New Year's Eve

Chase ditched us and went to a friend's party.  Sometimes it's hard to let Chase grow up.  Even though Chase didn't stay home with us, we still had a party.  We played lots of games.  We played Uno, Tenzie, Spot It, and Phase 10.  Then we watched some of the New Year's Eve countdown programs. Tanner didn't make it till midnight.  He fell asleep around 11:00.  Just before midnight, we got our bubbly all ready.  All of our fancy glasses are still packed so we used our regular glasses.  Happy New Years!  

I saved just a little bit in the bottle for Bridger to drink.  He thought that was really fun.  Shan sent us the picture of her and Aliyah.  Every New Year's Eve would would take pictures of us drinking from the bottle so it made me laugh when she sent me the picture.  So then we sent the one of Bridger drinking from the bottle back to her.  I was really homesick for Shan this New Year's Eve.  We would always have such fun parties together.  I tried to convince Shan to come up and sleep over but traveling is hard with Hazel.  Maybe one day we'll be able to celebrate together.  

Playing in the Snow

Tanner was excited to go play in the snow.  It was really cold and his gloves wouldn't stay on so he didn't stay out there for very long.  He wasn't very happy.  But I love the picture of Chase holding Tanner.  Bridger and Chase went out and played in the snow too.  I didn't capture a picture of Bridger with them. He came inside before I could grab a picture.  I worry sometimes that Tanner doesn't have anyone to play with.  So it makes me so happy when his older brothers will play with him.  

Christmas Day!

Christmas Eve Pajamas

As I was trying to take a picture of the boys in the pjs, Sophie came over and had to be in the picture. She literally sat on Bridger's lap.  It made us laugh.  The boys were happy with their pjs.  Tanner's has a cute St. Bernard on the shirt.  Bridger wanted pjs that wouldn't make him too hot so he was happy with this style.  Chase loved how soft his pjs are.  

Dad would always say "Santa dumped a load."  This continues to be true.

Matt and I woke up around 6:00 and started getting ready.  Chase woke up around 5:30 and just stayed in bed and read until he heard us up.  Then Bridger and Tanner were quick to wake up around 6:30.  The boys were able to open all of their presents before church.  Tanner was so fun.  He was very happy with the bones Sophie got.

We also surprised the boys with a basketball hoop for the sports court in our new home.  Matt did a lot of research and picked out a really nice hoop.  One day our new house will be ready for the hoop.

We bought the boys an XBOX One so they were very surprised and happy with that gift.  We tried to have it install the software while we were at church but something happened so it didn't work.  So when we came home they had to wait and start it all over again.  Luckily the boys were able to play on it for a few minutes before we headed down to see our families.

Santa brought Bridger a really big nerf gun.  Chase wanted lots of clothes.  Tanner gave Bridger a mini foosball table.

Chase wanted clothes, clothes and more clothes so he was happy with the clothes that he got.  

Bridger got the movie "Secret Life of Pets."  Tanner was so cute opening up his presents.  He would have been happy with one present because he would open one present and be perfectly content playing with that one.  Chase gave Tanner a cash register.  Tanner was very happy with his PJ Mask figures.

There was a major snow storm that hit on Christmas day.  The roads were a mess when we drove down to our families.  We saw a least a dozen accidents.  We were so lucky to make it safely to our families.

Mikayla got a new game where you have to wear a mouth piece and then say certain phrases.  Then people have to guess what you're saying.  Matt, Mikayla, Chase and Bridger had so much fun playing the game.  We laughed a lot just watching them.  

Bridger brought his new nerf gun to show our families.  Tanner was disappointed that he didn't get a gun so I went down to our "gun box" and pulled him out a gun and brought it up for him. He was so excited and showed everyone his "new" gun.

This picture was taken of Grandpa and Grandma A at Jake and Jess's wedding.  I saw it on one of their tables for the first time and I thought it was such a great picture of the two of them.  So I took a picture of it and it turned out really well.  

Around 5:00 we headed over to the R's to continue the celebrations.  Mom put together a wonderful feast for us to eat.  Then we played bingo with the kids and they had way too many presents.  But they enjoyed the game.  Mom and Dad took all of the kids down to the basement and then she surprised them by getting out foam white balls and they had a snowball fight.  It was so sweet to see mom and dad running around the basement laughing and giggling with the kids.  The kids loved the surprise.  Then the kids opened up their presents from Grandma and Grandpa.  Chase and Bridger got XBOX games from grandpa and grandma.  Chase got Madden 17, and Bridger got NBA2K17. 

 

Dad gave each of us an "American Girl" doll book.  Julie and Aliyah were enamored with the book.  I thought it was so sweet of Dad to give us the book because he knows how much we love American Girl dolls. 

Shantelle continued the tradition and made Mom and Marilyn a beautiful Island Park Shutterfly book.    She does such an amazing job with these books.  Mom and Marilyn loved the books.  As a joke, we gave everyone a Chick-fil-A cow calendar.  Mom laughed really hard because Dad gave her one that morning. 

The last couple of pictures sum of the night.  Everyone was exhausted!  Robby and Matt took a little snooze and Tanner chilled out in his chair.  We had a wonderful Christmas spending the day with our families.

Christmas Eve with the A's

We met at the A's for our Christmas celebration.  Everyone was there!!  We met around 2:00.  We ordered our traditional pizza and then played "CANDY" bingo.  There were tons of presents to choose from.

Ardell kept the tradition going as the announcer.  

Even Ella and Tanner played Candy.  Jess was taking a selfie of her, Megan and Ella.  Tanner was watching them so he wanted to take one too.  It cracks me up that he's sticking his tongue out because that's what Jess, Ella and Megan did in one of their pictures.  (I just didn't capture it).

Isaac won!!  He opened the crazy hat!!!

We decided since everyone was together that we would exchange gifts because tomorrow everyone would be going different directions.  It worked out really well doing it this way.  It took some of the craziness out of Christmas day.