Our Family of Five: Christmas Parties!

Our first Christmas party this year was hosted by my adorable grandparents. They rented out a room at The Pizza Factory and we had a great time eating and conversing with the family.

Sam spotted Grandma Jackie, and her lap is where he remained for the majority of the party.

Of course these two prepared a darling little speech to read to us.

Sam isn't sure what everyone is laughing at!

I am so grateful to have my grandparents around. There aren't better people in this world than them!

The kids got to visit with Santa yet again at Lucy and Izzy's dance recital. Max and Santa decided to flex for the camera.

I love that Hank isn't too cool to sit on Santa's lap. I don't know how many more years that will be the case. The girls did a fantastic job at their recital by the way.

My mom made a great plan for all of us to go down to the Riverwoods to see the lights and Santa. We didn't realize the day we picked there was nothing going on. We played in the arcade at Provo Beach and looked at the lights instead. Any chance to hang with my awesome family is a good time to me.

The following day was the kids Christmas Program. Lucky for me, I get to see both my kids and Isabel and Colby all at the same time. Sam positioned himself on Grandma's lap and didn't move. He was mesmerized by all the kids singing.

Can you spot Colby in the midst of all these 6th graders? He'd be the one wearing the gray Team Hank shirt!

Hank would not cooperate with my camera. It didn't help that he was on the top row behind a really tall kid and every time he saw me with the lens pointing his way, he hid. Little punk!

Cute little Isabel didn't hide from me. She sang her little heart out.

We waited, and waited, and waited for the Kindergarteners to come out. Last but not least they came on and Max was on the front row!

He knew every action and every word to both songs they sang. He even managed to wave to me a couple times.

Our next party was the Tucker party hosted by my parents. Max was looking sharp!

Santa made a surprise visit and came bearing gifts for all the kids. Sam started screaming the second he saw Santa and didn't stop screaming until he left. Not a fan!

Good thing Uncle Dan could make him smile.

Cute Hank and Kate moment

I've decided it's next to impossible to get a good picture at my mom's house. The lighting always seems to be off.

It was such a fun party and so good to catch up with my family I don't see very often. My mom really knows how to throw the perfect party.

The next night we headed to Griff's house for a little Christmas get together.

I failed to truly capture the excitement of the kids as they opened their kindle fires.

They were screaming and hugging each other. It was really cute.

Max didn't fully understand how awesome the gift was until he started playing with it. I don't think he's stopped playing it since he opened it.

Next it was Sam's turn...

He was very excited about his wolf and wanted to put it on immediately.

I'm just fine if he never takes it off! So adorable.

We didn't hear a peep from the boys the rest of the night.

Electronics + Boys = Pure Joy

Even the babies got into the new kindles.

The following day we had our annual Christmas Eve bash with Jeri and Scott.

After posing for a cute family pic, we ate a delicious dinner and congregated downstairs for entertainment and presents.

It wouldn't be Christmas Eve without a little Dominique the Donkey. Jeri also made a hilarious video of all of our heads dancing on different bodies. I laughed way harder than everyone else, especially the video with Lennon, Sam, and Owen in sombreros.