Look a likes and Christmas lights

Since Ben has to work on Christmas Eve playing Masses and all I have started a new tradition with the kids. I actually started it last year. We go out to dinner and then drive around town looking at Christmas lights. We went to Chillis for dinner (as we did last year as well) and while eating Cole mentioned that the elf on top of the Chilli pepper looked like his Uncle Mike. Now I'm not sure if the resemblance is the go-tee or what but Cole seems to think they look a lot a like. Sorry Mike. Cole also thinks that the dog on the Chillis kids cup looks like Uncle mikes old dog Loki. Loki was a Golden Lab. Not some red faces long nose dog. Kaycee keeps telling Cole that it is Pepper (that's really the name of the dog) but Cole keeps correcting her and says its Loki. I guess Cole just has something for his Uncle Mike.

After dinner We go look at lights. This one we go to every year. We have seen this house every year we have lived here. Any way it is a roller coaster that Santa and some of his reindeer ride. Its great. It spans the whole yard and is as high as the house. The kids love it and Cole really got a kick out of it this year.

The next stop on the list is usually a house that is all lit up and plays to music. Today we have had so much rain that it was unsafe to have the show. Bummer. Maybe next year.

After that house we go past our Bishops house. The decorations are great. His wife has painted all these great Disney decorations and the house is lit up beautifully. Here you see Aladdin with Jasmin and the prince.

This is of Ariel

Next are the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place Christmas light winners of the home owners association in our neighbor hood.

1st place went to a house that had there whole yard made into a life size Nativity scene. Very pretty.

2nd place was a house just around the corner form were I live.

And 3rd place this year went to my friends Jamie and Rob. This Santa waves at you and asks you questions. The kids love it. A better view of Rob and Jamie's lights.

But I think best of all is my house. Its so fun to decorate for the holiday. Here are the kids in front of the house with the lights.

We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas eve.

WWWF Crandall style

So last night got a little ruff around our house. It was lets wrestle daddy night. Everyone got involved. Well the kids that is. I stood back and took pictures. Any way here are a few shots enjoy!

Jessie will protect me mommy!

Here is little miss Maddy just handing out with the dogs staying out of harm way. Good idea little one.

If Jessie cant protect me or decides to join in (which she did thanks to James) then Zoe will protect me.

In the end the saying goes "its all fun until someone gets hurt. And hurt is what happened to Cole. Coles first real bloody nose. He did a face plant into the floor off of daddy's back.
Ya know though after we cleaned him up Cole was the first one ready for more.

School parties

Here we are having fun at the kids Christmas parties. O I'm sorry I mean Winter parties. Ya what ever. Its so stupid we have to call it a winter party not a Christmas party. But that is another story.



Here is James with the book he got from the book exchange they did in their class. What a fun idea. James and his good friend Zack. What a bunch of goof balls!

James mom and Maddy enjoying being together at the party.

Matthew working on his Ginger bread man cookie.
The final product. Eat him quick before he runs away! :)Mom and Matthew having fun a his class party.

Kaycee and her Kindergarten teacher Mrs. Thompson. She turned out to be better then expected.

Kaycee and all her crazy friends. Lauren, Presley and Megan.

Kaycee and mommy having fun at her class party. Good thing Kaycees party was at 1pm and the boys' party was at 2. At least I only had to run around to two of the parties not all three.

Mrs. Jaggi (Kindergarten teacher) holding "her girl" aka Maddy. When I was first pregnant and hadn't told any anyone a the school yet Leslie )Mrs. Jaggi) came to me one Monday and said she had a dream about me that week end. She said her dream was that I came and told her I was pregnant and that it was a girl. Well I looked at her after she told me about the dream and said "well I am pregnant but don't know the sex of the baby so to keep her fingers crossed". She must have had her fingers and toes crossed because she was right on.

Putting up the Christmas tree

So we finally got the Christmas tree up. While Ben and James were at pack meeting on Tuesday night I put Cole and Kaycee up top bed and Matthew and I put the tree up. When Ben and James got back home I went and woke up the other two and we decorated the tree. It was perfect no stress and every one had a good time.

Here the kids are holding the ornaments they got form Grandma Woffinden (my mom) a few years ago. If you cant tell they are Disney land ornaments. Very cute.

These ornaments are from the Weavers before they moves a few years ago. Ruthis took pictures of all the kids with out me knowing and put them on snow flake ornaments. Thanks Ruthie. We sure miss the Weavers and hope they are having a great Christmas. Side note: Coles face is classic. Hes not mad, he is just making a great face. Ben and I laughed about that after we looked at the pictures and noticed it.

Dad and the kids decorating the tree.

Daddy helping Cole find a place for his ornament from Ruthie

And the final product. We just let the kids put on what ever decoration they wanted. The tree turned out looking pretty good.

Sweetness

What or who, I should say, can make Maddy go from this.... To this...

What a awesome big brother

In other news, I took Maddy in for her 2 month and here are the stats

12 pounds 12 ounces and 23 inches long Head circumference 15 1/4

So thats 90% for weight, 75% for height and 75% for head

No worries all my kids are like this and then slim way down. :)

Tis the season

This week has been FULL of Christmas stuff. To start of the season The Markwalter family in our ward hosted a night with Santa on Wednesday (they do this every year.) It is so much fun with Santa, food and friends. Here are all the kids dressed in there Christmas outfits for a picture with Santa. Thanks Wendy and Vince for hosting this fun evening.The boys with Santa.Matthew, Santa, Cole and James The girls with Santa. Kaycee, Santa and Madalyn

Then on Thursday the city did the annual light the Christmas tree on town square. I took the kids last year and had a lot of fun so we went back this year.

All the crazy kids. We went with Jamie and her kids and met up with Tom, Sara and their kids. Ben and Rob were both working that night. Any way here are the kiddosThe boys acting well... like boys.The girls. Kaycee and her friend Abby. The town square tree all lite up. Very cool to see. They also had Santa show up at the tree lighting. He magically appeared from building to building. ;) wink wink
Tom holding Kaycee up to see the "snow" After Santa had shown up and as the tree was being lit up they had snow machines going blowing fake snow.

The boys playing in the snowYes Maddy was there. It was a relatively cold night so I bundled her up and keep a blanket over her. It was a very fun night. I love doing this kinds of things with my family and it is even funner with friends.Then on Saturday was the ward Christmas party. It was held at a ranch this year. A country Christmas was the theme. The lady in charge, Lisa, Has some horses keep at a ranch here close to town. So she got permission from the owners of the ranch to have our ward party there. What a fun night. There was hay rides, caroling, hot chocolate, hot apple cider, chilli, games, food and of course Santa. It was one of the best Christmas party's I have ever been to. The kids taking a picture with Santa. Santa rode in to the party on a white horse. I wish I would have thought to get a picture of that. It was really cool.The Elders taking a seat by Santa. Elder Zolman and Elder Mess are the best. We love to have them over and I think they like to come over as well. As a matter of fact we had the Elders over for dinner this past Friday.

Coles first dental visit

Cole went to the dentist for the first time a few weeks ago. He did great. Here he is showing me his pearly whites The nurse cleaning his teeth.

Mr. Thursty sucking up all of Coles spit. Yum Yum

Cole showing me his smile after eh was done. He wa ssuch a good boy. Notice the doll. He had to bring it for comfert. He only wanted it for that day and that was it.