family date night

we got a little christmas cash from grandma and grandpa this year and decided that we would use it to take our family out to dinner. this is something we never do and thought it might be kind of fun. even in the snow storm, the restaurant was packed and of course we had to wait.

here's how my teenagers entertain themselves these days.

we ate steak and ribs at texas roadhouse and everything was great, especially the company, it was so much fun to have the kids along.

they must have put a little something extra in the big strawberry lemonades the kids ordered because photos were a little sillier than usual.

thanks grandma and grandpa for a fun night out!
we love you!

christmas forget-me-nots

some with photos, some without, and nothing in any particular order, but all things, i don't want to forget....

learning new primary songs to sing to the babe jesus

couples christmas dinner

after the gifts were opened, taylor declaring it, "the best christmas EVER!"
these two cuties who i still have high hopes for marrying

lauri laughing so hard over patsy's travel briefs white elephant gift

the smoking santa statue

the gift table at the thursday girl party

having brandon stay with us while he's home from boot camp
(santa had to leave his hat behind since we didn't have a stocking for bran)

our cards! i loved how they turned out this year

new stockings that i've coveted for years

christmas lights on our house thanks to taylor

getting almost all of my shopping done online this year - i heart amazon

twenty or so rowdy teenagers over for waffles and hot chocolate

little people nativity and teaching ethan about the birth of jesus

the extra long christmas break from school - hallelujah

mom's luminaries in old ball jars - especially the green ones

leah's hidden baking talent

so many lovely happy faces on dozens of cards on our door
(although i should've taken a more recent photo, the number of cards has doubled since i took this photo!)

decorating the christmas tree cupcakes

this funny boy sneaking a taste of the punch

kids in christmas sunday best

three super cute trouble makers

can everyone just smile for the camera PLease!

gingerbread houses with cousins

awesome new boardgames & super hero cape from the fanks

doorbell ringing non-stop with neighbor gifts and friend treat deliveries

addie's (my neice) gingerbread house decor
(isn't this the sweetest thing? i love this)

mom's snowman tree

homemade pajamas on christmas eve

fresh wreath on the door

christmas stories before bed

allie reading the story of jesus' birth

christmas eve family prayer

having to pry the toddler out of bed because the teenagers were chomping at the bit

ornaments hanging from the chandelier

a sweet gift from allie

to: dad from: the kids :)

REAL ribbon on the gifts, i swear i'm never using the curling kind ever again

christmas day rock concert

constant ping pong ball backround noise from the basement

ethan saying, "i asked santa for this!"

grandma singing fleetwood mac
(maybe my favorite memory of the holiday)

christmas day phone calls

and this video: (sorry about allie's obnoxious screaming)

and just incase you didn't catch what all the screaming was about-

merry merry christmas!

if you made it to the end of this post, you must really love us! 

when mom's away, the teenagers play....with the toddler

i found this video on taylor's phone and laughed so hard! i had no idea this kind of thing was going on down in the basement, that's probably a good thing. anyway, here's to some christmas eve laughs...


hope your christmas is great.

cheering section

allie is such a lucky girl.

she always has a very large cheering section whenever she dances. lots of family, although only pictured with us this time.

some of her cheering section are other dancer's parents too...

but some come just because they love her...

and ethan wishes he could take hip hop too.

lovely and lucky girl.

and the recital was so much fun - love you allie girl!

caution: exploding pants ahead

if i'm not careful this week, my jeans might explode right off my body.

it's true, and all because of this:

oh. my. goodness.

have you tried this stuff?

if you haven't, it's at costco, by the guac and dips.

if you go, treat yourself to a fancier box of crackers to eat it with. fancy crackers make all the difference.

but don't say i didn't warn you.

oh my gosh, here it comes....

mmmmm.sigh.

heaven on a cracker.

oh, and do yourself a favor, and just skip reading the nutrition facts.

i was ok with those evil numbers printed on the back, but it might ruin it for some of the more health consious readers out there.
hence, the exploding jeans.