Merry Christmas
2012
This year is the first year since Clayton was a newborn that we actually had a Christmas morning in our own house. Nathan and I lived away from both sets of our parents, so when holidays come we take turns visiting them. This year was originally planned to be with my side of the family, but when it came to buy plane tickets the prices were absolutely crazy for Christmas time travel. We found better deals for a Thanksgiving trip out to Idaho so that's is what we ended up doing. Before I always had to pack our kids stockings, figure out how to pack a few presents or just have a pre-Christmas present opening at our house. I loved having the magic of Christmas Eve with our boys, the excitement that comes with going to bed anticipating the morning ahead. We had a great Christmas morning and we had our own big breakfast meal of french toast, bacon, fresh fruit, orange juice and then stocking candy!
Justin's Horse Dash from Grandpa & Grandma Cottrell! It's a pillow that has tons of pockets on his back, mouth, and feet to carry his special treasures! He absolutely loves it! He packs it full and sleeps with it every night. I did have to sit him down and explain why his horse couldn't be stuffed with Christmas chocolate, he was OK with it since I traded chocolate treats for smarty candies that wouldn't become all messy inside his fun pocket! I am showing off Roman's new shoes!
Clayton and Hayden are so into art right now! Great they were stocked with some great supplies! They had fun all morning making masterpieces! They have a binder full of great drawings, paintings, and mini kid storybooks. Our main present to our boys was season passes to Six Flags Great America. It was so funny giving this to them since it was printed certicate saying "Congratulations! This gift entitles you to endless fun all summer long at Six Flags Great America! and Six Flags Water Park! Love Dad and Mom. Each certificate was in a wrapped envelope which we gave to the boys to open all at the same time. To a kid on Christmas a envelope is totally not a cool thing to be handed but, I loved watching the moment when they relized what they were holding and they were super excited jumping up and down and talking about the rides they wanted to go on first! Nate and I have passes too and it will be a great way to spend some fun family time together riding rides and enjoying some waterpark fun. Merry Christmas to all our family and friends !
Hayden and Justin both have birthdays in January. We had a family get together with the Collymore family and Humphrey family. We dined on pizza, breadsticks, cake and ice cream!!
Hayden's 7 
Justin is holding up four fingers to tell everyone, "Hey I'm four now" 
