Christmas Festivities...

December has been such a fun and busy month. We bought our first real Christmas tree and I thought that I was deprived as a kid because ever since I can remember we always had a fake Christmas tree while many of my friends had real ones. I always wanted to go to the Christmas tree lot and pick one out growing up....but now I can totally agree with my mom on why we always had a fake one. We bought ours a few days after Thanksgiving and Brian was faithful about watering it and trying to keep this thing alive until Christmas, but a few days before it was definitely on it's last limb. And not too mention the huge mess that these things make! Although I did enjoy the fresh smell, I think until Brynnly or Bryce start begging us to get a real tree, a fake one will have to do.

Brynnly helped us decorate the tree the first night... and then throughout the passed month has been a real big help with helping undecorate the tree! Good thing I bought shatterproof ornaments this year! Not my dream decoartions, but for now they work.We made gingerbread houses one night for FHE, Brynnly and Brylee were more into eating the candy then actually decorating them this year.
Ryker and Bryce are pretty easy going, they will do whatever we do as long as they can get a good nap in! Baby, all I want for Christmas is YOU!!
Aunt Kiersti's little house turned out the best! I think she makes this same one every year so all the practice is paying off.
CHRISTMAS EVE... Growing up our family (all the brothers and sisters) always had a tradition of sleeping in the same bedroom on Christmas Eve and so now that a few are married and have our own families we still like to all wake up together on Christmas day so we spend the night at our parents house. Now, we don't wake up at 4 am like we use to, but still we get up earlier then I would like! I am sure that soon enough the 4 am Christmas mornings will happen once our kids are old enough to realize.
Grandpa Russell with his two grandsons. He loves his little boys. They are about at the same stage as him...sitting and watching games all day and getting a little food in here and there! I love you daddy and am so glad that you are always willing to hang out with the boys.Christmas Day was a really great day. It is so fun to be with the family and doing family things all day. We did the whole stockings and opened gifts. Santa Clause has always given the best gifts that somehow can fit in those stockings...25 and I still look forward to the great stuff Santa puts in my stocking! I wonder when when my mom is going to think that I am too old for a stocking, hopefully not anytime soon! After opening gifts my parents cooked us a wonderful breakfast and then the day consisted of playing Rockband pretty much all day long. Anyone up to challenge this band?!? And Yes, we are all as hardcore as we look!
And the newest member of the band...

BRYNNLY PAIGE MARLER... now she can rock out with us! Brynnly was spoiled by Grandparents, aunts, uncles and of course mom and dad...thanks for all the gifts! But after it was all said and done, the thing that she liked the most all day long was jumping on the tramp at Grandmas house. These two girls could jump and jump all day long and never get tired of it. You would think that it would drain there energy a little bit, but it doesn't slow them down one bit! The day before I had Bryce I went out and jumped on the tramp and did a few blackflips and tricks and I was worn out just after a few tricks...and maybe that is why Bryce was born 2 weeks early...who knows?! All the kids love their Uncle Chaddy My little guy is growing up too fast, I can't believe that he is already 3 months old.
Cousins... don't ya just love those chunky thighs?! We could not get them to both look at the camera for a picture. Ryker just wanted to eat Bryce.
And to end the day with a disappointing loss for the SUNS, and of course it just happend to be to the LAKERS, who my husband is still a loyal fan to. I can't get him to switch over. He will root for the Suns, as long as they aren't playing the Lakers. My dad loves to get the guys sports paraphernalia each year for Christmas, matching hats and all. Well even with the loss it was still a wonderful Christmas! It is a bitter sweet moment that it is all over until another year. I hope that everyone had a great Christmas and took a moment to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas.