Christmas Day

Christmas morning we woke up (at 7!!!!! That NEVER happens!) and we all ran out into the living room to see if Santa had come! Sure enough, he didn't forget the Hunters. He brought Andy a new train, Sadie a rocking horse, and Julie a Barbie makeup kit.

You may be able to tell that Santa slightly misjudged the height of our ceiling. But it all worked out.

Julie was super excited about her makup and has been all "done up" ever since.

Silly kids playing in their teepee. They even slept in it last night!

John and Andy were quick to work on their new Lego creations.  Andy is a little impatient, but he is getting the hang of it.

Sadie loved watching Andy run his new train. He loved showing her how it works.

And of course Sadie took a few long rides on her horse.  She climbed up on her all by herself.  We have decided the horse is named Butterscotch. But she has the right to change it when she gets older.

We got the big kids razor scooters. Julie pulled hers out of the box and took off on it! She was zooming all over the kitchen and up and down the hallway. Then we went outside and she was all over the driveway and street.

Andy was surprisingly good on his too, maybe slightly less daring than Julie, but still really balanced. Though they both ate road a few times, they loved them.

Sadie and Memere sneaked in a few snuggles.

Soon Uncle Justin, Aunt Audrey and Cousin Lauren came over to do more gifts.  My mom got me a basketball hoop! She also got the kids and I new basketballs.

Sadie just kicked back and watched. Then liked walking through all the wrapping paper and toys.

Cousin Lauren was awesome at opening gifts this year!

Andy loves his new punching bag. On the other side it has Hulk Hogan on it. The kids have no idea who that is but it gave us all a laugh!

After we put together my basketball hoop and played in the front yard for a while. Justin and Audrey took Lauren home for her nap and Chris and Kayla came to hang out for a bit.  Then they and Memere went on their way and we were left home alone, just the 5 of us. So we all went back to bed! Actually, Julie found a better place to take her nap.

In the evening, Grandma Hazel came over for a quiet dinner of leftovers. The kids showed her every toy they received, no matter how big or little. She and John sat at the table for a long time chatting while the kids and I cuddled and played. It was the perfect evening and a great end to a fun Christmas.

Grammy's Brithday!!

On Christmas eve we had a fun family dinner to celebrate Anne's birthday.  We are always lucky we get to celebrate her birthday with her and it's a great excuse to throw a party and get all the family together.

Before the crowd arrived, we had a little Christmas with just Grammy and Pop Pop. The kids were beyond excited for Grammy's party and for presents. 

Andy loved every gift he opened. And loved even more ripping them open and putting things together. He has been a playing machine ever since.

Sadie is a major "Grammy's Girl" so it was pretty easy to find her all evening.

Again, so excited.

Sadie got a cool new purse! And Julie got a fun little dog and lego set....she was too busy playing to get a picture.

Before long, Mom came over bearing a bunch of delicious food. Jus, Audrey, Lauren, Sean, Grandma Hazel, Grandma CC, Uncle Chris, Chris and Kayla and the entire Gasch Clan soon trickled in.

Sadie and Lauren had some nice girl time. Just a little chance to catch up over dinner.

Silly kids! Julie can't take a serious picture these days.

I am so happy we were able to get a shot of the cousins! Of course there were some missing, but at least we got one. This will have to be a new tradition!

Audrey and I were commenting on how we wore complimentary outfits, so we had to get a picture.

Here is a little piece of the Gasch Clan. It was nice to get to see Carter on his first Christmas!

Sadie and Sarah had matching outfits too...well, at least the same color. And they were both wearing cowgirl boots.

Say Cheese!  Love my cousins!

Singing Happy Birthday to Grammy. The kids each got to make a cake for the party. They love helping in the kitchen and it worked out great that we had to make two to have enough for the whole party.

After some more gifts and lots of laughs, it was time to say good-night. The kids put on their jammies, put out milk and cookies for Santa, oatmeal and carrots for the reindeer. Then it was off to bed. After the fun night we had, there was not a peep out of any of them. So happy birthday Grammy! We love you so much and love getting to celebrate your birthday with you!

Christmas Fun Part 3

Friday night we went to Uncle Justin's and Aunt Audrey's with Memere and learned a little bit about lighting the Menorah.  The kids were so happy to have Aunt Audrey teach them how to say the prayer and she even let them light 2 candles each.  She told them a brief history of why the Menorah is lit and what it represents.  After dinner we got to eat jelly donuts and play Dradle. The kids loved every minute of it! I wish I had gotten pictures of all 4 cousins spinning the Dradle and eating chocolate coins.

Saturday we had our annual Christmas Cookie Bake with Auntie Kay and Uncle Monster. Every year I am surprised with how much the kids actually help. This year both big kids were excited to be in the kitchen.

Julie rolled out the sugar cookie dough over and over.

Andy helped move the cookies from the cutting board onto the cookie sheet.

Both kids loved decorating of course. Andy thought it was serious business.

Julie liked using every color on each cookie.

They were both very efficient at being goofballs.  Sadie spent much of the time wandering around the kitchen hoping for something to fall....Feather was right behind her doing the same.

Andy was in love with Kayla's mixer....actually, so was I. But he wanted to work all teh switches. and he did a great job! Only splattered flour all over me once!

Again, goofball.

Such a haul this year! We made 2 types of sugar cookies, haystacks, mini cupcakes, peanut butter blossoms, cherry cordial blossoms (these were amazing) and pretzel-hershey kiss things. Yum.  We ate way too much! The next night we delivered boxes of cookies to the neighbors.

After a strenuous night of cookie making, the big kids snuggled in to watch a movie with Uncle Monster. Not a bad way to end the day.

 Sunday we had a fun "Tea Party" with the Arnolds. We all got dressed up and went to have apple juice in personalized cups, peanut butter and jelly cut into shapes and cupcakes.  The kids also got to do a project, making Christmas trees out of waffle cones, frosting and candies. Andy took it very seriously.

Julie took eating it very seriously.

All the kids had a great time. They always have a blast together.Thanks Tania for hosting and having us! Your new house is beautiful!

Sadie enjoyed herself, eating off any plate she could find.  This is a new trend of hers....eating all the time.

These holidays sure have been a blast, and we aren't even to Christmas yet! We are so fortunate we get to spend so much time with our amazing friends and family!

Christmas Fun Part 2

Last Friday we went to the San Luis Parade with the Arnolds. We are so lucky to have these sweet friends in our lives!!

Sadie and Eli got a few cuddles in before the parade started.  It took Eli a bit to catch her, but she was just playing hard to get.

We actually got a picture with all 5 of us!  It doesn't happen very often.   Helped that John had Sadie contained and there was hope of the parade starting any minute.

Julie got some snuggles with Gus. Audrey was a little protective of her little brother. She kept a watchful eye on Julie while she had him.

Holy moly that's a big group of kids! Fun where ever we go!

The Sunday before last I (along with Chris, Kayla and my mom) went to the Santa Margarita Tree Lighting.  It was down at the park and they had hot cocoa and cookies!  The kids had WAY too much sugar, but it was a great, hometown celebration. 

Andy got a little ride from Uncle Monster....actually, I think Chris was attempting to contain him...

He was a bit sweeter to Auntie Kay.

Such a beautiful tree!  After it was all lit up, Memere took Sadie home and Chris, Kayla and I took the kids caroling to older folks homes who couldn't come to the tree lighting on the flat bed hay trucks. It was fun, but the kids were so wired on sugar we ended up walking all the way home. 

Sadie got in the "tree mood" though, and we catch her doing this every once in a while.