like she is thinking "mom are you taking another picture?"

Makenna just got through opening up the doll that grandma and grandpa gave to her.

Madison and Makenna got new cribs for their baby dolls.

Today after we got home from church, Braxton was playing some Christmas songs for us and Makenna got on a box(her stage) and was singing for us...very cute.

Hey what do you know. It does snow in Hillsboro, Oregon. Today it started to snow while we were in church. Needless to say all the kids were very excited and wanted to go outside.

Braxton, Madison, and Makenna playing in the snow. They so loved it. Hopefully, we will get some snow again.

Braxton and Madison outside playing in the snow.

Madison getting some snow to throw at Landon. She was out there making snow angels and having a great time.

Landon has been waiting for this day forever. During church this afternoon it started to snow. So, as soon as we got home he ran upstairs, changed his clothes and ran outside. He wasn't too happy when he needed to come in and have some dinner :(

Makenna already to go to church.

Horray we got some snow!! Michael has always wanted a train so, this year we got one. Landon and Madison outside playing in the snow. Landon would totally stay out all night long if we let him.

Landon in his costume for "Back to Bethlehem" The boys had fun running around the "streets of Bethlehem" Braxton was somewhere socializing so I didn't get his picture :( He rarely stays still long enough for me to snap a picture.

Madison at the ward Christmas party she's all dressed up like she's going to Bethlehem. Madison slept in her costume. Makenna had her stuff all off about half way through the evening. She thought it was all a little crazy. She had fun before we left when we were playing in all of mommy's fabric trying to figure out what we all could wear. Maybe she will want to play dress up another day and I will be able to take a picture, because she looked pretty cute.

No, Michael is not going to a Karate-Toga party :). This was my attempt to dress all of us up for the ward Christmas "Back to Bethlehem" party.

Madison at her dance class doing her cute little dance. She loves dance, but sadly her teacher Miss Terrell is moving to Arizona.

Makenna posing for her picture.

Madison hanging up an ornament that Grandpa & Grandma sent her.

Visiting Santa

Last Saturday we went to see Santa. The girls were very excited to see him. Braxton just goes with the flow. Landon wouldn't get in the picture :( Landon either thinks he is too old, or ever since he was little he has been afraid of the jolly man and has never wanted to be very close to him, let alone take a picture with him. So, sadly he is not in the picture.

Braxton all ready to go on his first Temple trip, to do baptisms (he looks like a missionary with the backpack on his back). He was very excited. He has passed the sacrament for 2 Sundays now and thinks it is pretty neat. Time sure if flying, hard to believe he is 12.

Michael had to grab the camera for this rare occasion (actually it does happen quite a bit which is really nice) All of the kiddies not fighting and quietly watching a Christmas show. Makenna always likes to dress up... she has on some of Madison's old Sunday shoes that will be new to her probably next year, a hat, a jingle bell necklace, her binkie (of course, we are still trying to lose it), she is using the keys in her hand and the babywipe container as a drum.

Landon giving Makenna a piggy back ride. Madison is doing her homework.

Landon and puppy under the tree. Braxton and Landon wanted to put a bow on the doggie.

Merry Christmas. Puppy has decided to make her new napping place on the soft tree skirt under the tree or maybe she is waiting for Santa :)

Madison putting up some ornaments.

Braxton helping Makenna put on some ornaments. You may be wondering why we have a roll of toilet paper on the side table in the living room.......Braxton was working on his art drawing that he had to do.....learning about shadows and shading.

Landon hanging up his ornaments on the tree.

Makenna getting all nice and cozy for an afternoon nap after our big Thanksgiving feast. We all had to relax and watch a movie while all the food settled in our tummies.

Madison made a pilgrim hat in school and she has been wearing it ever since. Makenna was playing in the hat and glove container (the things that keep kids entertained right) and wanted to put this hat on. Madison made puppy an Indian hat with a leave she got outside. Happy Thanksgiving!!

The back view of Braxton's turkey napkin ring. Notice Braxton is still in his pj's. Both he and Landon will probably stay in their pj's all day. Needless to say they are enjoying the vacation from school.

Braxton's turkey napkin ring.

Madison made some turkey napkin rings for our Thanksgiving dinner.

Landon and the turkey he made in school. Gobble Gobble.

Friday in school, Madison's class had a Thanksgiving feast. She is very proud of her pilgrim hat.

Makenna mixing up some brownies. She got the box out of the pantry and said " Brownies" So, she helped me mix them up.

Happy Birthday Braxton!!

Horray it is Braxton's birthday!!

Braxton's untraditional birthday cake.

Braxton's very untraditional birthday cake. Braxton's favorite cookie in the whole world are snickerdoodles, so this year we decided to make some cookies and surround them with 12 cupcakes ( leave it to Braxton to figure in some type of math, he turned 12 this year, hence the 12 cupcakes.) We all went out to dinner and then went to Target and let him pick out something. He picked out some Star Wars figures. This sunday he will be ordained a Deacon, he is pretty excited about it.

Madison the super hero

Madison the super hero girl (as she calls herself) Madison cut out these 3D glasses off of the danimals (yogurts) got the string and stapled them together (I did have to switch around the staples, she had the pokey side facing her eyes, probably not a good idea) she got her blanket and used a hair clip to clip it together and she has been running around the house this afternoon saving the day.

Makenna in the pile of clothes.

Makenna on the pile of clean clothes she just got out of the dryer for me. Makenna thinks it is fun to help me get the clothes out of the dryer for me (don't know how long this will last :)) then after she puts them on the floor for me to fold she likes to lay on them. She will usually go grab a story book and lay down and read. Then the girls help me fold them, it is a pretty good system.

The girls glued to the TV.

Madison and Makenna in a TV trance watching Max & Ruby.

We like to buy jelly bellies in bulk. Yummy!! Tonight when we got back from the store and Michael was refilling the container they went all over the place.. after some laughter I grabbed the camera and took some pictures.

Makenna picking up the jelly beans as fast as she can and shoving them in her mouth.

Happy Halloween. Trunk-or-treating at the church.

The back of Braxton's costume, that we put together on the way out the door. Hey, whatever works right?? :)

Landon couldn't go trick-or-treating tonight. He hurt his foot and it was all wrapped up in an ace bandage. So, the good sport that Braxton is, let me grab a brown bag, scissors, and a marker as we headed out the door. I hurried and cut out some eye holes in the dark, in the van, on the way to the church. :)

Landon and Makenna checking out all of the goodies...lt is a good thing they all have dentist appointments next Thursday...:)