Christmas Morning 2011

Yeah, Santa came! What did he bring you?
Ellie: Art Desk
Brett: Star War Republic Attach Shuttle
Trey: Drum pad

Santa ate the cookies!

Trying to paint toe nails with the princess nail polish from her stocking.

Our little artist at work.

We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas Day. We went to our sacrament meeting in the afternoon and heard beautiful music and wonderful words about Jesus.

He is the reason for the season.

Lights on Temple Square

Dec. 23, 2011
We made a quick trip up to Temple Square to see the lights, we hurried and walked around, it was really cold. Then we went to IHOP for dinner and hot chocolate!

Trey at Class Christmas program

Just had to share this picture from Trey's class Christmas program they do every year. They sign a few songs and then we get to see a bunch of pictures of them doing things at school.
Trey was so happy this day!

Christmas Morning 2010

No, he is not trying to strangle her!

Christmas Day was wonderful. The kids didn't wake up until 8 am then we opened presents. After presents while the kids played I made blueberry muffins. The rest of the day was playing and napping. That night we had fondue for dinner.

Annual Family Christmas Picture

Merry Christmas!

Love the Marshall's

Graham Crackers Houses

So we've been trying to do something Christmasy each night with the kids. I was in the store one day and saw those Ginger Bread House kits and thought it would be kind of fun so I got it. Hum, not so good. The walls were broken and the icing was bad and the kids ate a lot of the candy before it cold even go on the house.

Luckily I had some graham crackers and so now they decorated square graham cracker houses. They still had a good time, in between crying and fussing about how much candy each other had. I didn't realize making these houses would be so emotional! :)

Christmas with the Meanea's

The Saturday after Christmas is when we traveled to Central to celebrate with the Meanea's. We ate a great dinner, cousins exchanged gifts and the adults played a white elephant game. If was a great day. Thanks everyone.

Christmas Day

Christmas morning rolls around and Brett bypasses right past the tree and presents to get to our bedroom. "mommy, can I snuggle?" "absolutely!"
Not a mention about presents, Santa, Christmas, or anything. Funny huh? It was kind of nice though that I got to snuggle him for several minutes before Ellie made us come get her out of her crib. "Help, I'm stuck!" She doesn't get stuck in the crib but she says that because she can't get out by herself.
Anyway, we came out to the great room/kitchen and the jolly ol fellow had managed to find his way to our home.

Trey with the toy Santa brought.

Ellie and her new doll house.

Santa was so full that he couldn't finish the last cookie.

Staring down, Megatron.

This is video of Brett and Ellie seeing the presents. Trey was still asleep at the time and we've learned from past experiences that we don't wake sleeping beauty unless it is an emergency. I have video of Trey seeing his present but Ellie is throwing a fit in it because she wants Trey's toy. Once he woke up he really starting playing with his toy and enjoying it.
Merry Christmas to all!

Trey the Wise Man

Dec. 10th, 2009

Christmas with the Meanea's

A cool new toy for Trey.




Brett and his dragon.




Brett & the 3 wise guys (Dad, Uncle Dave, Uncle John)




"Yeah, we have a girl cousin!" say Allyse and Emily.




Grandma playing with Aiden.



Let's eat!




Dueling babies - Aiden Meanea & Ellie Marshall.


On Saturday we traveled down to Central for the Meanea Christmas Party. We had a good time and good eats! We missed Joe and his family (but Kristin has to keep that bun in oven all nice and comfy. Come on baby girl!) We also missed all of the Willson's.

The cousins had a good time exchanging their gifts and we sure appreciated the gifts from mom and dad and the great grandparents.

Us siblings, a few years ago, decided that instead of spending money on gifts for each other that we would pool that money and have do a Christmas project, I think we've started calling it "Meanea Angel". One sibling per year takes charge and uses that money towards helping families, organizations, etc. (whatever they see fit in their community). This has turned out really well and we love it, now I mention this not to brag about what we do but as an idea what you may want to do in your own families.

Christmas Day

Merry Christmas everyone! We had a wonderful morning. The kids slept in until 8:30am, yeah! Brett knew a little of what was going on but he was funny, he saw Trey's two new toys and Ellie's dolly stoller (walker) and wanted to play with those before he even noticed his bike. Ellie was happy that there was wrapping paper to try to eat and new things to play with. Trey was a tired little boy but once he started playing with his new toy he perked up.

I made homemade blueberry muffins (thanks Brianne, the recipe came off your blog) for breakfast. They are so yummy. It was nice not to have any thing to do all day. We even got naps!

For our Christmas dinner we made cheese and chocolate fondue. We had a lot of fun and really liked it. Ellie even joined in on the fun, do you think she actually got any in her mouth?

Family Picture

Ever since Paul and my first Christmas together we have taken a family picture in front of the Christmas tree. It is fun trying to get all the kids to look at the camera at the same time! But they're cute so it doesn't matter! :)

Christmas Eve Day with the Marshall's

We spent most of Christmas Eve Day at Paul's parents home with his family. It was wonderful to share this Christmas time with them and exchange presents and have a wonderful dinner. Here is Brett, Trey & Ellie getting a present from Grandma and Grandpa Marshall.

Trey had his Christmas program on Thursday. His class does two songs then the other UEI class does a couple of songs then they show a slide show of pictures of the kids and Trey's teacher (who has a beautiful voice) sings "Angels Among Us" while the slide show is going. It is so wonderful and I always get choked up because it is so sweet and those kids are so wonderful.