Christmas Fun

We have only stayed in Arizona for Christmas one other time in the ten years Jason and I have been married and I must admit it was very nice. On Christmas Eve the kids played outside in the 65 degree weather with their friends. It didn't seem like Christmas without the cold, snow and family - but I could get used to it.
Hagen woke up at 7am on Christmas and read a note that Santa had left him, letting him know that he was a very good boy this year and to look out the window at a surprise. It was a trampoline. He was so excited, but we wouldn't let him go out and jump on it that early in the morning, it was still dark and a little chilly. We had to wake Ainsley up, so that the kids could open up their presents together. Kinley slept the whole time in her chair and was perfectly happy in the middle of all the chaos. We had a lot of fun spending time together as a family and celebrating the birth of Jesus.

So excited to for Santa to come

Help! I can't see. 

Beautiful Kinley

Twin Pj's

Leaving cupcakes for Santa. 

Christmas morning, let the unwrapping begin. 

Ainsley wanted everything princess. I'm not sure where she learned how to be such a girly girl. 

Kinley snoozing away

Ainsley playing dress up

Enjoying the trampoline from Santa with Ava

Hagen's Christmas Program

Hagen's school put together a Christmas program for the parents to come and hear them sing. Luckily a good friend of mine volunteered to watch Kinley and Ainsley so that I could enjoy the program. We thought that Hagen might be a little timid about getting in front of a lot of people and singing, but he seemed to be at ease. I was so proud of him that I almost started crying. After the program we were able to go back to the classroom and have the kids sing "Jingle Bells" and eat cookies and punch.

Hagen shaking his bell 

We are so proud of Hagen 

We have green mouths!

The Polar Express

This past Friday we packed up and headed up to Williams, AZ for the Polar Express. We did this last year and had so much fun that we had to do it again, even with a new baby in tow. It was really cold and there was a little snow on the ground, which Hagen and Ainsley were screaming out the window "look snow". The kids had a good time running up and down the aisles with their friends, seeing Santa (from a distance), and going to the North Pole. 

Hagen & Jackson 

Kiddos pulling their funny faces 

Ainsley's big smile :)

Say Cheese!

Christmas Time in the Desert

We have had a lot of fun spending time outdoors in the nice weather, it is hard to believe that it is almost Christmas. Hagen keeps asking for snow and when it is going to come. I tried explaining it doesn't snow in Phoenix, but we will see the snow in a month when we visit Utah. He is excited, but once he gets cold I'm sure he won't like it anymore.
A few weeks ago we attended the ward Christmas party. Luckily Hagen's good friend was visiting and made the party so much more fun. All of the kids were running around playing in the dirt, jumping on the wagon, standing by the fire, and playing with ropes. Hagen is terrified of Santa and ran away screaming at the first sight of him, but Ainsley is still small enough that we made her sit on his lap :)

Our good friends are back until Christmas

Ainsley getting really dirty 

Playing with a rope like cowboys

Ainsley isn't happy 

Thanksgiving Weekend

Before Jason's parents went back to Utah we celebrated Thanksgiving with them and Jason's mom cooked all the Thanksgiving favorites. We saved the leftovers and ate that on Thanksgiving, so we had something and didn't have to do the work. Instead of making dessert we bought a Costco sized cheesecake and invited some friends over to eat it with us.

That weekend I was feeling a little better and needed to get out of the house so we went and visited the lights at the Mesa Temple. We had a good time and look forward to going next year.

Hagen wouldn't look at the missionary taking our picture

  

Kinley doesn't like the car seat so Jason had to carry her the whole time