Christmas 2012

This year we had a great time! We planned a couple things and I think it made all the difference. My parents and the "singles" and "babies" had their own Christmas after church. Shar had to work Graveyard and didn't get home til 9:30 am. My kids were prepped much earlier that we would not be able to wake up to hide for Santa this year because daddy wouldn't be home in time and we wanted to do everything together as a family. We weren't even able to go to our 9:00 ward. So, as soon as dad got home (the boys were very patiently waiting downstairs) we all went upstairs to see what Sanat had gotten us. The boys got a basketball hoop and bikes from Santa. I got Sharrid a juicer for Christmas and he LOVES it. He makes juice throughout the week. Sharrid got me clothes mostly, yay! He actually let me go shopping for a bunch of clothes at Forever 21 and H&M, plus he picked a few things out for me himself and wrapped them for under the tree. I was impressed with 2 things. 1. He is getting better at gift giving in the first place in general and 2. The things he picked out were pretty good.

This year Connie and I collaborated again for our 3rd rendition of "Willard Jeopardy!". Tibi stepped up her game this year but Kira came away with the win I think. Dad wasn't bad surprisingly but mom just sat there and listened and laughed the whole game. She didn't even have any money to wager for Final Jeopardy!....we let her have $1000 for free. Only Mother.

We also started a new tradition that was inspired by some private dancing performances of ours from over 10 years ago. This year we held our first annual "Willard Christmas Dances". I'm so glad we started this right now with the grandkids just barely being able to do it...and loving every minute of it! Connie and I were the only two older people paired up and we crammed together a jazzy Bob Fosse type of number to Gloria Estefan's "Let it Snow". Mind you everything was recorded but we all promised it would not be published to the public through blog or Facebook. Kira was paired up with Jonah. They did some lifts and a lot of marching in their dance. Michaela was paired up with Levi and they shook their hips and flirted with "Feliz Navidad" by Michael Buble. Tibi was paired with Marcelus and I think they had some of the best choreography. It was cute. Landon was paired with Eden and they partner danced to Amy Grant. All in all, it was fun and it's going to get even better as the kids get older!

Dad took a few of us out shooting and that was way fun. It had been too long for me anyway! It included Dad, Peter, Connie, Sharrid, Me, Tibi, and Landon. We shot dad's 22's. Connie shot the pistol for the first time. And Shar shot his new gun off. It was loud! It's a Glock 22, 40 Caliber pistol.

We all met up Christmas night for a nice Ham dinner which was odd (my family never has had the "big meal" for Christmas...) Then there's always a lot of presents to open. We pick names but everyone pretty much gets everyone something anyway. Our family doesn't have any rules about that nor a price limit on the gifts. We just have fun with it so there's always a lot of great gifts to go around.

I gave Landon the Iron Gym. He loves it!

This is Marce Christmas morning already started on the Lego Kingdoms Castle set he got.

This is what the boys really wanted, especially Marce. I had them open it last. They had a good time setting it up with dad.

Phoenix LOVES his Francesco and anything to do with Cars 2, which they also got this year. They watch it everyday! And what can I say, I freakin' love the movie too!

Is it just me or does he look like Oscar from The Office? Or the dancer in The Proposal? (same guy) ha ha

Phoenix is getting the hang of his bike and just needs to use his brakes instead of dragging his feet on the ground! He's fearless but more clumsy than Marce so it worries me a bit but he is improving steadily. Marce was a champ from the start and we took the training wheels off after a week or so. They were holding him back...typical Marcelus. I am so happy we moved here when I see my kids being outdoor kids, riding their bikes to grandma's and all that, makes me beam inside. I love life right now! And I'm pretty sure it's the best thing that ever happened to the boys too.

We got the boys these festive robes and let them open them Christmas Eve.

I'm dissapointed in myself for the lack of pictures but I vow to do better next year.

To whoever our Secret Santa was: If you somehow read my blog, Thank You so much. To be on the recieving end and surprised like that is so neat and fun.