Christmas Eve 2013

Christmas Eve 2013 was so much fun! We started it out right by going out for breakfast! (Perkins, by the way, is officially my favorite restaraunt because they keep the temperature nice and toasty for their more "mature" regulars. I'm down with that!) After breakfast, Justin and I got the opportunity to be part of a touching ward service project for a family in our ward... not a better way to spend Christmas Eve day and fill our home with Christmas spirit.

We love Grandma and Grandpa Stevens' annual Pajama Christmas Eve party. (Not sure why Justin donned the nerd specks... but he's cute as always!)

Kenna with her lovely Duck Dynasty cousins--Kass & Kinz.

Grandma & Grandma Stevens--true party animals.

Our annual Stevens nativity was the best EVER because all parts were played by the kiddos! Wahoo! (I look really bad as a Shepherd!) As always, it was beautiful and fun. Kyler played "Joseph" this year and Carson played a "Wiseman."

Ashton as the "Kind Inn Keeper"!

Angelic angels

Amazing costumes... amazing backdrop... 

great traditions... cousins that love each other.

Non "Elf" December Fun

Although our December posts revolve around our Elf, we actually have more going on... actually, a lot going on other than Elf sightings! Here are just a few of our non-Elf activities this December!

Kenna and friends have discovered Jane Austen... and have each officially fallen for "Mr. Darcy." (I'm okay with that for a first-time crush!) We had a P&P morning... pajamas, pancakes, popcorn, and Pride & Prejudice! It was hilarious to hear the girls squealing downstairs as they watched it. Great fun!

Carson played on his first basketball team this month! 

He was pretty darn aggressive!

Mom and Ash at Ashton's Preschool Christmas party.

Look closely at that Santa... He's an old friend! 

Curtis Browning from Showtime!

We love our yard! 

The annual Luke Christmas Party!

And yes, at Luke Christmas parties, we sing! It was so funny to watch the new nephew in-laws peer around in confusion at our Christmas Party Choir. That is how we roll, guys. Come warmed up next time!

Ashton was even the big winner at the party. Kids had to guess how many 'Santas' Grandma Luke had in her house. Ash guessed 50... correct number was 54! (Mom likes her Santas!) Ashton was so pleased with himself!

We had an inversion throughout the month--making the trees "flocked" and so beautiful!

Random funny pic... I came upon this spilled wax from my candle. Not one of the kids fessed up to it... but Ashton suspects that is was Cocoa.

Kyler and his buddies at the Rimrock Christmas Assembly!

Kyler is the one on the front row with large ears! I didn't get a pic of Carson because I was directing his group. It has been so fun teaching music for the second grade this year. The kids treat me like I'm a celebrity.

McKenna at her first choir concert. She was heart broken to be made an "alto" on the first day of school (Haha!) but she has come to love singing harmony.

On top of all this fun, I was made the YW president in my ward in December. That added a lot of stress to this month--but it's sinking in and feeling better. Life is full and we are grateful for the opportunity to grow, to raise wonderful kids, and live in a great neighborhood and community. December was busy and great! We are so very blessed.

Packed and Ready to Go - Day 24

We knew it was coming... on Christmas Eve morning, we awoke to find Cocoa packed and ready to head home. (Thank goodness that Cocoa's yearly departure coincides with the happiest morning of the year... I don't think we could handle it otherwise!)

Like last year, Cocoa left us a fun letter!

Again, Santa temporarily lifted Cocoa's magic so that the kids could touch him for the first time that month, give him a squeeze, and say goodbye.

Thankfully, we only had staged tears this year! (We had real ones last year!) The kids handled saying Goodbye so much better our second year with Cocoa-because Cocoa proved that he COMES BACK! We know it will only be 11 months until he moves back in for another 24 days!

 Mid day, I walked by Cocoa and found that one of the kids had left Cocoa a goodbye gift–his own pile of mini marshmallows. This little act touched my heart. We really do love Cocoa--all of us, young and old. Cocoa represents so much more than silliness and pranks... he represents the magic of childhood... the magic of Christmas time... and the power of family tradition.

Until next year, Cocoa... we'll miss you. 

Merry Christmas!

Bringing A Story to Life - Day 23

Carson made us a gift for Christmas and was so excited for us to open it, that we opened it a few nights early! To our delight, we found that Carson had written and illustrated us a book. (He's his momma's boy for sure!) Carson had written quite a tale... It was an adventure about Dad, Carson and Ashton going camping near a bear cave.... and wouldn't you know it, Ashton ended up wandering in the bear cave, waking the bear, and being chased out! Luckily, the day was saved when an (extremely strong) eagle swooped down from the sky, grabbed the bear with his talons, and dropped him over the edge of a waterfall--saving Ashton's life! It was quite intense! We loved the story... and it seems that Cocoa did too, because we found him reenacting the story when we awoke the next morning!

A Bedroom Makeover - Day 22 and a 1/2

On day 22, something extraordinary happened! Cocoa moved mid-day... leaving his best surprise yet! Carson had gotten in trouble after church because his room was a giant mess. Mom and Dad said he could not go play a video game until after he cleaned his room.... so Carson obeyed.... kind of! He made his bed as quickly as possible and it looked like this:

But when Carson returned just a few minutes later to do a better job... he found this:

Plus, all of the boxes that were still unpacked from moving 6 months earlier had disappeared. A curtain, a shelf, and pictures were hung, the clothes were neatly folded in his closet, the floors were vacuumed, and his desk was neatly organized:

The photo of him with Grandma and Grandpa Stevens that he had been begging to have was now even framed on his night stand.

When Carson walked in his room, he started half screaming/half crying/half hyperventilating! He could not believe his eyes! It was truly a Christmas miracle.

Cocoa must have known that an extra special boy needed an extra special surprise.

Cocoa must really love Carson.

Movie Night - Day 22

Cocoa was obviously offended that we didn't love his cooking, but by Sunday morning, it seems his heart had softened. Instead of leaving more graffiti, he left us a gift: a movie starring some of his buddies from back at the 'Pole! 

A Disgruntled Chef - Day 21

"You Didn't Eat My Lunch!"