Christmas Season

Warning!! This is a LONG post! Read at your leisure.

Because I have been a slacker, I will catch up on my blogging with this ONE post. The month of December has just flown by. There was a time at the beginning that I thought the month would never go by fast enough. Pete was out of town for 2 weeks (the two weeks just before Christmas), I was training for a new job, I was also trying to keep the house and kids in order while Pete was away and mainly, I was trying to stay sane. I didn't get everything done that I wanted to, but who cares? The girls seemed to have a good Christmas and I finally got Pete home. What else could a girl want?

So, what follows is our attempt at this Holiday season. Enjoy!

We were invited to our neighbor's house the first week of December for a Gingerbread House party. It was fun. Bug, Roo and I went and attempted to make a house. Roo ran all over the house and visited with everyone; Bug and I built the house and decorated it. Bug wanted to eat all the candy - typical kid. At the end, all the houses were catagorized - by age - and then judged. Bug won 1st in her age group. She picked out some bubbles. She was excited.

Bug trying to eat the decorations, the finished product.

Bug enjoying some treats after the decorating. Another view of the 'house.'

Here is Bug and Roo in their snow coats. I believe Roo's coat is a bit too small. Looks like we need to get a new one!

So in keeping with my holiday tradition, the girls and I decided to make sugar cookies. Pete was in St. Louis training for work and I was alone with the girls. They love to put the ingredients in the bowl and help me in any way they can. Their most favorite part of making cookies is eating the dough, their next most favorite part is eating the cookies, although they would rather eat the frosting first, then the cookie. We had fun and Roo got all crazy with the flour. Bug kind of got bored and fell asleep sitting up on the couch. We had fun and a ton of cookies.

Roo helping with the cookies.

Bug all tuckered out.

Below is a picture of the girls the Sunday before Christmas. Aren't they just cute?!

The Park family gets together on Christmas Eve and does some kind of activity. We used to go sledding, but in years past, there wasn't enough snow or some individuals don't enjoy the cold - I'm one of those individuals- although I think the girls would enjoy sledding. So like the last few years (those that we have been in Utah for) we go bowling on Christmas Eve. Bug LOVES bowling. We drive past the Layton bowling alley and she screams " BOWLING!!" Needless to say, she was ecstatic about the whole thing. She actually did really good. I took care of Roo and tried to stay awake ( I worked the night before).

Grandpa with Roo watching everyone play. Bug is soooo excited!

Look at that form. Way to go! This is what Roo came for - fries!!

Dad & Bug - just finished throwing the ball. Everyone enjoying themselves.

Pete and I getting a rare snapshot with each other. Bug posing again while bowling.

Grandpa with Bug - Checking out the scores. You did great Bug!

After the fun time had with bowling, we returned to Mom and Dad Park's house and had some good food, made ornaments, and opened presents.

The kids putting together their ornament. Bug coloring some christmas pages.

Roo eating the pillows. Pete, Grandma and Grandpa getting dinner ready.

Finishing up with the ornaments. Bug got a Care Bear from Cid/Brandon.

Roo got a Mr. Potato Head from Cid/Brandon. Grandpa with the little ones.

Pete eating - again! Grandma reading the annual christmas story.

Everyone listening intently to the story. Me, taking a self portriat to prove that I was there.

Pete & I - what a cute couple. Dart guns from Grandpa and Grandma.

Everyone playing with their guns. Roo with her stuffable bear from Madi.

Grandma was in the line of fire. All the kiddos with their jammies (minus mine)

Grandma and Grandpa with the present from us.

After the festivities at Grandpa and Grandma Park's we traveled back to our home to welcome Grandpa and Grandma Morgan and Kenny to our house. They spent Christmas with us. Before the girls went to bed, Pete helped the girls and Kenny leave a note to Santa with some milk and cookies. We left it by the fireplace and Christmas tree so Santa wouldn't miss it.

Christmas Morning

Before the girls and Kenny were allowed to go into the family room to see what Santa brought them, I took a few pictures of the loot.

Bug, Roo and Kenny were anxious to see what Santa brought them.

Roo was having a hard time staying awake, until she saw all the presents. Grandma, Grandpa and Max were waiting for the fun to start.

The girls ripping into their presents. Nice hat Roo!!

Bug got exactly what she asked Santa for: Island Princess dress-up dress, with peacock feathers. Roo got a doll to put in her stroller- I think the stroller is her favorite.

The girls and I made Dad a Cubs blanket. I was so proud of Bug for keeping it a secret. She and Dad LOVE the blanket.

Dad thought he needed to get the girls something that he could play with the girls with. He bought them a race track and each of them their own cars. They thought it was great too. Now Dad won't get kicked out of the playroom because he isn't a girl.

The girls got a play kitchen,a Barbie doll house, and a slide to go in their playroom. (I'll have to post pictures of the now finished playroom soon.)

Christmas Afternoon

After we opened up all the presents, got everyone together we headed down to Salt Lake to visit Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa. The girls loved the food and the cute animated toys that the grandparents got. The girls received a Barbie doll from them - both the same, that way they won't fight over them; at least that's the whole point of getting the same thing.

Grandma and Grandpa Park met us at the Great-Grandparents to see the girls open their presents from them. They received scooters, helmets and knee and elbow pads. Roo thought the best part was the helmet. She actually wore it the entire way home. It was too dang cute.

Christmas Night

The Day After