Christmas Continued

After Santa's visit, we had a wonderful Christmas dinner. The ham was a little dry but I will try to remedy that for next year.



We headed into the family room and started our Christmas Eve program. The kids acted out the nativity as Joey read from the scriptures.

The sheep (he was a lively sheep and almost was kicked out of the manger)


Spencer was a shepherd and this is when the shepherds were sore afraid when an angel came to them.


Mary and baby Jesus.

Joseph and Mary
Then I read The Boots Story (it's a story that Joey has read on Christmas Eve since he was a little kid). Then Hayden and I sang "Silent Night". It was a special evening and I'm grateful I was able to spend it with my cute, little family.

The kids had a busy day and went to sleep without a fuss! And they even slept in until 7am. We usually get a wake-up call around 6:15 so this was a huge treat. Then we made our way downstairs and the kids opened all their presents. They made out like bandits. It's so fun to see their excitement!

My mom made the kids the cutest pillows! Jude LOVES his!

The big kids all got razor scooters from Santa. The wheels light up and everything!


Jude was one happy boy this morning!


Lincoln got a Panda hat from Nonni and Bobpa!


Hayden got a 1959 Barbie!


The boys all got Giants hats from their cousins! They look awesome!


The boys got new Xbox games and they love playing them!


My sweetheart got me a beautiful watch and slippers! It was a great morning and I'm looking forward to church this afternoon and focusing on my Savior and His birth.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas 2011

It's been almost a year since I've posted and I'm making a goal to do better. This blog is a great place for me to journal and facebook just doesn't cut it! So here's to making (and remembering) memories!

We have had a great Christmas! On Christmas Eve morning we went on a hike with our great friends, the Franklins. They've been some of our best friends since our time at UCLA and it's great having them live so close!





After we got home from our hike, we started into our Christmas Eve traditions. I had ham baking, rolls rising, potatoes cooking and the house was feeling like Santa should be here any moment...and guess what?!? He came early to check in with the kids. He said that because they had been super good he was visiting a few special children. Hayden was in SHOCK! Spencer and Lincoln loved ringing Santa's bells. Jude was a little apprehensive but once Santa handed him a lollipop and candy cane, he was won over! Santa gave the kids their Christmas jammies and sang a few carols with them. He had to hurry off because he had to get ready for his Christmas deliveries and we were so happy he stopped by for a few minutes.

Each child got to sit on Santa's lap! It was amazing! He knew all their names and he even knew Bobby, our elf!





Santa had to hurry off and the kids all gave him a big hug.

The kids were so excited to get their jammies from Santa. Hayden got a bathrobe and the boys got elf jammes (I told them their jammies are thermal jammies and elf's wear thermal jammies up in the North Pole)

The Twins are 4!

Holy moly, where did the past 4 years go? I can't believe my little guys are 4.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SPENCER AND LINCOLN!!!!

Here is an excerpt from my journal on the day we found out we were having twins.

October 6, 2006

Yesterday was one of the best and most shocking days of my life. Joey and I went to the doctor hoping to find out if we were having a boy or girl. As the doctor was performing the ultrasound, a funny look crossed her face and she asked if we had already had an ultrasound. I said no and asked if she saw two babies in there… as a joke. She replied by asking if twins ran in either of our families. She saw two babies!!!!! Both boys!!!! Holy cow!!!!! We are having twins. We had to go back to the hospital last night to do a more detailed ultrasound to make sure the boys were in separate sacs and that they were healthy. Everything looked great and we were very relieved. Had there only been one sac, many complications could occur, so the fact that they are in separate sacs is huge. There is only one placenta so chances are they are identical, but we can’t say for sure. We have decided to name them Lincoln Joseph and Spencer Robert. I’m so excited and overwhelmed. I know Heavenly Father will help me do this. I know Joey is a wonderful supportive husband who will be there for me. I know Hayden is the sweetest little girl in the world and will be my little helper. I have the support of family and friends. We have a lot to do to get ready for these little guys!!! This better be the biggest surprise these two little boys ever throw my way!!! I love them already and look forward to having our family grow.

We are so blessed to have Spencer and Lincoln in our family. They are wonderful, sweet little boys.

Spencer is more social and likes to be in the middle of the chaos, but he also loves to hang on my leg in new situations. Spencer has this voice that I can't help but laugh whenever he talks. It's slightly Gilbert Godfrey-ish. Spencer loves, loves, loves back scratches. He also loves to have his armpit tickled.

Lincoln is little more serious. Even though the boys are identical, we say Lincoln is handsome and Spencer is cute. It's a good description of them. Lincoln loves me to sing into his ear at bedtime. I think it tickles him and relaxes him. Lincoln is more sensitive than Spencer.

The boys both love trains, cars, and the trampoline. They love the park and they love water. The would live in the bathtub if I let them. They love to look for bugs and babies (they call BBs from the neighborhood boys babies and they have a special place in the back yard they keep them).

The boys love each other so much! It's been so fun to see this amazing relationship grow. These little guys have the same DNA and they are so alike in so many ways, yet they are such individuals. I love having these guys be a part of our family! We love them so much!

Our Little Hula Dancer

Hayden started taking hula a few months ago. She had her first performance last night at our city New Year's Eve Party. She did a wonderful job!