Christmas Day

We started the morning by coming out to see what Santa gave us. We were all surprised to see that we all made the Nice list and boy did he spoil us. The best was Ryan got a DS which was the only thing on his list and once he saw it he turned to Dan and I and said "I'm so Happy" while he was jumping up and down. It was so cute. Then my sisters Anna and Leah, with her family, came over and we had breakfast.After breakfast we opened up all our gifts. I think the favorites of the day were Dan's new cups, Christian and Ryan's Kung Zu pets, Megan's new car, and I loved my Tickle Monster Book. Ryan also was so excited that he got new books for Mommy to read to him at bedtime. We have read his new Toy Story book every night since. (Kenna this was when he was opening your gift can you tell how red his face was?)After Megan had a nap we headed down the street to Dan's Uncle John's house for a wonderful Italian dinner. We also sang Christmas songs and got White Elephant gifts. One of the Christmas songs we sang was written by Aunt Betty, it was called "Walking in a Desert Wonderland". She wrote it after moving to California from Massachusetts. Then we had cake for dessert and we sang Happy Birthday to Christian and Auggie John. It was such a wonderful evening but about 6 my kids were becoming a little crazy so we packed up and headed back home.We had an amazing day and are so thankful for our Savior and all he did for us!

Leading up to the big day

We had so much fun before Christmas. We decorated the house, went looking at lights, Christian's school put on a program, and we did a lot of baking. Ryan was so happy the whole time, he loved singing the Christmas songs and collecting the goodies from our advent calendar everyday. Ryan made the Christmas season so fun and exciting for everyone. He learned to sing "I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus", and would sing it daily, it made me smile every time. We had a couple of different parties that we attend and we just all had a great time. On Christmas Eve we had everyone over to our house for a wonderful dinner, fun games and open presents. We also had homemade cookies and hot chocolate for dessert. The best part of the night was when the kids put on the Nativity. NativityThe sheep asleep in the fieldGoodies for Santa Christian singing Mele Kalikimaka! Sorry the video isn't that great I was holding Megan and Ryan while I was trying to video.

The Lyrics Ryan is singing are I see Mommy kissing Santa Claus underneath the mistletoe last night and I see Mommy kissing Santa Claus underneath the mistletoe last night I see Mommy kissing Santa Claus I really did I really did I'm going to tell Daddy.

Through the Years

Caring

Hilarious

Righteous

Intelligent

Stubborn

Talented

Incredible

Active

Nice

When I met Christian he had just turned 3, he still used a pacifier, carried a blankie around and loved cars and star wars. Well not much has changed in the last 7 years. JUST KIDDING. He has grown to be a wonderful young man and I am so lucky to call him my stepson. Today he turns 10 and I am so thankful he is in my life.

I put together a couple of pictures from the last 7 years or actually 6 because I didn't start taking pictures of Christian until 2005. HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTIAN WE LOVE YOU VERY MUCH!

Meeting Santa Claus

We had a Party on Saturday night and the kids got to meet Santa. Ryan was so excited to tell him he wanted a whiteDS (I told him I don't think they make them in white and he told me Santa can make anything, so cute) and Christian could not think of anything to tell him and didn't want to sit on his lap. Megan screamed the whole time she was on his lap and as soon as she was down she wanted to go see him again. It was really funny! Also, Christian participated in a play he was both the Prophet Isaiah and a Shepard. When he was Isaiah he had 5 lines to say and he memorized it perfectly and did so well the night of the performance. It was a really fun night.