Holidays 2014

Thanksgiving

We planned to go to Sunnyside to spend Thanksgiving with Rob's family, but we changed plans at the last minute when the twins got sick. With a newborn at Amber's house, we decided to keep our germs to ourselves. We always enjoy having Thanksgiving at home and usually make the exact same meal when we do!

Collin helping me peel the eggs for deviled eggs

Carving the turkey

Yum.

 We were lucky to have Rob's parents come visit the day after Thanksgiving, and it snowed! Collin loved playing in the snow with Grandpa.

Snowball fight

Christmas time- We just loved the Christmas season. We tried doing an Activity Advent this year where each day the boys had a special Christmas related activity or little gift (usually a Christmas book). I think I ended up slacking a few days, but for the most part, it was a nice way to fit in all the fun Christmas things we wanted to do.

Time to bring out the Christmas box!

We visited a local drive through light display and the boys loved it. They kept pointing to all the things they saw and were excited the whole time.

Their favorite activity was probably the gingerbread houses we made! The twins ate less candy than I expected during the building part and actually got into decorating a little. They also kept giving Rob and me hugs and kisses randomly. We could tell they thought it was the most fun thing ever.

Collin decorated his all by himself, and as soon as he was done and we got all the pictures, he ate the whole thing.

Finished products

Snuggly Elliott

Collin showing off his Christmas build and grow project. It was a train with a working light- probably one of the coolest ones he's done.

The boys also loved the little advent calendars we got at Trader Joe's. Each day after nap time, Tru and Elliott would point to the top of the fridge where we kept them and say "Cho-chat!"

Just a cute picture of these adorable boys in the church mother's lounge. I'm sure we were in there for diaper changes, but they just wanted to hang out on the big chairs.

Collin had the idea all by himself to throw a "Snowman Party." So we looked up snowman treats and had some neighbors over. He helped me make the treats, and we had a couple of crafts for the kids to do- "snowman kits" with marshmallows, chocolate chips and orange noses, and pretzel arms, and we made sparkly snow play dough to craft little snowmen.

Rice krispie "cake," popcorn, snowman cheese sticks, and snowman doughnuts.

He asked me to give him a mustache so he could be "captain hook" with that little candy cane topper.

Santa came to our ward party! Collin loves Santa, but the twins weren't interested in sitting on his lap.

Just taking a walk to the park in our PJs. Love these guys!

Sugar cookie time!! Always a favorite

They just wanted to eat the dough of course.

Elliott in his Christmas suit

Truman- best pictures we could get at the time.

Snuggling brothers in Collin's bed

Christmas Eve- best day of the year! We loved every minute of just being at home together.

Christmas Eve breakfast was a special treat- holiday cookie crisp cereal. They were super excited to eat mini cookies for breakfast. This is Truman.

Elliott examining a mini cookie

My handsome boys

We took a little Christmas Eve jog and it was nice to get out and check out all the neighborhood Christmas decorations. Truman and Collin in the stroller

Elliott and Daddy

Elliott and Collin taking a little horsey ride.

Last day of the advent calendar!

Collin had been asking for a Santa hat for several days because whenever he wore his Christmas pajamas, he wanted to dress up like Santa. Rob and Collin needed to run to Rite Aid on Christmas Eve, and they spotted one there and had to get it. Collin was the happiest boy in the world, and came home and immediately put on his PJs and boots to go with his hat. And then the boys got airplane rides.

Elliott flying high

The boys' special Christmas Eve gift was this little Christmas tree Lego set. We had fun building it together!

Elliott with his handful of toys he always had with him. Although by now the shark and cookie have been lost. . . but he still loves the lion.

 Christmas Day

Opening stockings. . . still in the Santa hat!

Santa brought the twins a trampoline!

Daddy and Elliott

Truman and Mommy

Collin had a Frozen puzzle in his stocking, and wanted to put it together right away- before even checking what else was in the stocking.

Truman 

Collin asked Santa for a "Robot book" this year. I'm not sure where he came up with that idea, but I had asked him back in October what he might ask Santa for, and that was the first thing that came to his head. And he did not stray from that idea the rest of the season. Santa delivered with a cute robot book, and a little remote control robot to go with it. It was a big hit with all the boys!

Elliott checking out the new train set

Truman and Collin. 

 After Christmas- The days after Christmas are always fun, with new toys all around and leftover treats.

Three boys on a trampoline

Trying out the Magformers

I think it's hilarious when they hide in the blinds. . . until they all get broken.

I probably just took this for proof that my children ate vegetables in December, not just the treats I took pictures of.

Just a silly picture of Collin one morning when he came in with this outfit- backwards jeans and all.

 New Year's Day- Another fun day spent together. We checked out the animals at PetSmart and had lunch at McDonalds- a rare treat for them, but the nice indoor playplace makes it worth the not so great food every once in a while!

Watching the dog groomers. Love their little backpacks- if only they were willing to wear them more often.

Checking out the fish

Truman

Collin is the best big brother. Truman and Elliott weren't able to climb up to the next level of the play area, so Collin would climb up first and then turn around and pull both of his brothers up. Then they'd all go down the slide and come back and do it again. Those boys are lucky to have such a good big brother!

Elliott and Truman

Elliott

Ending off the day with some reading. One of my favorite parts of every day!