A Merry Christmas 2012!

I love Christmas. Its true that the holidays can be hectic,commercial,expensive and exhausting! Do we get uptight,frustrated and exhausted? That is one scenario but there is another.............

Celebrating the birth of our Savior,Jesus Christ, families coming together,participating in family traditions,acts of service,time spent together,finding the perfect gift for a loved one and seeing their joy,children and adults that still BELIEVE and love!

 Steve opening gifts before the mayhem begins,bring it on!

 Brexton was very excited to open his iPod touch and he very excitedly informed me that we got him the right one!

 Cote's custom headphones.

 Princess Nixin and her new jacket.

 Cowboy cooler!

 Jenna and Trey moved to their new home two days before Christmas. Montana was having a hard time sleeping in her new room. Jenna said she slept great Christmas night with her new glowlight from Grandma Ina and Grandpa George!

 Yes my mom is holding her new Furby and I love it! Cote and Brexton in their new Volcom hoodies,a tradition.

 New bike for Allison,pink cowgirl boots for Presley,new wagon for Harlee and Montana,lucky horseshoes from Jenna.

Cash so loves his puppy dog sleeping bag,Crew's new bow and arrow,Harlee's 1st Christmas,Miller's favorite dragon and Mallory.

Polar Express,Deer Farm and Gingerbread Houses

I love family traditions! I am so thankful for parents who loved family and started some wonderful traditions. I have to say that my Mom did things right. Her Gingerbread houses were made from scratch where mine have evolved into store bought kits! Still it is a family tradition enjoyed by myself and my siblings,my children and my siblings children,now my grandchildren and my brother Paul's grandchildren! As you can see this tradition is loved by all store bought kits or not,the candy is just as delicious! 

 Montana made a gingerbread cup :)) and sampled all the candy! Harlee will do the same next year.Brinton's family are pros and we were happy to welcome Brinton's FIANCE,Allison and her daughter Presley(check out Presley lovin the licorice) to the mayhem!

 The Gunnell boys,Crew,Cole and Cash,Brexton,and Nixin were all doing such an awesome job. Gracie and Presley were enjoying the candy and looking adorable.

 Martin had their house all planned out! Miller was right there helping,gotta love that face! As you can see our sweet Mallory has a mouthful of candy :))

On to the Polar Express. This is another family tradition that we don't always do every year and not always with everyone but has been a lot of fun. This year for the first time we went with my brother Paul and his family and I can honestly say a good time was had by all! This was the first year we did not have snow,I love the snow but I have to admit I enjoyed being a little warmer and not not worrying about the kids getting soaked!

 Matching PJ's is part of the tradition. Cote and Brexton rocked their long johns and the girls were super cute in their matching PJ's. Harlee was ringing the bell Santa gave her.

 Chris and Jeni,Montana and Ryann,Paul and Joanne,stalker Trey and Brinton and Allison. 

 Beautiful families!

 Now we have a mix of Deer farm pictures and Polar Express pics. I loved Montana's pink hat and pink jacket a gift from her other grandma. Ethan on the train. Nixin and Montana riding the deer.

 Coincidentally Nixin's best friend Bella was at Polar Express and the Deer farm. Ryann wasn't to sure about feeding the deer. Brexton looked super cool in his leathers feeding the deer and Montana was a crack up. If the deer tried to eat the food out of her cup she would push their head away and tell them NO! Then she would put some in her hand and feed them!

 Harlee enjoyed hangin with Papa and of course Ethan and Brexton would be on the tractor.

My fav Polar Express hat,Justin hang in with the boys,Papa and Cote and Steve and I with Brinton's and Allison's crew. As you can see a good time was had by all. We are so blessed!

Montana's 1st Gymnastics Class

Yesterday I went to Montana's first gymnastics class. I have a feeling it will be the first of many such classes! She had so much fun and is wiling to try it all as you can see by her photos. I have to add and it goes without saying that she is so stinking adorable while she is doing it!

Montana is a natural,she certainly takes after her mom,Jenna, when it comes to gymnastics and that is a good thing! Just to mention,I'm not sure who had more fun Jenna or Montana,hard to say!

Nixin's Christmas Dance Recital

Nixin had her Christmas dance recital Saturday. Her group danced to "Santa Claus is Coming to Town". As you can see she looked beautiful and she did such a good job dancing. She was the best one in her group for sure. She had a lot of support from her family who came to watch and cheer her on.

G-Mama and Great Grandma Ina (Papa Steve and Great Grandpa George were also there)

 Her buddy Presley was dancing in her seat along with Nixin on stage.

 A proud Daddy and Allison!

Nixin has attended many T-ball,baseball,soccer and football games,how nice that her bros could be there to support her. 

Gingerbread Houses With Boulder Mtn Ward Young Women

The young women in our ward made gingerbread houses for Mutual last week. We will be delivering them to families in our ward this week for Mutual. It was so much fun and everyone did an awesome job. I loved that each house was so creative and so different. I certainly got some great ideas!

October Birthday Party Time

October is Birthday Party time for us and this year was extra special,with extra special birthday parties! 

October 10th was Brinton's 30th birthday! As much as I hate to admit it my oldest son turned 30, YIKES!

Allison pulled off an awesome SURPRISE party for Brinton the Sunday after his birthday. It was held at the Fort's Circle with lots of friends,family,food and fun. Yes, Brinton was surprised and it was good to see him so HAPPY! 

 Kristen Hon made these fun "Brinton" glasses. I heard from Kristen it was Allison's idea and Kristen made them.. You will see as you scroll through the pictures that everyone loved this!

 

 Good friends...Tif and Topher,Bri and Josh,Hillary and Alex,Brinton and Mom (me) Weaver and Whitney,Dave and Rachael and the pretty lady with Brinton is Allison.

 Upper right Kim and Jordan,Dustin and Kristen,Alex and Hillary.

 Photos of Brinton on his Harley taken by Ben Christensen,gifted to Brinton by the Hon's and the Christensen's.

 Top picture, Allison's daughter Presley,Brexton and Nixin.

 The blind fold came off and SURPRISE!

 My parents and Brinton's grandparents who have played such a big role in Brinton's life. We appreciated and love them so much!

October 16th was Princess Nixin's 4th birthday. Her party was just what every little girl dreams of! Brinton and Charlotte had her party at a party place called Girly Girlz. She had four of her BFF's attend and they enjoyed having their hair styled,make-up,stuffing and dressing their Teddy Bears,and a tea party! You can tell that a fabulous time was had by all!

 The Wild at Heart outfit was given to Nixin by her great-grandparents Ina and George Wimsatt,my parents. My mom actually bought this adorable outfit at the Phoenix Zoo where she has been a volunteer for 21 years. Nixin loved it! Charlotte had "Hello Kitty" red velvet cupcakes made.

 What a surprise that all of the girlz chose the pink teddy bear.

 We have a creeper in the top photo. Nixin was rallying the girls,putting their hands together and "One,two,three, HURRAY!

 Love this picture of Nixin with her Daddy and Allison

 Nixin with her Mom Charlotte

 It was so much fun to celebrate this special birthday with Nixin Loie!

Party number THREE and what a party it was . On October 22nd Brexton turned 7. I arried at Brinton's at 5:30 AM. Brinton woke Brexton up and told him we were taking him to breakfast.We drove to the airport,parked went through security and made it to the boarding gate. When Brexton saw an airplane he finally asked why we were at the airport. Brinton told him that we were going to LegoLand for the day. Brexton was so excited! He has done so well in school this year. He is a member of the 100 club (100 percent on all of his schoolwork) he has been meeting his reading goals and just being a great kid! He deserved this birthday! I know you will enjoy these pictures........

 Brexton rode all of the roller coasters! 

 All of his favorite Star Wars figures made from Legos.

 I finally had a chance to kiss Elvis!

 The lower right picture is part of the mini Lego cities. It was amazing and Brexton looked at every detail!

 I think Brexton's favorite ride was driving the cars in the Lego city. He earned his driver's license!

 It was fun to run into Harry Potter and Hagrid.

 This picture of Brinton captures the feeling of the day! We had such a great time. We also had our first  apple fries with vanilla cream. Delicious!

 Brexton with his spoils at the end of the day! Of course his Dad,G-Mama and Great- Grandma Ina and Great-Grandpa George let him pick out his birthday gifts at LegoLand!

I love you Brinton,Nixin and Brexton! Thanks for allowing me to celebrate with you!