New Year's Eve

One of our favorite holiday traditions is going to Afton, WY to ring in the New Year with Dallas' siblings.  It's so much fun now that all of the kids are older- it seems like we're all the same age- well, except Jordan.  He still seems like he's 14 ;).  Our favorite moments of the New Year's Celebration were:

• Dallas spent a billion hours in the shop with his Dad and brothers.  I'm not exactly sure what they did in there, but they kept mentioning how "Grandpa" was hungry, and it involved the question, "This will burn, right?"
• The girls hit the usual shops- Hasting's Gifts, Swift Creek Trading, and Ditto.  I resisted buying Annie yet another stuffed kitty, and I was proud of myself.
• Hours and hours spent driving the remote control rock crawlers of Jordan and Beau's over cushions, storage containers, toys, faces... you know, whatever posed a challenge.

• Manicures and Pedicures by Annie's request- we all hated what we did and ended up taking it off.  All of us except Annie, of course.

•  Creationary (like Pictionary, only you build things with Lego's), food and forts.

• Naps (oh, I looooove the naps), and lots of good time spent together.  Happy New Year!!!

Christmas Day

We stayed home!  For most, this is what usually happens.  For us, this is only the second time in our marriage that we've had Christmas at home- and we're going on 10 years!  It was everything I hoped.  We spent a lazy day playing with toys, watching movies, and just enjoying being together for Christmas.  Austin joined us in the morning for presents, breakfast and Pete's Dragon, my Mom and Sam (aka Samta) came for dinner tonight, and Beau came for dessert.  It was truly a perfect day.  I wanted nothing more for Christmas than spending the day with my kids at home, and that's exactly what I got.

Christmas Eve

Every Christmas Eve you can find us at Carolyn's.  Why?

The food.

The food is so good.  Jalapeno artichoke dip, bacon wrapped chestnuts, shrimp dip, sombrero dip, stuffed mushrooms- and that's just the starters.  I'm always full before our meal even begins.

Grandma's party is also steeped in tradition- the kids play the present game, a visit from Santa brings an early surprise, the adults even get a chance to sit on his lap on occasion, singing a few carols, and hiding in the front room for some breathing room, pajamas with the Robinson's, and stealing as many Hershey's Kisses as possible.

It's how we start off Christmas with a bang!

Back row: Spencer, Will, Jacob, Katie, James, Alli

Front row: Rachel, Johnny, Annie, John, Miles

Grammy and Grandpa's Party

Let's see...The Top 10 Wilson Family Party Moments of 2012- in no particular order:

1. When Grandpa read Room For a Little One to the family gathered around the Christmas tree.
2. A Surprise visit from Santa!
3. The fact that Santa knew the children by name, as well as something nice and naughty about each one.
4. Presents for baby Nicoll and Kaydee and James' twins that will come in 2013.
5. The adults playing "Keep Mine or Take it All" and Dallas being the only one that had the heart (or lack thereof) to steal another person's prize- and walking away with Nate's envelope. (Don't worry, it all worked out in the end and Dallas ended up surrendering it back to Nate).
6. Winning $100 each at said game.
7. Late night talks with my Daddy.
8. Cousin time!
9. Kenny walking around in his batman costume.
10. Funeral potatoes.  These definitely deserve to make it to the top 10.

The Hansen Family

Nate, Tyler, Cami, Lauren and Alex

The Wilson Family

Clayton, Kenny and Leslee

The Nicoll Family

Poor Annie- she was exhausted, but woke up just in time for presents!

The Wilson Family

Kaydee, TeAnna, and James

 

 Grammy and Grandpa with their favorite people

Great Grandma Nicoll's Party

I love traditions. I love doing the same things every year and experiencing them in a new way. I love sharing them with my kids. I love that Christmas is chuck full of these!

This year at Grandma Nicoll's party, our whole family participated.  Annie was Mary, Will was Joseph, Dallas was the Donkey, and I was the angel Gabriel.  Annie took her part so seriously.  During the production when Grandma Nicoll narrated and introduced Mary for the first time, Annie pointed to herself quietly and said "That's me."

Do you spy Teddy wrapped up in swaddling clothes?

Grandma Nicoll gives all of the unmarried grand kids and great grand kids pajamas every Christmas.  Below is pictures Trennen Little, Thomas Nicoll, Will, Kayla Nicoll, Annie, and Elijah Nicoll.

The entire Nicoll grandchildren/ great grandchildren brood!

Everything is fun at Christmastime.

It seems like during the holidays we make an extra effort to make every available moment into something fun to do to celebrate- at least it's this way with me.  Whether it is watching a Christmas movie with freshly popped popcorn, bowling, or decorating giant gingerbread men, we've been scheduling every minute!

 We went bowling last weekend with our friends the Perkins'.  Annie beat both Will and Grace with a score of 92!  And she did it all while bouncing nonstop!

 Tonight we decorated giant gingerbread men.  Dallas won the award for having the most detailed and intricately designed cookie man.  I vote he makes the kids' birthday cakes next year.

 Will won the award for most use of candy.  The kid ain't dumb; he knows the more he sticks on his cookie, the more he gets to eat later.

Fashion Forward

Annie designs her own outfits sometimes. She's a little ahead of Utah fashion- I'm sure you can find designs such as these on the east coast already.

Big D

I went running the other day and came home to this:

Say hello to "Big D"- which is what he calls himself when he's sporting a stache.

Why I'm Merry~