Christmas Day 2015

Christmas Onsies

Just like Ralphie's father had sympathy on Ralphie and didn't make him stay in his bunny suit all day long....Laura too had sympathy on Clayboy and didn't make him stay in his bunny suit all night long!  After we had a few good laughs, Laura brought out another package and said, "Clayboy, would you like to change out of that suit?"  Don't get me wrong, I think Clayboy liked the pink bunny suit, but it just isn't PJ comfy...so Laura also got him a moose caboose onsie PJ to match the rest of the crew!  So... taaadaa Christmas 2015 onsies!  And boy do we love them - they are great!  The kids said, "Wow, Mom...now we don't even need blankets, we are sleeping with our blankets attached to us...this is awesome!"  I think they like them! (I have to admit, Laura loves them too...being pregnant and constantly rolling over in the night...fighting blankets is a constant battle - so when the kids said this, Laura took it to heart and that night was an amazing night...no blankets, just the onsie and it was perfect...."blankets" stayed on all night!

Our Deranged Easter Bunny

Laura was incharge of PJ's this year and when  "onsie" PJs became the designated theme - she just couldn't resist the pink bunny suit.  Laura has heard quotes from this movie since the day she met Clayboy - so she knew this was a perfect fit!  When Clayboy opened the package the kids instantly said, "Ralphie...on the double!"  Haha.... and on the double he went and put it on...what a good sport!  Drum roll please....

Our very own Ralphie aka Clayboy...The Deranged Easter Bunny!

   

Christmas Eve BINGO

We were invited to spend Christmas Eve with our good friends the Coddingtons and Lambs.  We had a wonderful ham dinner and BINGO!  Presents on Christmas Eve...yes please!  Everyone had a great time playing games, seeing Santa in the sky and claiming he crashed his sleigh.... fun times at the Coddington House!!

Eve Of Christmas Eve Nativity

We switched up some of our usual Christmas traditions this year so we could enjoy them with the cousins.  We did our Christmas Eve feast and Nativity on the Eve of Christmas Eve!  It was a little crazy, but memorable!  

The Rands Family had to leave Christmas Eve morning to start their drive back to Idaho.  We sure enjoyed their visit and were sad to see them leave.  Thanks for driving all the way to New Mexico to visit the Ward Crew!!  Love you guys!

A Skating Bunch

This is one awesome skating bunch!  Everyone was out on the rink having a great time!  The kids all skated and skated and skated.  They are getting soooo good!  They love it!  It was Aparri's first time with "real" skates (she usually has the trainers that strap to her shoes), but this time she insisted she get the real skates....and she did amazing!  Yes, she came home with sore muscles, bumps and bruises - but she also came home with a big smile on her face, because she did it and did it well!!  The 2 little boys lasted a while and then decided the arcade was their place to hang out and fight over the small game that was just their height.  Laura opted out of roller skating - she is having a hard enough time keeping her balance on 2 feet let alone skates!  So, she came and took pictures and enjoyed watching for a while and then took home the tired skaters while the rest skated on til closing! (and yes, Detric had a little accident....he made it to the potty, but it is hard to pee with skates on!!!  What can you do?  Skate on!)

Sunny Clovis Zoo

We headed off the the Clovis Zoo Wednesday morning to enjoy the sunshine and see the animals!  The kids enjoyed the giraffes, ducks and the statues!  (Even the ducks posed for the picture!!!)  This warm sunny weather makes it hard to believe Christmas is just a few days away, but we are enjoying the opportunity to head outside and run around!

Pass the Parcel- Santa Style

We introduced the cousins to one of our favorite games...pass the parcel.  It was a hit!

New Mexico = Roswell Roswell = ALIENS

It's hard to visit New Mexico and not visit Roswell.  So we took a journey down south so the cousins could first hand see the New Mexico Alien Museum and check off that box!  Some of the kids were convinced that the Alien manikins were real!  (Not that Preston had anything to do with that.....)  We all had fun spotting all the Aliens that decorate the city as we drove through!

Decorating Gingerbread Houses and Eating CANDY!!

When we asked the kids what was their favorite things that we did with the cousins - Decorating Gingerbread Houses was one of the top things that came flowing out of their mouths!  I'm not sure if it was the decorating or eating of the decorations that left the lasting impression of happiness - but either way - the houses turned out beautiful and amazing!!! Good job decorating our houses of Candy - now....if we can only keep the kids away from them...haha.

Bowling with Santa!!!

Bowling!!! Who doesn't love bowling???  We took the whole Ward and Rands crew to base for a speical outing of bowling!  Since it is the week of Christmas - a special guest showed up while we were bowling!!! The kids had a blast throwing a few balls down the lane with jolly o'le St. Nicholas.  He even came bearing gifts!  All the kids were able to reach into his big red sack and bring home a stuffed animal!  They were thrilled.   I don't think anyone had a steller bowling score to brag about...except maybe Clayboy, but we all had a great time being together, being silly, and  everyone left with smiles!  Now that is a successful venture! 

 

Cousins are HERE!!!

Trevor, Leslie, Maydin, Rhein, Kage, Bella, and Ashe came down from Idaho to visit!!!  With 4 adults and 9 kids - we were a big, happy, energetic bunch!  We kept busy and had lots of fun!!!