IT ALL HAPPEND SO FAST!!!

I'm not sure about you...but the month (exactly one month) between Thanksgiving and Christmas went faster for me this year than it EVER has in the past. During that month we had a wonderful visit from our BF F's from Sacramento...the Cross family! While Wendi's husband took a life changing mission trip to Africa, she decided to spend vacation time visiting me! She and her four kids came to stay with us for a week. It was so wonderful! Of all of the things she could have done with her kids during their track break from school she decided to fly with four small children to Las Vegas just to hang out and catch up. I love that. The funny thing is that even though there were a total of 7 kids in our house for a week...it was not at all stressful. Her children are so obedient and respectful, and the dynamic of our kids together is amazing. They just all got along so well. Wendi kept me motivated all week long in and out of my home. The biggest blessing was that she wanted to cook dinner (she loves to cook) every night that she was here. It was wonderful to have them come and stay.
Next... The kids and I flew to Sacramento to spend a fairytale "Christmas weekend with Grandma Ellen". My mom wanted all of her grandkids (my three and my brother's two) to come have a weekend of fun, cousins, a hot cocoa train ride, a Nutcracker performance, a trip to a hotel in San Francisco to see the largest display of Snow Village EVER, presents,...and whatever else possible to get the kids in the holiday spirit! It was so much fun! The kids had a ball. Marissa and I get a kick out of watching our kids together too. We just laugh and laugh. We are so blessed to have my mom love them so much and want to do such wonderful things for them. It was a great weekend. Other than the flying standby to get back to Vegas (which took 3 days)...everything else went super!
Christmas was low key, we stayed home instead of traveling to Reno this year. As much as I miss seeing my extended family during Christmas; I really did appreciate the morning at home watching my kids open presents while my husband and I had coffee on the couch. We didn't have to drag the kids around to six different houses trying to make sure we saw all of the family for the holiday. It was just us...and it was perfect.
And even though my Christmas cards went out AFTER Christmas, and I don't even have my New Year's resolutions figured out yet...I am thankful for the life I have been given and the people around me who make it wonderful.
As we begin the new year I pray for health, peace, and joy for everyone I know. I am excited to see what God has got planned for us this year!

-CROSS VISIT-

Cutie Cami Cross


Best Buds: Colby Cross and Jeffrey Harrison


Wendi and Casey


and God help us; we even took the kids to Chuck E. Cheese

-SACRAMENTO VISIT WITH GRANDMA ELLEN-

Grandma Ellen took us all on a "Polar Express"-like train ride in Sacramento! Coloring pages, hot cocoa, cookies, pajamas, Christmas carols, and Santa!

The kids looked so great and were so excited to get all dressed up to go see the Nutcracker performance!

Gramellen and Ireland


Paul and Sussa


San Francisco!

Before getting reprimanded by the owner of the hat booth outside the hotel...I took a picture of Ellie wearing this 85 dollar accessory. (seriously, if these really sell for that much money I have found a new career)


The kids and Santa (Ireland informed everyone on a regular basis "I DON'T LIKE SANTA" so she sat this one out)


The hotel had thousands of lights hanging everywhere...it was so beautiful!

-CHRISTMAS AT HOME-

back home in Vegas where my hubbylicious tried to compete with Clark Griswald's light display.


and of course...our children woke us up while it was still dark to come and see what Santa had left for them!!!