Christmas Eve finale

After visiting my grandma we came home and made cookies for Santa.

Then the boys and I decided to go see We Bought a Zoo. It was one of my favorite movies that I saw in 2011. So good. Seriously good. I laughed, I cried.

We have a tradition to open one present on Christmas Eve and it's always pajamas.

Ian's mom had bought the boys Santa hats with their favorite football team logos.

The boys posed in their pj's and hats.

Then Evan, Max and I spread reindeer food on the front porch for Santa's reindeer (thank you Penny :) ).

It was one of my favorite Christmas Eves. The only thing that would've made it better was if Ian would've been able to spend it with us.

Christmas Eve Hike

After we were feeling good and fat from our big breakfast, we decided to go hike A Mountain. The boys and I plus Michael, Joshua, Darrel, Trina, Addy, Ro and Ruby all went.

I love the look on Trina's face in this picture :)
Group pictures:

Hiking up the A:

At the top:

I really like this hike because it's short yet a little challenging. It's perfect for the kids who really don't love hiking all that much.

After our hike we went and visited with my grandma for a little while. I love spending time with my family.

Christmas Eve Morning

Christmas Eve morning my mom and dad made breakfast for every one.

They made steak, gravy and biscuits - a Christmas tradition.

Dang that Darrel! He hates for me to take his picture.

The best part of the morning wasn't the food - it was skyping with Jared, Tricia and their kids. I've never skyped before and I loved it! It was so cool!

Ruby was so excited to see Molly! And don't you love Ben's face in this picture???


Dallin came in late from playing football.
It was such a fun way to start the day!

Trampoline!!!

Most of you know that all of the Trezises but one wanted a trampoline for Christmas. I think I wanted it the most. I LOVE TRAMPOLINES!!! That's right, I just screamed it. Well, I was able to talk Ian into getting one and Christmas Eve after all of the kids were in bed we started to move it from its hiding place to the back yard. Well, when Ian and I move things or put things together we usually end up fighting. Sooo....Ian suggested that we NOT put it together on Christmas Eve. It was like a big weight was lifted off my shoulders because I just thought we'd be assembling a trampoline in freezing temperatures in the middle of the night on Christmas Eve. But thanks to my smart husband we didn't. And it was funny because the first thing the boys did Christmas morning was look out back for a trampoline and when they didn't see it they were sad. Hee, hee. Then when I showed them the box and explained that dad would assemble it later they were all jumping around and excited.

The Monday after Christmas Ian decided to put it together. At first all the boys were out there lending a hand(s).

I get irritated when I'm trying to do something and someone who has no idea wants to help. But Ian is really great about getting the boys to help out and showing them what needs to be done.

After a little while Ben & Max went inside to play and Joe showed up to help.
Every few minutes Evan and I would go outside to check the progress. We were so excited!

Ian insisted on getting a trampoline with a net around it. So they started on that next.

When it was done we all went out and jumped. We love it! Last week when our electricity went out, the boys and I spent a good hour jumping and playing football on the trampoline. It is so much fun.

Christmas Eve part deux

We have a tradition on Christmas Eve that we each get to open one present and it's always pajamas.

Evan was so excited to get Toy Story pj's that matched his blanket.

So...after everyone put their pj's on (except Evan would only put half of his on) I wanted a picture. In this first picture Max farted.

I love everyone's faces. Ian's especially. Then Max said something totally inappropriate. Which made everyone but Ian laugh harder.

Laughter encouraged him, so Max made another totally inappropriate remark. See the picture below where Ian is giving Max a piece of his mind:

Then Ian got irritated because Evan wouldn't get in the picture - see below where Ian is giving Evan a piece of his mind:

By this time Xander was mad about having to sit still for so long. And I gave up on getting a picture with everyone looking at the camera and smiling.

Since it was still early I made everyone get in the car to go look at Christmas lights. Ian had a gift certificate to Starbucks so we were going to go get hot chocolates on the way. But duh! it's Christmas Eve and even though it's only 7:30, everything is closed. We still went to look at the lights on Cherry Street. They were awesome.

When we got home I read the boys my favorite Christmas book: Christmas Day in the Morning. Dang that book, it makes me cry every time. Because it reminds me what the true meaning of Christmas is. If you haven't read it, I will lend you my copy.

Then the boys went to bed because they were so excited. Ian and I stayed up getting ready for Christmas morning. He had taped White Christmas for me (it's my favorite Christmas movie) but I only made it through the first 45 minutes of it but I saw the part where Danny Kaye and what's her face danced - they're so good.

I love that movie.

Christmas Eve part 1

On Thursday I only had to work half day. We had Liam and Elliott over to play (Christian had mouth surgery the day before and had to take it easy). I love Tiffany's kids like my own - it's always fun to have them over. Elliott is one of the most self sufficient kids I know. That kid can do anything! Later Kalani and Kahea came over with Pono and Ashton. Pono quickly made himself at home and watched a movie with Elliott and Evan. Kahea brought me treats and Kalani helped me with my computer. I am lucky to have them as friends.The next day was Christmas Eve. I spent the morning with Tiffany, Holly, Tayler and Phoebe at Anthro in Scottsdale. It was so much fun.

Later (after some last minute shopping and baking cookies for Santa) I took the boys to my mom and dads.

This was the first face I saw:
I'm sure you all know how much I love Ruby. I keep trying to steal her but Darrel and Trina won't let me!

Evan has to hold Ruby every time he sees her. She loves it.

There was plenty of food and treats at grandma and grandpa's. Notice the hat Max is wearing. He cut his forehead and was so worried someone would ask him about it so he's been wearing hats. The kid is so weird.

We hung out and watched cheesy Christmas movies.
Ian showed up around 5:30. The earliest EVER! He never gets home on Christmas Eve before 7. Then we let the kids open one gift at my mom's. It's always a blanket.
Rowan was hilarious. He got a Spiderman blanket. He LOVED it. Like LOVE, LOVE, LOVED! it. He kept giggling and looking at it.

Evan got a Toy Story blanket. Perfect. He never goes anywhere without his Woody doll. And now he takes his blanket everywhere too!
Ben and Max cuddling up in their blankets. I don't have any pictures of Xander because he yelled at me and I sent him home. He is so frustrating. Let me tell you having an (almost) teenager is 1,000 times harder than having an infant. Seriously, it's mentally draining.

I can't believe I didn't get a picture of Addy and her blanket. I'm a slacker. Ruby got a Tinkerbell blanket and she loved it.

More on Christmas Eve later...

Christmas in pictures

Christmas Eve morning we hiked "A" mountain with Darrel & Trina. Alexander and Ben didn't want to go, but we all ended up having a blast.






Thank you for your help with Evan, Darrel! You saved him from certain death.




Later on, we headed over to my mom & dad's for great food and company. Per tradition, each grandkid got to open a present (which is a blanket). The boys look forward to it every year.



Evan was happy to finally be able to open a present.


All the boys love baby Molly.


Then we headed home and all the boys opened one gift (pj's).


Christmas morning we opened presents at our house then headed back to my mom & dad's.



It's tradition for my dad to read the Christmas story out of Luke. I look forward to it every year.


Then we headed over to Ian's parents. Sean re-built an electric scooter for the boys. They LOVE it!



Ian got a Star Wars pop-up book. That might have been his favorite gift.


Evan liked his playdough hamburger maker.


Sean and I took pictures of each other.


Meg read to Matthea


The boys got Rockband Beatles. WOOHOO!!!!


I couldn't resist this picture - look at those eyes.



Ian and Evan singing "Love Story" by Tayler Swift. It was priceless.



What they got:

Alexander: Fitzgerald football jersey, Wii fishing game, $ to Bass Pro Shop, a digital camera (grandma & grandpa), an electronic pinball machine (Nana & Papa) and a game (Sean & Meg)

Ben: Portis football jersey, Madden 10 for the X-box, a football, football cards (grandma & grandpa), Peterson football jersey (grandma & grandpa), a ds game (Nana & Papa) and a game (Sean & Meg)

Max: Taylor football jersey, Halo legos, a razor bike that does 360s (grandma & grandpa), a remote control car (Nana & Papa) and a game (Sean & Meg)

Evan: Batman big wheels, the Batcave, Lightning McQueen racing set (grandma & grandpa), a whole bunch of trucks that transform (Nana & Papa) and a hamburger/hotdog playdough maker (Sean & Meg)

All the boys got: a basketball hoop, Beatles Rockband (Nana & Papa), an electric scooter (Sean & Meg) and money (Nana & Papa).


They had a wonderful Christmas.