Merry Christmas!

 This year was the best Christmas! My kids were so much fun! Maggie woke up before Corb so it was easy to hold off until both kiddos were awake. We took our annual Christmas morning picture; some years is better than others.

 Corbin got everything he wanted from Santa, a James train and vroom vroom, plus more.

He was so excited with every present he opened. He would rip the paper and yell "this," because he wasn't quite sure what the present was. When he opened his trains he was thrilled!

Corbin loved being able to help Maggie open all her gifts too. He really scored this Christmas, he got double the presents because he likes to play with Maggie's as much or more than his own. He gets pretty possessive of them though. She can't play with his toys, but can't play with hers either.

  He loved his camera from mom and dad.

 She loved her turtle, though she needs to grow a little to fully enjoy it.

 Overall, it was wonderful! I am so excited for next year when they are both old enough to realize everything that is going on.

Family Party

Christmas came so fast this year. With Matt not getting out of school until mid-December, we didn't do much to celebrate until the week of Christmas. My family party was the Friday before. It was a great one, complete with a snowball fight! Between a tired Corbin and an eight month old Maggie, Matt and I didn't participate in much this night, but the socializing is still the best part.

 

 

  The kids exchange five dollar gifts, and my parents give all the kids a toy. Corbin was hilarious when he opened his toy. He gave a little grunt then yelled, "Lightning McQueen, Mater!" The toy was a hit.

Bird Tree

 Our holiday parties started with the bird tree this year. I love this tradition of making a tree for the birds to put on Marianne's dad's grave.

 Corbin had a hard time leaving enough fruit loops on the plate to make a string for the tree. For every one that went on the string, three went in his mouth.

 

 Before we left for the Hooper Cemetery, Mark sat all the kids down and talked about why we do the bird tree and then said he had something to help them stay warm. These hats were a hit! Everywhere we go now, we get compliments on our kids hats.

Big Changes

There have been some big changes in the last few weeks with our church callings. I was released from Young Womens two weeks ago. That was bitter sweet. I was ready for something else, but maybe not what we got. I am now going to be teaching the four and five year olds in primary. I am super excited because I have never been in primary. The hard part is that Matt is now in the bishopric. I was not expecting that. We were planning on moving this spring, so I kind of thought we were off the hook. This is our bishops third counselor in the three years he has been in, kind of crazy. So I am less busy and Matt has one more thing to add to his full plate. He will do an excellent job though. I know we will be blessed for Matt's service in the bishopric, but it is still a little daunting. I feel older all the sudden. I feel like it should still be my dad or somone older in the bishopric, not my husband!

Santa Claus

Corbin went to see his first Santa Claus this year at the Early Intervention Open house. I wanted him to like Santa so I told him ahead of time that it was Ms. Linda dressed up as Santa, she was just pretending for the night. I explained that Santa will ask what he wants for Christmas. I obviously didn't explain very well that you ask Santa now and get the gift later. He sat on her lap, and did a great job, wasn't scared at all. When he got off her lap he looked at me, held up his candy cane and teddy bear and said, "No, vroom vroom." He didn't get the cars he had wanted. I thought it was so funny. I then had to explain that he will get them on Christmas if he is a good boy.