Christmas 2011

We started a new tradition in the Gunn house this year, ELF NIGHT!! Best idea ever.

We started off by eating "elf waffles!" Beligan waffles topped with all the sugar you can pile on and maple syrup of course. After giggling over dinner and getting a serious sugar rush, it was time to watch the movie ELF! It was a first for our kids, and all of them loved it! Best Christmas movie EVER!! We all decided "ELF NIGHT" will continue for years to come. Such a fun way to kick off the holidays! Then it was time for the class parties. London kicked it off with a christmas singing program. Adorable!

Then it was off to Easton's class to make gingerbread houses. He was such a cute big brother to London. Helping her with her house and introducing her to all his friends.

Then we headed down to Thanksgiving point to "drive through the lights" and made a quick stop to see the reindeer.

Every year I have had the kids pictures with Santa. Like every other mom in the world, right?! Well when I asked the kids if they wanted to go see Santa this year, I got 2 flat out "no's", one "if I don't have to sit on his lap, I'll go" and this was Easton's response, "Seriously, I don't want to go sit on some dude's Dad's lap and take a picture mom." so I respond with, okay that's fine, I just hope that the "some dude's Dad" isn't a special elf that will tell Santa that you want an xbox?! So here is this year's picture with Santa/Some Dude's Dad.... no cute matching christmas clothes, no curly hair with bows, no crying child scared of santa, just 4 kids that were tricked into stopping at the mall so I could cross something off my Christmas to do list. :-)

Usually our Christmas Eve is full of family activites and celebrating my Mom's birthday. But since Teej is off serving in Alaska, and my parents are serving in South Africa, Bree was at work, and the Daniels are living in Hawaii it was a much quieter day. sniff. sniff. Luckily for us the Blackners were still here! So after dinner, and decorating santa cookies it was time for our annual "Hartman Nativity" We were short on cast members, and missed Dad reading the nativity in his narrator voice. But as you can see we pulled it off!

The Blackners headed home to get ready for Santa and their trip to Washington, but before they did Travis pulled out Baylee's tooth that has been lose and hanging FOREVER!! Lucky her she gets Santa and the tooth fairy tonihgt!! It was still to early to put our sugar high kids to bed, so we jumped in the car and headed to the movies to see Arthur's Christmas. It was the perfect Christmas Eve movie! By the time we got out of the movie the Santa tracker showed that Santa was in the United States!!! So we raced home to get ready for bed. The kids were pretty bummed because they thought only Grammy could do Christmas Eve pj's. So when we handed them a box to open befoer bed, they all screamed and were jumping up and down! Guess I pulled that one off. :-)

On Christmas morning the kids bounced into our room with excitement that only Christmas morning can bring. Here they are ready to dash down the staris to see what Santa brought!

Kennedy was beyond thrilled to see her Kindle! (She has already finished 2 chapter books!!! She can't put it down!) Who's child is this??

Thai was to busy checking out her teacher kit that Santa made she didn't even look at the camera!

Easton saw his xbox and that was it for him. He didn't even need a stocking or presents under the tree... he was zoned out!

Can you tell these boys are having fun on the xbox???

London showing off her baton, was so cute, she would play with each toy for a few seconds and then laugh and pick up the next thing. Her leapster ipad, art kit santa made and her American Girl doll from Grammy and Bubba were a few of her favorites.

My favorite part of the day was skyping TJ and my Parents!!! They all looked so good and happy. It was so fun to talk and laugh together. Although Christmas 2011 was a total success, I am counting down to Christmas 2012 when everyone is HOME!!!!