Everything Christmas

This is the post that has put me so far behind in keep my blog up to date! On top of everything else that normally happens in a month I feel like we packed in a bunch of family fun too. We started the month of December with our favorite visitor... CHIPPY! Chippy is our Elf from the North Pole and this is his 2nd year he has spent Christmas with our family. He came Saturday morning flying in on an air balloon made of balloons and Andersen's underwear. Chippy brought with him new Christmas PJ's, some Christmas stories and a letter for the boys.  I think Andersen said "Thank you for Santa, Thank you for Chippy" every night in his prayers since Chippy left last year so to say the boys were excited to finally have Chippy back would be an understatement. The boys loved waking up every morning and finding Chippy in another spot. Some of their favorite things he did this year was make them chocolate milk in the morning and give them Rudolph noses one night while they were sleeping.

Later in the month Nana took us to see the Festival of Trees. None of us had ever gone before and it was worth the visit. I have never seen so many trees. They were all so different and unique. The boys on the other hand were good after the first 20 trees. Good thing they had such a fun kid area because that lifted their spirits quick. Andersen loved the fishing pond, Jackson loved the fake tattoos and they both loved the giant bubble machine. They each took a turn standing on the platform as a giant bubble was pulled around them and then they could blow on it to get it to pop. SO COOL! Having bubbles like that all the time would entertain these boys for hours. After we were done at the festival of trees we met up with Daddy at Chili's for some yummy dinner!

Next activity was their Nana dates! This has been a favorite Christmas tradition for Jackson for years and now Andersen. Last year the boys had individual dates but with Andersen being older, Jackson asked Nana if they could go together. Nana picked them up late one afternoon and they started at their usual dinner spot...(Chuck E Cheese) and then went to Nana's house to decorate their gingerbread house and gingerbread men. As usual I am always amazed at how cute they decide to decorate their house. Good thing I hurry and take a picture of what the final project looks like because before Nana can even leave they have already started to pick the candy off.

Later in the month, the other Rothe family made it to town from Texas. With them only here for two weeks and needing to split time between both families we had to take advantage of all the time we could get with Ryan, Alicia and kiddos. The first activity we did with them was go downtown to see the Christmas lights around Temple Square. I love Temple Square and the Christmas Spirit that it brings by going. This also was the first time we got to meet Porter and they got to meet Maelyn. It was definitely a cold night but it didn't seem to phase any of us because we were all enjoying our time together.

Next was visiting Santa! Last year we were minus 2 kiddos and Andersen and Presley were terrified. This year was a completely different story. They loved every second of it and they were so patient as we waited over an hour for us to finally get through the long line. Good thing we all had cell phones to keep them entertained while standing in line because afterwards they were wired. Once the 3 older kiddos were out of line they were wild monkeys running around with these free headbands on their heads.

Alicia's family has always done their family stuff on Christmas Eve so Nana has started another tradition of getting their Christmas PJ's from her the day before. Every year the kids are so excited and its the same routine.... close your eyes, sit on the floor, now open... and they go crazy! The kiddos LOVED it! The two babies had matching pj's, Andersen and Presely matched, and Jackson had his own. I don't think Nana's lap can handle any more munchkins but I know these moments are pure joy for her and as you can see the kids don't mind it for a second.

Christmas Eve we are usually on our own but the last couple years we have been lucky enough to have my parents and Tina join us for dinner and a movie. To start the day my parents took Maelyn to get her ears pierced for her Christmas present. Later we went to the newly opened Buffalo Wild Wings for dinner and then the late showing of Rise of the Guardians. We had extra time in between dinner and the movie so the boys played arcade games for an hour inside the theaters. Then we attempt to get the kids in bed early so Santa can come. This year we didn't have time to make our own cookies, so luckily we had some already to set out for Santa. Jackson also suggested we leave Santa some chocolate milk. We spent an hour or so reading some Christmas stories and then off they went to bed but with some sad tears. Before we put the boys in bed, Jackson was getting really sad. Nate asked what he could be sad about and sure enough Jackson was excited Santa was coming but sad that meant Chippy had to leave. Good thing Nate has Santa's cell phone number and called him to get special permission for the boys to sleep with Chippy (Elf rules.. you are not supposed to touch them) that night so Jackson wasn't sad. You would have thought it was Christmas already. The boys cuddled and played with him like he was real. It was the cutest thing ever! So much for them going to bed early but eventually we were able to get them into bed and fast asleep.

Then my favorite part as a parent... Christmas morning. I love the excitement the boys wake up with and all the anticipation they have to run out into the family room filled with their presents. The 5 minutes it takes to make sure everything is ready for the present party feels like an eternity for these kiddos.

 

 I think kids are just programed to know what to do on Christmas morning, because they instantly start ripping open presents and dumping out their stockings without ever taking notice of what they really got. Although there is one present that Jackson was extra happy about and that was his cowboy boots! Just days before Christmas I took Jackson shoe shopping to get him some new shoes. Of course he fell in love with cowboy boots instead of practical shoes he could wear every day. I had to be the mean parent and chose practical over the boots, but Jackson is a smart cookie. Surprisingly he took my answer NO rather well at the store, but the second he got home he was determined to write Santa a letter asking him for those boots since Mom wouldn't get them. Andersen was just along for the ride with presents and was just excited to be there, while Maelyn enjoyed some good Grandma and Grandpa Hansen cuddle time during all the chaos. 

 

After Christmas morning we were off for a full day of adventures. This picture explains it all and is about the only picture I took the rest of the day. I got the neighborhood flu bug and it hit hard right after we were done opening presents. Everyone got ready for the day, while I laid in bed (or hung out in the bathroom). Nate was a good sport and started the other Christmas festivities without me. He left with all 3 kids to my brother Jared's house where we did presents with my side of the family. I eventually got enough energy to get some what decent for the day so I could drive myself up to be with my family as well. After that we went to my Grandma's house real fast before we needed to be at Nate's family for the evening. Tina always has a nice dinner for us all and then some sort of Christmas program for the kids. This year she did glow in the dark jingle bells and they loved it! After the planned stuff was over, Maelyn and I headed home because I was still not feeling very well. Nate wasn't too far behind us though because after a long and busy day the kids were definitely ready for bed. Days like this are always exhausting but I am always so grateful for the quality family time they bring and the fun memories we all get to make together. 

Merry Christmas kiddos!