Christmas Take Two: Washington

I could blog on and on about how wonderful Christmas was for us. But really, do you want me to tell you, or show you?

Show you?

Okay, I hear you. Here goes the massive amount of pictures! As noted in the the previous post, our camera broke in the beginning of December, so all of these pictures are from three different cameras, which is sort of why the Christmas post has taken me so long. It's also because I'm lazy. No really, I am. Especially lately about blogging. Really I used to do most my blogging at night, but I've been going to bed lately at, oh, 8:30? Or 9? So lame, but I'm pregnant dang it! And I get up super early to take the kids to school! Okay, on with the pictures.

Every year for the past three or four years we have gone to the Festival of Trees, where designers decorate Christmas trees around a theme and people buy them at auction for outrageous prices. The money goes to Mary Bridge Children's Hospital. The Master Builders Association is very involoved, and the past couple of years (or so) my dad has been the Chair for the MBA at the Festival. My kids love to see all the trees!

Really, my kids love to see the trees. Rix is just in one of those 6-year-olds moods. Most of the trees have extra things that come with the tree when you buy it. Like the one behind is a "log cabin" theme, and it comes with the tree, and also the log play house and the wagon of toys.

Phase II sponsored a tree for the MBA, and they chose a Barbie tree. My dad built the Barbie house that came with it, and all the Barbie stuff you see comes with the tree too.

Here is a better look at the Barbie house.

Bryan is superman! He does this all the time with these two.

After the Festival of Trees we met Dave and Lindsay at a tree farm to find our tree!

The boys had a blast running around. Although it's not the safest idea, with all the tree stumps sticking out from trees already cut down. No worries, no one got injured!

Cole wanted to "help" hold the hand saw. Also not a safe idea.

Looking for our tree. There were so many kinds of trees and in different price ranges!

We found our tree!

Bryan and Rix cutting it down.

Dave cutting his down.

Such strong men!

The next day the boys helped decorate the tree.

They are so proud of their work! However, after they went to bed, I rearranged it so it looked, um, better.

All ready in their Christmas outfits!

The weekend before Christmas we surprised the kids with a trip to Great Wolf Lodge. They love it there and hadn't stopped talking about it since the last time we went almost a year ago. Here Cole is playing in the "kiddie" area. It has a lot of knobs and pulls and wheels that spray water, so Cole was happy for hours.

Rix took a break from all the crazyness to warm up with the towels. He loved the fact that he was tall enough to ride every water slide in the park!

Bryce became a wave pool fiend! He loved splashing in the waves, jumping over them, and playing in them.

Cole loved it too, as long as someone was holding him so he didn't get knocked over by the waves.

Yes, Bryce is wearing Bryan's shirt. I forgot to pack him an extra one. And yes, Cole's pants are wet, because after I got him dressed he forgot he was dressed and ran back into the pool.

This is Cole's self-proclaimed winter hat. So cute!

Christmas Eve we went to my mom's for traditional appetizers and finger foods, and she got these pipe cleaners and beads for the kids to make decorations. So smart! It kept them busy forever!

And, every party needs a party pooper.

Decorating cookies for Santa.

We had to watch the kids so we knew which cookies were safe to eat and which ones were totally licked and spit on (not safe to eat). Cole was decorating his with M&Ms and, if the M was showing, he would remove it from the cookie, lick off the frosting, and turn it over. Bryce kept licking his frosting knife. Talk about spreading germs to poor old Santa!

Cole's done! (note the green frosting on his mouth...hmmmm...how did that get there?)

Whhhhaaattt?!? Santa came to Nana's house???

Cole acted like Santa was a celebrity. And he kept telling Santa he was 6. And his non-specific request for "presents" guaranteed he was getting what he wanted for Christmas.

Bryce loved that Santa was there, but for some reason sat far away. He asked for a Nintendo DS (totally coached by Rix)

Rix thinking....thinking...oh, yeah. He wants a Nintendo DS too.

Christmas morning I got an early present. They slept until 8:30! I had been sick and coughing all night, so I was tired and had slept on the couch so I didn't keep Bryan up. And we had stayed up late wrapping presents (a "tradition" we need to break) so it was very welcome to sleep in!

The boys got slippers! They had been asking for them for a while.

Cole's face is priceless!

I wasn't going to post this, because, seriously, it's not that great of a picture of me, but look at the cute shoes Bryan got me!

Bryan helping the boys open up their new toys.

Christmas this year was such a blast! It was low-key, relaxing, and we got to spend it with our family. Kelli and Jeremiah were here, Carissa and Adam, and Kory and Ana Lee made it too! We went over Christmas day to open more presents, eat some food, and play games. The boys got a lot of fun new toys and we converted Cole's room to the play room, and moved all three boys in the same bedroom (which isn't really working out right now, but we'll see). I got spoiled with two new pairs of shoes, a new phone (which I love!) and some other fun stuff. Overall we had a great time, and we can't wait to celebrate Christmas again (I'm already saving my money!!)!