Christmas Season 2013

This year the snow started well before Christmas, it sounded like such a fun idea to play in it that Josh took the kids out one night after he got home from work...it was all fun and games until...

 Keyan got cold and Keyan got TIRED! It's never fun once that happens.

 We took a trip to the dentist...this was Keyan's first official visit and he did great, 

getting to sport some spiderman sunglasses definitely helps.

Tiago had his Kindergarten program (he's in the front with the striped red sweater) 

He sang his heart out and also got to be a bell ringer for "jingle bells".

 Once Tiago was out of school the REAL partying began (if you can ever call our house a "party").
I let the boys paint a snowman napkin holder kit that has been in our Christmas stuff for several years.

 They made a gingerbread house that did NOT pass code.

 I got REALLY crazy one day and made some snowman pancakes.

 Santa came to visit Cottage Glen...How could Santa resist those cute faces!

 A few days later...he showed up at our house! 

Luckily, the boys are still at an age where they are EASY to please. 

They woke-up at their usual time about 8am, which was great since 

Santa's helpers were up kind of late putting together a game table.

We took a down-scaled approach this year and it made things much nicer. 

 Sutton was pretty confused about why I wanted him to rip open these presents after I had been telling him "no, no" every time he touched them for a month! 

He kept looking at me for approval and waiting for me to stop him.

 Keyan's main present was a new tractor, it may be too big since he has hardly touched it.

 Tiago REALLY wanted a Doodle Dome, which has horrible reviews,

 but that's not what's really important right? Look at that face...totally worth the $25.

 Tiago got this awesome bed spread from G-ma Jan, I personally think it's one of her best quilts ever, it turned out so awesome I almost want it on my bed!

After several years of the same old thing on the wii, I broke down and bought them 3 new games...

we had to "Just Dance" with the cousins...have you played that game...it's a work-out!

The best lesson learned of all was while putting together the game table (not shown). First, it's worth your time to walk through the snow to the shed to get the right tool (power drill). Instead, however, we chose to use hand screwdrivers. It was being assembled in a poorly-lit small room in the basement away from any wandering eyes so conditions were not ideal. There were some screws I was trying and trying to put in, I worked up a sweat getting them started, but once they were started it wasn't so bad. Well, on about the 5 or 6 one the light hit right and I finally realized there were pilot holes already in the table, once I started using them things got a lot easier (the power drill would have still been nice). I realized it's kind of like the path Heavenly Father has set for us, he has given us a head start, a way to follow and if we will just find it and stay on it our lives would be much easier, there's no need to work extra hard trying to do it our own way. Note to self...use what Jesus Christ has given to you, it makes life much easier!