It's My Birthday!

My sweet friends took me out for my 35th birthday.  We had a great night at BJ's Restaurant for yummy food and of course, delicious Pazookies!!  I also had my first time playing Bingo at Red Rock.  The food was delicious, Bingo was fun and crazy, and my friends are fabulous!  Thanks, girls, for a wonderful night!

Blowing out the candle on my Pazookie!

Whitney, Austin, Geneva

Me, Amber, JaCoy

Done with dinner and off to Bingo

Me and Melissa, ready to go with our ink dauber

Geneva showing off her Bingo card

Lacee, Kaydee, Austin

We were laughing so much that it was hard to pay attention to the board and numbers being called.  There are six rounds and Amber and I shared a card so we each covered half and it was easier for us.  Some gals were stressing out and ignoring others in the hope that they could win listen to the numbers. 

Jackie, Whitney, Ashley

Ashley has pronounced herself as the "Bingo Virgin Dauber"--She would ink all the newbies on the forehead.  She would also repeat the numbers over and over again in different accents or languages until we were either laughing our heads off or ready to smack her.  Luckily for us, the people we were sitting by were in good spirits or we all would have been kicked out.  Some of those people take BINGO very, very seriously!

Ash also explained that we really wouldn't win so we didn't need to take it too seriously or worry about taking home "dirty money".  She has been playing over 7 years and hasn't won a penny! 

A bunch of fun friends

Christmas Dress

Pictures of the kids in their Christmas Dress didn't turn out as well as I would have liked.  I was trying to fiddle with my camera and flash without any knowledge ;).  It was late after church so they weren't really up for posing and staying in their Church clothes.  Oh well, they still are cute kids to me.

It's Christmas!

Christmas morning couldn't come fast enough and we heard the kids stirring and waking each other up about 6:30 a.m.  Our rule is that they are not allowed to wake us up until 7:30.  Yes, we are mean to make them wait that long but if we got up at 6:00 every year, Christmas would be over before 8:00 and we would like to extend the anticipation and magic into late morning.   After jumping on our bed and begging us to get up and comb our hair, we said family prayer and lined up to head downstairs.  Clark insisted that we keep the video camera and camera upstairs so that Dad didn't see all the gifts first.  Joe did go downstairs, however, to turn on the Christmas tree and family room lights after promising to close his eyes and not peek but feel his way around the room. 

Lining up to start a magical day

Santa brought Clark a sweet new bike and helmet

Santa brought Carlee a "Barbie Dreamhouse" and Leapster 3

Katelyn got a Cricut and a pink camera from Santa Claus

Jacob was spoiled with Harry Potter Legoes and a Nintendo DSi

Joe got a weight bench and I got a Cricut Expression along with some organizers

A fabulous grilling set for the "Grill Master"

Cheesing it with "Just Dance" for the Wii

New roller blades for Street Hockey and Skubic with the neighborhood kids

Carlee got Bitty Baby outfits and toys for Baby Lizzie

The boys got Guitar Hero for the Wii

Katelyn got a Camping Set and sleeping bag for her doll, Emily

I got some cute new leather boots but unfortunately they were returned because they didn't fit well

We enjoyed our traditional Christmas breakfast of hot chocolate, orange juice, fresh fruit, cinnamon rolls, and breakfast casserole before relaxing and playing all day.  There were new things to try outside, toys and games to open and explore, new movies to watch, and candy to eat.  It was a wonderful Christmas! 

Christmas Eve

We joined forces this year with the Oldhams and Swaseys for a traditional Christmas Eve dinner and Nativity play.

Little Kids' Table

Big Kids' Table

All of the actors in the Nativity Play:  Cole-Joseph; Carlee-Mary; Clark-Donkey; Mia-Shepherd; Nedra and Katelyn-Angels; Jake and Mitchell-Wisemen; Amber-Narrator; Luke, Clara, Ella, and Adults-Audience Members/Photographers

 

 When the play was over, the kids decorated sugar cookies for Santa. 

Isn't Amber a dream?

Silly posers

Then we headed home for our family traditions of new pj's, new ornaments from our November trip to Disneyland, Christmas stories, hot chocolate, and cookies for Santa.

Do they look like they are ready for bed?

We sent the kids off to bed and they very quickly fell asleep.  There was no rough-housing, playing, getting out of bed or goofing off.  It was magical.  The joys of believing in Santa exist in this house and they could not wait for his visit.  Merry Christmas to all...and to all a good night!