The 12 days before Christmas

Setting up the Christmas Tree.

Visiting Santa.

The Nativity.

Haha.  My sister Jacee was a wise man. 

Carter opening his Christmas Eve present.

New Jammies!

 Christmas goodies.

We bought tickets to the Boulder City Santa Train over a month in advance.

Sadly, the day of everyone but Sydney had the stomach flu.

She went with my mom and sister and they snapped a couple pictures.

Springs Preserve, Mermaids and MY BABY'S GROWING UP!!!

We took the kids to the Spring Preserve the week before Christmas.  

The week after Christmas we went to see the mermaids swim at the Silverton Hotel.

They were so fun.  They interacted with the kids through the glass and tried to steal kisses from all the boys.

My sweet baby Reese is already 4 1/2 months old!  WHAT?!?

He's such a cutie.

 We gave him his first taste of rice cereal on a spoon a couple weeks ago.  Our other kids all gobbled it up at 4 months...Reese wasn't so interested so we'll give it another shot in a month or so.  

(I can't rotate these pictures for some reason...)

 Watching the big kids play at the park.

He's trying really hard to get his fingers figured out.

Jackson came to me one day and said he was a lawyer monster.

?

I guess because he's wearing a bow tie??

This was Carter's first night out of the crib and bunking with Jackson.

He does great going to sleep, but now wakes up at 5 every morning.  

WAY too early for me.  Ugh!

 Cowboy Carter.

There's just something so cute about kids falling asleep while eating.

 We pulled the Bumbo out to let Reese try it out. 

Carter had to test it out first.

And Jackson.

Finally Reese.

Sydney and Jackson got to go shooting in Logandale the day after Christmas.

I'm Getting Nothin' for Christmas!!

Last night was our annual Gifford Christmas Party.

My sister Sherri surprised us by teaching the older grandkids this cute song.

Now onto Christmas break with all the kiddos home.
I'm going to try to make the  best of it and enjoy all this extra time with my little noise makers. ;-)

Snow Camp

We took the scouts snow camping this weekend. We captured some of the cold moments

 nice warm bed

 this is just like home 

creepy dog statue we found

McKay and Jackson double jump. It's not a soft landing...

Blake launches over them

Jacob dislocates his jaw

Blake goes over the cliff

Cody can jump too

Dane flies over

Blake over again

Christmas Baking

Well, I haven't done any actual baking this year. 

But we did work on these beauties last night.

I even let the big kids get in on the action.

Mmmmm.

Tonight we'll finish dipping cashews and whole dried strawberries.

Two nights ago McKay and I laid all the kids Christmas presents out on the bed to evaluate.

After gathering gifts throughout the year and shoving them in my closet I forget what I have for each child.  

I'm happy to announce my Christmas shopping is DONE!!!!

The only thing left is to take everyone to the dollar store to buy for each other.  

I wait all year for October, November, and December.  

I love the cool weather, the activities, music, and smells.

It makes me sad that in less than two weeks Christmas will already be OVER.  

I'm going to enjoy every second of the next several days and I hope you do too!!

Merry Christmas!

Protecting YOUR Rights!

Last night at McKay's work Christmas party we captured this little gem. ;-)

All the attorneys.

Protecting YOUR rights!

Haha.

Newborn Reese

Diana did these precious newborn shots of Reese when he was just 10 days old.

So sweet.