Christmas Eve...

We opened one gift on Christmas eve after reading the Christmas story from Luke...Tristan got a remote controlled truck from Grandma Potter.  He loved it but was sad he had to wait till the battery charged to play with it. After opening gifts, I had to drive back to West Valley to get our camera and coats we left at my Aunt Debbie's from the Potter Christmas party the previous day.  Opps we forgot a lot of stuff that night...Patrick was tired from his long drive home and I was just overwhelmed with all the activities and neither of us remembered to get our stuff out of Grandma's car and left stuff at the party. 

Patrick got new knives...we were both tired of dull knives!

Playing games after opening presents...Dillan got a new game Stratego

Christmas Day...

 Opening gifts Christmas morning...the kids came and got us at 730 am to open gifts but we were tired so we made them wait till 830 am.  Mariah opening her gifts...she got a Kindle Fire and was so excited.  She has figured out how to add books and apps and games....

 Tristan opening his gifts...he got a nerf bow and arrow set, legos and long board. 

 Kayla opening her gifts...she also got a skateboard, science/craft stuff and Monster high dolls.

 Dillan opening his Star Wars Frigate lego set and Wii games. 

 Pat got a Blu Ray player from Santa...that sneaky Santa knew that his wife would like it too!

Tristan got a truck from Dillan that he made in Technology Class...they bent the tin and used welders.

Pat bonding with dog

On Christmas Day we all gathered at Pat's mom's home for dinner.  The Groebs, Uncle Steve and Shaylee Bundy, Jaren and Tiffany Simper and Lavell...my parents joined us later for dinner too.

 Kayla and Lauren making duct tape creations...they would watch youtube and then make the creations...ie flowers, bows and wallets. 

 The boys all played board games...the Groebs got the same game we did.  Stratego!

Grandpa and Grandma Potter

 Playing Apples to Apples with the whole family. 

Lavell, Steve and Shaylee

Kayla, Carter  and Dillan

Patrick holding Bella and Tristan with his typing paper...the grandkids love to play on Grandmas typewriter. 

Aunt Nat...our game organizer

Tristan loves his mustaches from Santa.

He wears a new mustache everyday since Christmas..

Watching movies with Daddy.

Potter Family Christmas Party!

 We went to the Potter family Christmas party which involves a lot of people...my grandparents have 11 living children and over 60 grandchildren.  It is always fun to see different first cousins that can make it and all of my aunts and uncles I usually only see every few years.  My dad's sister Debbie hosts the party every year and it is always lovely.  This year my aunt Valerie had some of the kids act out the nativity story while she played the harp.  Tristan was a shepherd and Mikayla was an angel.  After they have a lite dinner and visiting.  We have been the last two years and my kids love it. 

Christmas Visitors!

Early Sunday morning, Patrick arrived home from his 6 month deployment...we waited till the next morning to tell the kids.  Patrick went into wake up Mikayla and was rubbing her back when she turned over and realized who it was she leaped out of bed right into Dad's arms.  She was so happy.  All the kids were surprised since I had told them Dad would be home Sunday afternoon. 

And on Saturday afternoon the previous day we got to have Uncle Brett and Aunt Carrie come stay with us for a day.  Their little boy Alex is 2 and so cute.  He even let us love on him.  We love having babies around the house. 

Carrie and Alex

Melissa reading the Lake Powell book to Alex...he loved looking at all the pictures and pointing to himself, Mom, Dad and Grandma.

Brett and Alex...Brett went night skiing so we only got to see him Sunday.

Tristan playing with Alex

Gingerbread Creations!

We finally got around to decorating our gingerbread house/train kit.  We bought it 3 weeks ago and the kids have begged everyday to do it.  I finally got it put together and they decorated it.  I'm lazy and put the gingerbread houses together with hot glue...Mikayla learned to decorate with frosting at a church activity so she took over and did the house all by herself.  I still helped with the fondant which I have never used before. 

Where's Roxy?

We are constantly looking for the dog...and usually she is right there blending into the couch or almost getting sat on...

The cat has taken to climbing the Christmas tree or hiding in it...heres hoping she doesn't tip it over.

Zoo Lights!

Dillan, Kayla and Tristan at Hogle Zoo.

 We went to Hogle Zoo after the party at Grandma Hardy's.  The zoo lights were amazing and so beautiful in the snow.  Tristan loved makeing snowballs to throw at his sister...he just loved to watch Mikayla get upset and do her "mad" dance. Most of the animals were inside so you couldn't see them.