Christmas Love

My previous attempt at this Christmas post failed miserably and after 3 hours of hard blogging work, I had to delete it and start over!!! Not to mention my w key isn't working so that is causing serious frustration. Anyway...Christmas this year was full of celebration and happiness. I was filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude and love this holiday season. I've said it before and I'm sure I'll say it again, I have the most incredible family in the world. I took about a thousand pictures so sit back, relax, and enjoy the love. We started off with a Christmas dinner at La Dolce Vita with the Tucker/Eliason clan on the 23rd.

This sweater is perfection as well as this face!

Riley and Randy were feeling very festive.


Grandma J, Sarah, and Jack...Grandpa Karl was very much missed. My Grandpa Sherm went over to spend some time with him while the rest of the family was at the party.

Jeff and my adorable mama

Kate, Phil, Jil, and Becky...Dan and Isabel were also missed, Isabel had the stomach flu.

Hank, Lucy, and Max had a blast with the art projects provided by Barbara. Max was so proud of his artistic ability that he had to show everyone including the waiter his creations.


Max didn't hesitate one bit to jump on Santa's lap, in fact he was so comfortable he wouldn't get off! He told Santa he wanted drums and candy canes for Christmas.

Hank wasn't too excited to sit on Santa's lap so Max pulled him up there. When Santa asked him what he had been doing good this year he nervously replied "sharing and helping clean up". Hank had planned on showing the family his karate skills, hence the outfit change, but felt too shy to perform. Sarah had the genius idea to ask Hank if he would break a board for Santa and he jumped at the chance. He used such speed and force that the board was smashed before I could get a picture. Santa was so impressed, it was awesome.

Before Santa left, he asked Hank to pick his favorite Christmas song. He chose "Up on the Housetop" and did the actions he learned in preschool, in a shy nervous way only Hank can! He is such a little nervous nelly, just like I was as a kid.

My love for Jack is bordering obsession at this point. Those cheeks are so irresistible, he makes me really excited to have another baby. Note to Sarah and Amanda...it's not happening until after my birthday so RELAX!

Grandma J, Phil, Larry, Shellie, and mama

Next on the agenda was our annual Christmas Eve bash at Jeri and Scott's house. We had a wonderful dinner and then Jenni had the boys line up and fold their arms before the present opening started.

These two were spoiled rotten by their grandma and cousins however, Max seemed to be most excited about his chap stick from Kunz.

Jenni, Lynn, Rick, and I posing as two happy couples. Randy was the photographer. Jeri gave Randy and I a snuggie which will really come in handy when I'm playing rock band in our freezing basement.

Rusty and Collette sent the boys matching Tom Brady jersey's which they love! We really missed you guys this Christmas.

Jeri and Dyson posing with Mr. Cross-eye himself!

Grandma getting in on some cross-eyed action.

Grandma Dot joined us for the party and she acted very happy to be there. It was great to have her with us.

Oh Maxi...why are you so damn cute? Speaking of cute, I wish I could freeze Hank at 4 years old. He was so excited about Christmas this year. Jeri found a web site tracking Santa on Christmas Eve and Hank was so worried about getting home and in bed before Santa came. He even had a surprise dropped off by one of Santa's elves the night before with a note that said Santa loved watching him break a board. He was amazed!

We got the kids to bed in record time and Santa came! This is Max's pile of presents including drums, a tent, a tractor, and clothes.

Hank's loot included an air hockey table, a batman cave, Eli Manning jersey, nerf guns, games, a sled and a magic kit.

They began playing immediately!

Max can't get enough of his drums, and after playing with them for a minute I can see why!
Randy of course spoiled me with some new boots, and some really wonderful knives! Top Chef here I come!

Next we headed up to my parents house for MORE presents and a delicious breakfast. Max and Gramps could hardly contain their excitement.

The boys love each other and their new hunting coats.

Grandpa Sherm and Grandma Yvonna came over for breakfast. I love this tender moment between Jack and my grandpa.

Max enjoyed a giant sugar cookie for breakfast.

Are we wearing the same scarf? How embarrassing.

The kids enjoyed an intense game of operation--yes he is cross-eyed again.

Dove watched very attentively as the adults played a game called white lies. I am officially the worst liar ever. It's a great trait to have in life but not if you want to win this game.

What an adorable picture... but Hank seriously, enough! People are going to start thinking his eyes are like that all the time.

Me and my sistas posing for posterity.

My mom didn't think we were nearly as funny as I did! She was like "seriously girls, lets take a good picture". I had the giggles...what do you do?

Our last destination was to my Grandpa Karl's house. My mom has Jack and Riley has Monet. Grandma Joanne gave me and my cousins an assignment to complete our photo albums she gave us last year by Christmas day this year. You'd think a year would be sufficient time to finish such a project but Riley and Wyatt somehow managed to "forget" their books. We had fun looking at everyone's pictures and reminiscing.


My grandpa got out of bed and enjoyed looking at some pictures with us. He doesn't talk much these days but he did ask me to get him a pickle. A strange request, however I was honored to do something for him. What a blessing to have him here for at least one more Christmas.

The party got out of hand in a hurry as soon as Jack's pants came off and he started eating Hank's face.

After an exhausting day, my kids were more than ready to put on their Christmas jammies and play with their new stuff. What a wonderful holiday we had.

I love Christmas and all the festivities that come with it, but when it's over I have this huge sense of relief. I take my tree down the day after Christmas and put away our gifts as fast as I can. I'm really looking forward to Randy's birthday. We will be spending New Year's Eve up in Salt Lake and it will be nice to take a break from my usual hostess duties that night.

Griffin Update

1: Max is NOT potty trained! His early interest faded, as predicted. He still hates wearing his diaper but isn't committed to the toilet yet. After peeing in his closet, on my ipod, and pretty much everywhere else you can imagine...the diaper is back on! These pictures were taken over a week ago after a snow storm. I have a picture of Hank in Max's exact outfit, taken 2 years ago. Now look at him...

Get older, seriously! My kids need to quit all this growing up fast business! I think this is the winter we will teach Hank how to ski. (When I say we I mean Riley since I don't think I have the patience and Randy...well he kind of just wings it!)

2: These two are beginning to enjoy each others company more and more. Of course they have always loved each other but they seem to be able to play for longer durations now. Hank is so sweet to Max and never says no when Max wants to play.

3: James came over to plow the driveway and Randy took his 4-wheeler on a joy ride with the boys, forgetting about the plow on the front...oops!

4: We found a hat for Hank which made his head looks small! He had his preschool Christmas program at the mall last week.

5: Hank had quite the cheering section with Grandma Jackie, Max and Grandma Joanne.
Hank sang his little heart out, however he opted out of singing "Holly Jolly Christmas" cross eyed. Every time we practiced his songs he did them cross-eyed so I asked him if he would do that for the program and his response was "Santa will be watching and he wouldn't like that"...I beg to differ!

6: Sarah has been my right hand babysitter this past few weeks while my mom spends some time with my grandma and grandpa. Apparently she hasn't had enough of my kids because she also came to support the Hanksta.

7. What would I do without these boys? They give me so much joy and comfort no matter what else is going on in my life. I am so very thankful for my little family.

8. Lucy and Hank have the exact same cheeser smile! Last night was the Wankier Christmas party at Alpine Country Club, hosted by my dear Grandparents. I was totally lame with the camera and didn't manage any good pictures but we had a great time. My grandparents treated us to a nice dinner and gave us each a book they had written, documenting their childhoods.

9. Max loves him some butter!


10. Hank and Jack have had some quality bonding time this past week. I've had the privelage of watching him while Sarah works and I love every second of it. Hank and I were trying to decide how to hide him from Sarah so we could keep him! He is the sweetest baby ever.

11. There is some serious cheek squishing possibilites with these three.

12. On a more serious note, my Grandpa Karl continues to hang in there although I'm pretty sure he wishes his fight was over. He seems sad to me and that breaks my heart. I wish I could do something to help his situation but the selfish part of me doesn't want to see him go. I don't know how I could get through this hard time without the love and support of my family. Hank and Max have provided some much needed comic relief. Christmas is fast approaching no matter what else is going on. My kids are so excited. Max keeps saying "I love...Christmas lights. I love...Christmas songs. I love...Christmas trees." Hank is scared of Santa's beard, he told me it freaks him out. I think that about sums up the Griffin household for now. More Christmas parties this week!