Christmas at last

Christmas morning came early. At 7:30 Delaney was ready to go downstairs. The big kids spent the night and we told the littles to go wake Kaylie up- super fun! We went downstairs, the kids completely missed all the present s that took over our living room and went right to where the cookies and milk had been set out for Santa. They were shocked to see that Santa had eaten the cookies and the Coors Lite glass that had once been full of milk, sat empty next to the plate. It was then that they turned around and saw that Christmas had come with a vengeance. This is the first time that we have had all four kids on Christmas morning. I have to admit, it is difficult! I had a hard time paying attention to each kid! Daylen got a new scooter, Kaylie got a pair of socks with some money in it, Delaney got the Strawberry Shortcake Berry Bitty Market and a Strawberry Shortcake Doll- and let's not forget about the dinosaur she wanted (it was stuffed with no babies in it's belly) and Brody got an airport table and a firetruck. Oh and Opie and Sandy each got new dog beds!

Delaney noticing that Santa came.

Brody's airport

The big kids checking out their Santa presents

Can't drag Brody away to open his stocking

We let them open their stockings and then it was on! Christmas paper was a flyin'. Brody was very diligent in his opening. He pretty much made confetti by the time he was done with each package and each time he would say, "Dat's what I wanted!" Delaney wanted each new toy out of the box immediately. After the last present had been opened, we "cleaned" up and had breakfast. Eric's mom and step-dad came over mid morning and the kids opened more presents.

Kaylie with her sparkling cider and new shirt that says, "Cool story bro, tell it again", a phrase that she used constantly not to long ago

The big kids left around 2:00 while the littles were napping and we prepared for round 3. My family came over around 3:00 with a CRAP ton of stuff. Our little living room became teeny tiny fast. The kids were totally excited! We must have opened presents for an hour and a half. Sadly, I only took 3 pictures due to the fact that I was a crazy person opening presents, passing presents out, opening presents that weren't even for me- whew-crazy lady.

Christmas again!

Brody's helmet

And another blurry picture of Brody man

Dinner was at our house- paper plates and all. I could not believe the amount of stuff that we got- our kids are BLESSED- no doubt about it. I want them to know and understand how lucky they are to have a family like they have. The kids went bed early that night and Eric and I crashed on the couch shortly after.
It is so exhausting having kids and doing Christmas, but totally worth it.

Christmas- part deux

Christmas Eve came outta nowhere. Like for real. As much as I thought I was ready and full on told people that I was totally done shopping and wrapping and ya know, pretending to be Superwoman.... I wasn't. But at a certain point, I knew I could do no more. Christmas Eve morning, Delaney and I went to my mother-in-law's house for our annual baking get together. This was the first year Delaney got a chance to help out. I have no pictures, not sure why.... but still a good time.

Church was at 5:00 that night. Of course we end up sitting behind the one scrooge in Tucson... so Brody was hacking a little bit- so was the lady right next to her and she wasn't giving her dirty looks. And yes, when Brody tells us to "be quiet" he is saying in a voice that is just below a yell, but it's Christmas and he was excited. I think he dropped his cup half a dozen times, sat on everyones lap in the family and had a crap load of popcorn, but that's okay. He's two. Delaney sat with Kaylie- she misses seeing her sister more. When it came time to light the candles, I get all teary eyed. I literally memorized the moment realizing that they will never again be 2 and 4 on Christmas Eve. My moment was cut short because Brody was on the verge of catching my mom on fire with her candle, so I had to think fast. After church, I made everyone brave the cold weather and take a picture, cuz that's how I roll.

Waiting for the service to start with Mimi and P-Paw

Telling Kaylie that he sees Christmas!

My family.

After church we always go back to my parent's house for chili and White Christmas. This year was a little different because my dad was on a trip, but got to come home Christmas Eve! My mom went to pick him  up while we ate! I wish I had gotten a picture of when my dad walked through the door. He was still dressed in his uniform (airline pilot) and Delaney says, "Wow, look it's pilot Granddaddy!" She was so cute! Anyway, while we were at church, one of Santa's elves left some cozy Christmas jammies for the kids so it was time to change into them, but not before I snapped some pictures because I just loved Delaney's dress and I know that I probably won't be able to get away with dressing her like this for too much longer.

A little dark, but I love this picture!

Joe, Danielle and my little nephew in there

Our kiddos:0)

Kaylie and Me

Mimi and the boys

My grandparents with my kids

Mimi with all the girls (except mom)

Daylen and Brody

Delaney in her new Christmas jammies. I love this picture.

Brody's new face- constantly.

My kids with my grandparents:)

Eric and the kids throwing the reindeer food on the driveway

Christmas Eve was a success. When we got home, we put on a pot of coffee and finished wrapping presents and Eric being the great dad he is, stayed up until 2:00 am putting together Brody's Santa present:)

I love it.

Christmas...Part 1

Christmas is over- officially. It has been packed away for another year here in the Mikkelson casa. I have to say, I am exhausted. I never knew how tiring it was to be a parent and "do" Christmas. I know I have been a parent now for a few years, BUT this year was different. This year, all 4 kids would be here Christmas morning and the little kids were fully aware of what was happening. Little more pressure...

Let's start off with the trip to see Jolly Old St. Nick, shall we? The night before I told the kids that we were going to see Santa in the morning and that they should tell him what they wanted him to bring. Delaney, in her most serious voice says to me, "Ummm.... how bout I stand far away from him, you get him to look at me and I will just yell what I want to him real loud." I then reply, " But I want to see him." She then says, "You sit on his lap then, cuz it's just not happening." Yeah- slightly worried about the next morning at this point.

I get the kids in their super cute new Santa shirts from my mom, get them in the car, pick up my sis and head to the mall. As soon as we walk in, they see "the North Pole" and get super excited. As we get a bit closer Delaney looks at Danielle and says, "I dunno about this". 

Jumping with excitement

Making a wish

Pressing the Naughty or Kind button (no not naughty or nice, naughty or kind- mind blowing)

Trying to decide how he feels about the big man

The group in front of us decided to take their dear sweet freaking time getting through all the exciting stations that the North Pole has to offer and I appreciate the fact that they want the memories, but come on already- move on. Anyway, finally our turn. I told the kids that I would sit with them if they freaked out, but......

They did it! They sat down and talked to him and everyhting.

I knew that if Delaney did it, Brody would too. I love that they are brave together.

When I asked them what they said they told Santa that they wanted, Brody said he wanted a big firetruck and Delaney said she wanted a dinosaur that had babies in it's tummy. Sweet. Side note: It was after we couldn't find a firetruck that my mom told me that I should've 'prepped' the kids before hand. Ya know, make sure to tell Santa you want a Strawberry Shortcake house for Christmas. Huh, good to know....

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This year the kids really wanted to make their own cookies for Santa so we made some yummy cookie dough and I let go of my anal retentiveness and let the kids go to town on the cookies. They helped me with everything. They rolled the dough, cut the cookies and then decorated them. It was so fun. And they were gooooood.

Yeah- finger licking good

All ready to deface with icing!

Check. them. out. Masterful people

Love this girl

Love this boy

Eddie came to dinner.....

Each year, we always have a Christmas party with Eric's side of the family. This year it ended up being at our house and we decided to make it a bit different. I realize that ugly sweater parties are not that unusual anymore, but come on, how fun! So it was decided. Ugly sweaters it would be! Our search for the ugliest sweater led us to Savers and Goodwill where we quickly discovered that in order to score the ugliest of ugly, you needed to do a whole heck of a lot sooner than we had. The first day we went hunting, I was alone with the kids. I made the mistake of telling the kids that we were looking for an ugly sweater and to keep an eye out. Apparently, I should have been a bit more specific on where to keep an eye out. This woman walking by was wearing a less than beautiful sweater and Delaney was quick to notice. "Mommy, that lady has on a very ugly sweater", she says to me in the only volume Delaney speaks in: LOUD. I was mortified. I quickly changed the adjective to 'silly' instead of ugly and we left without a sweater. The following day Eric ventured out with us. We had something very specific in mind for Eric. Our FAVORITE movie is Chevy Chase's Christmas Vacation. We can never get enough of that movie. When I think of less than favorable Christmas attire, I think of Eddie. So that was our mission: Eric=Eddie.

Now that I have written a ridiculously long paragraph about the our purchasing of the sweaters I will now just show the pictures. Disclaimer: If anyone owns any of the sweaters that we are wearing, I am sure the look lovely on you. Just now our style:) Don't hate.

Brody, CJ, Delaney, Josh

(Cousins)

Chris and Kaylie

Chris, Holly and the boys all made their sweaters- too cute and creative!

Melinda and Bill- also added some festive embellishments to their sweaters

Cousins:)

The grandparents with the kiddos

Now....wait for it....

wait for it....

wait for it....

BAM

That is my man y'all- Eddie in the flesh- you can't really see the Dickie that is under the sweater,

but oh he rocked it!

The Lopez Family

Holly, Chris, Josh and CJ

The Mikkelsons

Kyle, Kevin, Kristin and Jacob

Oh yeah- we are H-O-T hot!

We decided to do some holiday crafts for the kids and we also had a reindeer food bar which was way fun.

Each child had their own unique formula for the reindeer food... it was so cute!

Very serious

Each year we do a gift exchange between the kids, this year we decided that it would be nice to have an ornament exchange so that they would have a great new memory each year.

These are backwards, but you can tell how excited he was!

The party ended with some good old fashioned dancing..... good times were had people.

Holly spinning Josh and Delaney and Brody rockin out on the side.