Merry Christmas Morning

Christmas morning the boys woke up around 6:30. It was a slow start but once they realized they could open their presents and that Santa brought more they were very excited!



Gage opening his stocking


Toy Story 1

Stockings

Toy Story 2

Rett was very considerate by not throwing the wrapping paper everywhere

After stockings and playing with the toys Santa set up we started opening gifts.

Woody!!!

Everett didn't open many gifts, he played in the corner with the farm Santa left

He did however open the gifts from Baba and Papa Hopkins. A Mickey and Donald Duck plush toy. He loves them both.

Gage got a Buzz Lightyear Comforter from Baba Hopkins

He got a little overwhelmed by it all and decided to take a break away from everyone.

Gage never got tired of opening presents!

Half-time break...we fed the boys.

A Leap Frog Leap pad from Baba and Papa Michaelis

Gage was suppose to be throwing away wrapping paper but he found his new toys to be too much fun.

Clean up time!!!

After everything was opened (except for 6 of Everetts gifts which are still under the tree) the boys played a new game.

Daddy got them started and then went off to set up Mommies new projector (YAHOO!!!).

It was a wonderful Christmas and we are beyond blessed. Thank you to all our family members who sent gifts, cards, and pictures. We enjoyed hearing from all of you. I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Santa's Delivery

As it turns out we were all good last year and Santa dropped by our house last night. He left a room full of goodies for us all.

Thank you Santa!!!

Christmas Eve: We are ready for Santa!!!

Well the day started with a trip to IHOP and it only got better from there! We set out all the presents from family and friends and rearranged the loft so there was room for Santa to set up all his toys.

These boys are WAY spoiled!

After a day of playing, eating treats, and enjoying time with Daddy the boys each got a new set of pj's before dinner and a movie

Buzz Light year pj's

Mickey Saves Christmas

Rett in his matching pj's

The boys sat down patiently waiting to see what was for dinner!

YUM, CHINESE! See, Ryan and I would rather spend the day playing with the kids and enjoying each others company than cooking and cleaning so Christmas Eve is a day of take out for us :).

Rett seriously loves Chinese

After dinner and Mickey was over and lots of playing around it was time to open a gift from under the tree!

Ryan and I gave the boys a new Christmas book... Mater Saves Christmas (do you see a theme?) We have been teaching our boys about Christmas and the indoctrination has been heavy this year :).

Now its time for bed so Santa can come. We look forward to see what he brings our way.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!!!

Video's of December

Christmas Party

How this party came to pass is an entertaining story to say the least. The short story is I planned to get together with a few friends at my house and while planning our activities we went from a simple girls night to a Christmas party with husbands invited :).

I cleaned for a week and baked for two days! The day of the party I was still baking and after a morning of craziness I went upstairs to rest so that I didn't run myself ragged before the party. 10 minutes later I heard noises downstairs so I got up and went to see what was happening. My loving 4 year old and my annoyingly big dog were on the counter eating all the cookies I made!!! Annoyed but realizing it was my fault I sent them upstairs and began baking again.

When I was done, I built a wall out of powder sugar to protect my newest batch of cookies.

Hours of baking ensued and then it was time to set up and get ready. I put out my goodies (after Ryan got home) and went upstairs to get dressed and "put on my face".

Table of goodies

Christmas decor

A party is never complete without a bowl of M&M's...put up high out of the reach of little boys!

I forgot to take actual pictures at the party but it was so much fun. I met new people, made new friends, and was completely content with my first Christmas party. Ryan set up the fire pit in the backyard (sorry no pics) and we made s'mores and roasted marshmallows. I can't wait until our next party.

Our First Gingerbread House

In years past I have always talked about making a gingerbread house with the boys but I have never actually done it. This year I was determined to actually make it happen and on Thursday afternoon the boys and I broke out the supplies and built our first gingerbread house!

I iced while Gage opened the candy and Everett ate the candy

Gages REALLY didn't want to wait for the icing to harden

Gage pointed to the spot he wanted to place the candy and I put the icing on the house. The boys had a lot of fun and only ate about a third of the candy :).

Everett found every little piece of candy while cleaning up

Ate most of it but he did offer to share every now and then!

Everetts Babies

Where ever Everett goes so go his "babies". When he brings them downstairs he has to put them in high places so Colbie doesn't take the liberty of chewing on them. Lately he has been lining them up on the piano and talking to them. Sometimes I can't believe he is only 18 months.

Ward Christmas Party

Our ward had a Christmas party last weekend and of course we attended. It was a polar express themed party with waffles for dinner! We put the boys in their p.j.'s and went to the party in comfort :). Both boys LOVE waffles so they were delighted to have them for dinner and they had a lot fun playing games and chasing their friends.



Gages Bingo Card


After he won!!! Not very enthused is he? :)


We finally got both of them on Santa's lap! Gage ran to Santa, we had to remind him to wait in line.




Everett was not very happy to be on Santa's lap

Making faces during out waffle dinner

Picture-ific

Another morning of goofing off and taking pictures!

In Door Play

For those of you who don't know, it does get cold in Vegas in the winter. This year has been colder than others which has driven us inside and kept us in warm clothes. Every Friday I try to think of new games to play and things to do since Gage doesn't have school and two entertained kids is better than two bored kids. This Friday the kids and I built a fort and played all day!

Staying warm

For some reason they both really like having their pictures taken now...we take pictures almost every morning.

Colbie being Colbie

I built a fort using blankets and the kitchen table. The boys were amazed and has lots of fun!

Colbie following Everett into the fort

Everett thought it was hilarious that Colbie had a hard time getting out once she was under the table.

CRASH!!!

A Gift From My Love

For those you who know Ryan know that he likes to give EVERYONE a hard time. And I don't just mean playing around I mean full on teasing, poking, and prodding. Well for the last week he has given me a hard time about finding out that baby #3 is a girl. Being the over hormonal crazy person I am I have been worrying that he didn't want the baby. Well today he came home with a gift for Layla and reassured me that he was very excited to have a baby girl.

The First of Many!!!

While at a friends yesterday I received my first baby girl gift! A beautiful dress :). Thanks Janine for Layla's first dress and making this "real" for me!

Ultrasound Pictures

Arms



Face

Arm making a fist

Face angle 2

Legs

Creepy skeleton face

Spine

IT'S A GIRL!!!

Side view, spine

I have no clue....

Where are my boys???

Funny Faces

Where's Everett's Plate?

Cookies with Santa

Gages school put on an event Friday night called "Cookies with Santa". Ryan and I jumped at the opportunity to take the kids to see Santa and get some free cookies of course :). The cookie portion of the night was great and then we got in line for Santa. Ryan and I took turns waiting in line (for an hour and a half!) and we finally got to see Santa! As soon as we got up on the stage Gage ran away crying and Everett did not look too happy. We did get a picture of Everett and Santa (I will scan it in later) but we couldn't convince Gage to even get close to Santa :(. It was some what disappointing but at least we got one kid on Santa's lap. Hopefully we'll have better luck this Saturday at our ward party.

On a side note.... the video below is of Gage saying "Santa Santa Santa!" He was so excited to see Santa until it actually came to sitting on his lap. What a silly boy!

IT'S A GIRL!!!

Today was the big day, the ultrasound! According to the poll we were having a boy (which was a safe bet) but the few who voted girl won! The ultrasound was good and our little girl ( :D ) is doing awesome. All of her part are perfectly formed and her organs are working properly. I always get worried right before the ultrasound thinking of the worst but luckily it was all for nothing. We have about 10 pictures but my scanner is going crazy and won't work so I will upload those later. As for now we are super excited for the first girl in the Michaelis family in a long time! I can't wait to go look at all the cute little girl clothes; we need to start from scratch, Ryan is already crunching the numbers :).

Haircut

I forgot the mention before that I buzzed Everetts hair for the first time a couple weeks ago! His hair was shaggy and hard to take care of so while cutting Ryan and Gages hair I put Everett up on the chair for his turn. Here is a comparison:


Curly Q to...

Straight edge Joe!

At first it was nice but now we really miss his curls and have decided that we will never buzz him again...if his curls come back.

The Christmas Tree

Every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving Ryan drags out the box full of Christmas decorations and we get into the Christmas spirit :).


The boys loved unpacking all the pretty decorations


All three boys putting the tree together

Look Mom, a ball!

Almost done!

Now for the presents (yes all the presents are bought and wrapped)

CHEESE!!!


Side note: They have already broken three glass balls so we removed anything breakable...I'm thinking this will be a long month :)

Happy Holidays to all our readers and friends!!!

Pictures

I finally found the wire to hook the camera up to the computer to these are just a bunch of random pictures from the past 2 weeks.




Gage covering his face during our drive to SLC


Everett after a cookie on the same trip



Posing for the camera

Showing off his new jacket

The past 5 years of our life

Gage fell asleep reading the scriptures (it happens to the best of us :D)

Watching morning cartoons while Mom and Dad clean

Sleeping while Mom and Dad clean

Gage and Rett playing in the box that their new sandbox came in...not in the sandbox

Hope you enjoyed. No stories for now, I'm tired.

Baby Poll

I've posted a poll for everyone to guess to the sex of our baby! Lets see how many of you can guess correctly :). It will be closing next Friday so don't take to long to get your answers in!!!