Christmas in Spokane

More traditions for Christmas in Spokane. We always get together on Christmas Eve and spend time together as a BIG family.
Here is Nixon and Garret...being nice to each other for once:)

We tried to do Nixon's hair which is always a challenge, he has so much hair and he is so crazy that it doesn't stay done for long. But here is cute shot of his hair. He is eating olives off his fingers....he likes them of course.

Emily holding little Sadie while we start a game of Christmas BINGO

Yes we get together and play BINGO.... it was the first year of doing this but I think the kids really enjoyed it. Especially because Grammy had prizes:)

Nixon wanted to move the pennies around on his board...but after he won once he realized he should keep them where we put them:)

Sadie Sue likes to play too.

The missionaries were staying at Mark and Karen's for the holidays and they made them a rice krispy treat pizza...it looks awesome huh!

After BINGO we went down and all sang together some primary Christmas Songs.

Me and Sadie on Christmas Eve.

But first some more singing and dancing...Nixon is rockin' out!!

Traditionally we always get together on Christmas Eve and act out the Bible story of Jesus's birth. Nixon was Joseph and Katie is Mary.

Mark always reads the story from the bible...well a kid version that is!

Joseph, Nixon and a Wisemen

Mary with baby Jesus

Nixon looked so cute in his little robe...I loved it. My boys are so cute!

Rachelle's first Christmas with us and she was the angel. Funny thing is my first Christmas with the Spear Family I was the angel as well.

Jon was the jack.. I mean the donkey:) that took Mary and Joseph to the Inn.

The innkeeper says "NO ROOM"

The Wisemen!

They brought gifts to Mary and Joseph.

The whole cast for a photo shoot!

o
Then the matching game for the kids.

They colored some fun pictures a couple of years ago and so the kids find their own pictures when they turn the cards over, it's kinda fun!

Then we played the BELLS, which I swear I have never done.

Everyone has a bell with a letter on it and then there is a poster with a song on it and we go along and play the song with these bells...it was super awesome!

After all the fun at Mark and Karen's we headed home to have some of our own traditions.
After baths and getting into our pajamas we had Nixon set out some cookies for Santa.

He was so excited, but he didn't really understand the whole concept...which was fun too.

Then we had Nixon set out some carrots for the reindeer.

He decided he needed a carrot too!!

CHRISTMAS DAY
I think Jon and I were more excited than Nixon for Christmas Day to come. This was the first year Nixon actually understood a little more what was going on...but he had no idea until it actually came.
First thing when Nixon woke up we showed him the cookie plate and how Santa had eaten the cookies and he was SO excited that the reindeer had eaten the carrots too. He kept saying it all day long, "the reindeer ate my carrots."
We walked down the stairs all together, except Sadie who was sleeping, and had Nixon find all the presents under the tree. We opened our stockings first, which is tradition in our family.

Nixon got a few..."treats" and he would NOT go on until we opened the gum for him. We could have been done at that point.

All the presents under the tree...I always love to get a pic of this to remember the moment:)

Nixon digging deep into his stocking for more goodies

He was so cute digging into it, Jon had to help because he kept closing it trying to get to the bottom.

First present was opened and he had to have it out of the box....again we could have stopped!! Nana gave him these boats that stick together and go in the bath, Nixon loves them.

The group of on lookers!

Then there came dinosaurs from Santa.

BIG truck from Wally.

I got new UNDERWEAR....YEAH!

Jon got new underwear too....you'd think by this picture that he got a new car!! Gotta love this guy:)

The BIGGEST present ever, as Nixon says!

Nixon LOVES Rocket, or Little Einstein's and this is the rocket ship.

It comes with all the people too, and Nixon knew all their names when he opened them. Then he flew it through the air and it made noises.

New Temple bag from Gramsy for Jon.

Nana got me new jeans:) Cute!

A big coloring book of CARS for Nixon

New hair paste from Nana for Jon.

Nana got me a Monkey Tree for winding my knitting, I was super excited! I always wanted one!!

Nana got me a new ballet sweater too, which I was excited about too...now I know I wear it practically everyday to dance.

Puzzles

The classic look of Christmas morning I think, it's it perfect!!!

A Big tool set from Grandpa and Grandma Pickett.

After a morning at home we went over to Emily's and had a BIG breakfast. Some of Emily's neighbors came too, it was Yum Yum!!!

So I am sad to say that this is the ONLY picture of Sadie AWAKE on Christmas Day...what a bad mom I am.

Nixon sporting his super cute backpack on Christmas day. He looks so old with it on!

Opening presents from Grammy and Pompa

If you know Nixon this is his "playing with cars" look, he got some new cars!

Tanner hid in the box and scared us...it was funny.

His new cars are color changers so in cold water and warm water they change....needless to say we got a little wet.

When we got home we opened Sadie's presents but she was still asleep. We tried to wait until she was awake but it didn't really work out.

Nixon carried his boats around all day...then we let him take a bath with them to end this special day!

This is the little house my mom made last year...it goes over a card table and Nixon loves to play in it.

Playing with his new BIG tools!

Jon got gift cards from everyone to buy new boots, so we went up to Cabela's after Christmas and found some. Nixon thought it was awesome!! He loves the animals and the water fall. It is like a mini zoo:)

My cute little family