Santa Came

He did it! He came and put furniture in her playhouse.

 I did it too! I did a lil fixing up. I slapped some paint in that baby, threw up some left over wall paper in one room and some drawer liner in the other. I couldn't get the old wall paper off very good and so I just papered right over it, for a nice textured look. 

We also got a life sized play house. Mike and I got a finished basement for Christmas this year. 

We had a great Christmas. I host a gift exchange party each year with my family and cousin, we did it early this year. We did it Nov 30th and watched a little Santa parade down main street. It was fun

Then instead of the present game we did the candy bar game

We made ginger bread houses w/home teachers

The first part of the month santa stopped in for his annual neighborhood visit

Nielsen family party with talent show, live nativity and present exchange at Aunt Ronda's

Christmas eve was nice. Normally we do it at my moms, but we didn't have Nielsens kids until Christmas day so we did our own thing at home. Mikes mom came out and we had a nice little dinner. Then Kate and Charlie came over and we let the kids open their pajama's, we did a little activity with the Nativity and then we decorated sugar cookies. It was really low key and great.

Christmas morning

 We are always talking with Ivan about how cool it would be to get a motor home and travel around. Santa brought Mike and I a lego motor home :)

 Grandma Balles'

 Grandma Youngs

 New years eve- Ivan was sick. We turned in at 9:30

getting ready for Christmas

And now I'm going to take this fine piece of art that my grandpa Ivan build for Mandy and I when we were little and fixer upper. Then we will set it out on Christmas eve and see if Santa will fill it with furniture, won't we Emery?

First annual turkey bowl

Ok Ivan really lucked out in the friend department. I think I've mentioned it before, but there are 17 boys his age in our little neighborhood. His age group is a very large one. This year in primary there will be 32 kids getting baptized. Crazy! 

Perfect for a turkey bowl though right? 9:00 am Thanksgiving morning we had about 11 boys come and play football, have a donut and hot chocolate. 

 I tried to get them to jump up at the same time

Then I tried again

 Then I tried again off the rock wall

 It was COLD, but they played and the last ones left around noon. 

Happy Birthday Mike My Main Man

 There he is in all his glory! Doing what he does best…. helping with whatever needs help

playing with whoever needs playing with

 Sharing his food with ms piggy even thought she already ate hers and there isn't much left

 Happy birthday to our favorite dad and his favorite chocolate donuts