Christmas Eve

I thought I'd begin with the before and after tree shots, just because it's fun :)

BEFORE

AFTER

Now let's really begin! For Christmas Eve we decided to invite three families over to be each other's "family" as we were away from our loved ones this season. There were nine children in our home which I decided was PLENTY to do the nativity...

So a few of us dressed them up and attempted the (nearly) impossible-

since six of the children were 3 yrs and younger :)

Here are Mary and Joseph with baby Jesus...

and of course the angel... (while Ryan reads Luke 2 on his iPhone)

what a funny combination of past and present.

Then sprinkle in a few shepherds and wise men...

singing their praises, or laughing, or crying as some were...

and there you have it! The FOUR minute Nativity!

After that we decorated some cookies and visited some more... but then it was time for all to go home and do their own traditions in preparation for Santa to come visit.

Now it's just us, and the kids are getting excited to open their one gift from mommy & daddy. Bet ya can't guess what it is... :)

...and there you have it. Exciting isn't it? He sure was- the little ingrate!

Ahh aren't they cute? All ready for Santa!!

Ta- Da! Everyone dressed and ready!

My little charmer- and it's off to bed with them all!

Don't know why this is underlining now and I can't stop it! Anyhow, then Santa's little helpers came to help get things ready for Christmas morning. Which, by the way, was wonderful!!

Isn't everyone doing such a great job?

Ahhh all done! Time for bed :)

Silly Putty

This is Christmas Eve...

This is a half hour before our friends (3 families from our ward) are to show up.

This is what happens,

When you do a headstand on the couch,

And there is silly putty in the way.

Never get in a fight with silly putty. It will win.

And this is after. Which also included a few tears from an angry and stressed out mama.

What can I say? I LOVE his longer hair!

This is the FIRST buzz cut Hunter has ever had.

Gabriella's 5th Birthday!

Happy Birthday Gabriella!

I'm really good at posting lots of pictures. Not so great at witty commentary. So just enjoy the pictures with minimal comment. :)

I love how Gabriella looks adorable and Kolea is totally looking like an orphan! That girl cracks me up- she has a style ALL her own. :)

Make a wish!

Lots o' fun!

Lucky girl...

Game time! First the birthday girl!

Now Lili

Then Ivy with some help from sissy, Velzy

And a little assistance from our lovely assistant, tio David!

Take two for Gabriella! She actually cheated the first time around. It was quite funny- although she didn't find it very funny when everyone called her a "cheater." :) So she needed a re-do and swore she'd keep her eyes CLOSED.

A race to pop 3 balloons the fastest. Hunter won. :)

Ever play this one before? I recommend the kids being at least about 8 yrs old.

First you eat a soda cracker...

Then chew a piece of bubble gum! Whoever can blow a legitimate bubble first is the winner!

The Craft

For those of you who really know me- you know that I'm soooooo NOT crafty. But for Gabriella's birthday I was inspired to do something out of the ordinary.

I'm sure it's because I'm surrounded by some of the most talented and crafty women I've ever known on this little rock of an island- and EVERY birthday party my children go to, there seems to be some awesome craft! So yes, I was feeling the pressure. Well, I succumbed.

And this, my friends was the result...

The idea here was to make a crown for our "Pin The Crown on The Princess" game
The pictures are self-explanatory. :)
I was feeling pretty brilliant as I made up all of this stuff!
I made about 12 of these...
And then let the kids decorate them! Ta-da!
See, I can be crafty. ;)

Sugar & Spice...

... and everything NiCe!

That's what little girls are made of!

Snips and Snails

and Puppy Dog Tails...

That's what little boys are made of!

These pictures were taken on the same day. Yesterday- Gabriella's 5th birthday!

Birthday pictures soon to follow. :)

WoRdS

Remember this cute kid?

He says some pretty funny and off the wall things every once in a while...

Yesterday on the drive to school the children were talking about where they were born. I told them they were all born in Colorado.

Hunter pipes up, "but not River. He was born in Hawaii...

... he's brown."

Hahahahahaha! So there you have it. Evidently, little River is now Polynesian b/c he was born here in Hawaii. If only it worked that way. Once a Haole (how-lee) always a Haole. In other words- if you be white. They ain't no changin the fact. You cain't be bon in Hawaii and call yo-self a Hawaiian. Nuf said.

Hunter said something else today.

Only this time it wasn't so funny.

He learned the "F" word.

"The queen mother of dirty words. The F, dash, dash, dash word..." as he says on A Christmas Story.

Hunter learned it from his friend, although he didn't know it was such a bad word.

Well, now he knows.

Kids!

SEVEN? WhAt??

Hunter is SEVEN!

Today is his birthday. Seven years ago today I gave birth to my first child. And he was perfect in every way!

Hunter is a special spirit and always has been. He is super fun-loving! Also, caring and creative. He's smart and funny and competitive and silly and goofy and a friend to EVERYBODY!

Hunter is like his dad- very talkative and a friend to all. Everyone LOVES Hunter! Especially us!

Hunter likes to get on our computer and play with the Photo Booth and take random pics of himself. Here is crazy one!

This was taken on Dec. 1st. I gave him the mohawk earlier that day at his request. Did I mention he LOVES having his picture taken? He will pose for anyone, anytime! :)

Remember the part where I said he was "special" ?? Haha!

We celebrated Hunter's birthday yesterday on the 4th. I told him he could chose six friends to come over for cake and ice cream and then we'd take them all to see a movie. Five were able to come (although we are missing two in this pic!)
Hunter is the cutest thing ever and I want to cry just thinking about him. I love him dearly- as a mother would!! He was so excited to have us sing "Happy Birthday" to him!
He is hilarious too- he wanted a Red Velvet cake for his birthday!! What 7 yr old asks for that? But works for us :) We LOVED it!

First cake, second presents!!!!

What happened to Hunter? Where'd he go?? We're all looking for him...
Ahhh of course. There isn't enough room on the table. Must open presents!! That present is wrapped so cute! I love how they did his name on it and I'm glad I snapped a photo before it all got ripped to shreds!
A happy bunch and a fun time with the gifts. Soon after this we all piled in a couple of cars and went to see "Tangled!" I know, I know, a very girlie type movie. But they are SEVEN! And two of them had already seen it. :) They all LOVED it. Although, I did hear a couple of little snickers now and then... It was classic boy behavior and so much fun!

We're still missing one other little boy in this pic- he met us at the theater. Where I TOTALLY forgot to pull out my camera and take more pictures of the group! But I guess we were having too much fun. Hunter had a wonderful birthday chillin with his buddies: Jason, Jeron, Carson, Mahonri, and Tosi. They were all so cute!

Hunter you are SO wonderful and such a blessing to our family!

We think you are hilarious that you are SO competitive in everything you do and that you are a little "parent!" Typical first child! But we love it and wouldn't trade YOU for anything.

You are a good little boy who is growing so fast and you strive to do what's right... now if only we can get your sisters to that point. Ha!

You are smart and have a thirst for knowledge. I love that I don't have to bug you every day about doing your homework- you just do it. You help your sisters when they are in need. You are also the first to tell someone when they are doing something wrong. :) You LOVE being the BOSS!

We didn't even take any pictures today on your actual birthday! We were too busy playing with all of your presents. That's kind of the way to go... celebrate the day before or at least EARLY in the day so you can actually PLAY with your gifts on your birthday. It's handy.

Love you Hunter.