Fun filled family Christmas weekend!

We decided that since we were leaving town for Christmas we would need to do a "secret Christmas" with the kids. This is where Santa comes to our Vegas house a little early because he knows we wont be here for Christmas. Otherwise known as, we bought too much stuff and its too big to take to the beach, so its a secret that only Santa is sharing with us, so Hannah doesnt tell her friends at school! Ha ha. We told her Saturday morning that Santa was coming and she was obviously extremely excited. I wanted to have a fun family weekend filled with Christmas things and we did just that. It was great!

Let's go through this in pictures!

 We have been busy shopping and getting ready for our trip! I am almost shopped out...almost!

 Ha ha, just because.

One of our many trips to Costco, she made a microphone with a straw and a raspberry and started singing. Girl will sing anywhere. She doesnt even care who hears. I love it though. I love hearing kids sing in stores, makes ya smile ya know!

 Thursday night we attempted Santa again. A cute little flower shop near us has Santa and some snacks, no lines and you get your own pictures, WIN! Hannah was so excited to take her letter to Santa but then completely freaked and wouldnt go near him. Like practically in tears. So we opted for a family picture, where both kids were clinging to us as if they thought we were leaving them.

Its a framer, so Im happy!

Saturday we ran some errands and then got ready for Santa and made some cookies. Santa got pre-made slice and bake cookies this year. Sorry Santa!

 That night we drove to Henderson which isnt too far. We grabbed some dinner then headed to the Ethel M Chocolate Factory (Mars candy factory). They have the Cactus garden all lit up with tons of lights! Surprise, Hannah was more interested in the chocolate factory. But the lights were neat!

 She got her M&Ms!

 Look how much older he looks!!

 I dont even want to say it was cold!

Then we visited a house that is not too far from there. They do their lights to music and put on a pretty good show!

 She was all ready for Santa!

 This was the best. She insisted on writing Owens list for him and this is what she thought he wanted :) A Rudolph red riding toy with a button and it goes back and forth, a choo choo train, and a red shiny trophy

 Hannahs list included- a belt for dress up, remote control butterfly, a real phone (no way ha ha), a picture of a butterfly and a dog that sits and has a leash. I love her and her imagination and mind!

The next morning she was so excited to see Joey the Elf left her a note (and a gift!) that said Santa said he could come to the beach with us so he is all packed and ready to go! I think we just needed a break from moving that Elf for a week!

I slept with Hannah and we woke up so many times and she would ask me, Did Santa come? Do you think he came? Did he leave presents? It was everything I had to keep her from going downstairs! I remember that feeling as a kid, so special.

We went downstairs first and she was very excited. I have lots of pictures on my real camera and video but Ill upload those later.

 They had a great morning!

 She really loved this coloring house that I didnt realize was this big! She can fit in it with her dog and Owen :)

 He enjoyed spreading the piles of wrapping everywhere!

Christmas Angel :)

 She got her dog that sits and has a leash! She loves this thing. Her name is Lizzy :)

 She couldnt wait! They ripped through those presents so fast I barely knew what happened!

 Mommy got a the new Kuerig, its awesome. Coffee is a big part of my day ha ha

 Owens choo choo, he sat in here most of the morning saying, All Aboard!

 And a new ipad mini. They were on sale and to be honest, I knew how much it would help me to have two ipads while we fly and travel. Worth every penny! Now I saw that now, lets hope it doesnt lead to fights about who gets the new one!

Can you find Owen?!?

After a delicious breakfast Jeremy made we went to see Big Hero 6. It was cute and the kids did Awesome. We got there early so we sat through 30 mins of previews. They shouldnt do that in a kids movie, kids dont have the patience for that! (despite his face, he did great!)

It was a great weekend. I am so excited to say, the kids and I leave TOMORROW for KY!! We are ready for our Christmas adventure!

Getting ready for Christmas!

This past weekend was fun & busy, just the way I like it! Friday we had a Christmas party for Jeremy's superintendents chapter, so we got a babysitter and enjoyed a night out. I know the kids love having Paige come babysit and it was a nice little outing for us too. We walked away with a couple gift cards too, so that wasnt too bad!

Saturday morning I went to Hobby Lobby. ALONE. It was amazing. I LOVE that place. It's not convenient to us so it's an all morning trip if I have to go. And let's just say its not Owen's favorite store. So I got my starbucks and went alone, it was wonderful :)

He and I tried to go one morning and he was pretty bored with it. But he was happy Old Navy had a fake dog! :)


That afternoon Hannah had a birthday party for a little girl in her class. Its fun for her to get to do that stuff and I like meeting the parents too. She enjoyed herself and was a total mess! But it was fun!

After that we raced home to get ready for our neighborhoods Christmas event. They do some really fun things, and most of it is usually free. They had the Christmas tree lighting, free train rides, Santa was there, Anna, Elsa and Olaf (and Im pretty sure the line to take a picture with them was longer than Santa and free pony rides!) Thankfully Hannah and Owen are not at that stage where they are dying to take pics with characters so we avoided that line! They had cookie decorating, cards to soliders, games, bounce house, pony rides. It was fun. The kids were cold and hungry so they didnt last long! Hannah did get to ride a pony which she loves doing!

 Sunday morning I needed a break and Jeremy could tell. Thankfully he took the kids to Springs Preserve to give me a break. It was so wonderful and so appreciated. They got to see a parrot show and for a little extra they both got to sit with parrots. As you can tell Hannah was comfortable holding one in her lap as a baby and Owen wasnt too sure!

 This one makes me laugh!

 He still isnt too sure!

Later that day we had Hannah's Christmas program at school. I was so excited but man it started off on the wrong foot. She was extremely tired (And there is no making her take a nap) so we had a rough start but thankfully it got better once she saw her friends. The program was adorable and I have some great video!

 This is how it started but thankfully it got better. We tried to take her to dinner afterward but she told us, Im too tired. Im glad she told us and we didnt sit through dinner with 2 tired kids!

 Such a sweet happy boy. Who, now likes to throw everything. Everything can and will be thrown at your head!

 My beauty!

 Silent night as they walked in with little candles.

 Hannah R is on the left of Hannah, they are best buds and have the same name, Hannah Elizabeth. How funny is that!

 Suckers helped with a small sugar rush to get us through.

We decorated a little bit, knowing we'd only be here for a couple weeks and the Elf made his return! Jeremy has done some clever things, he always remembers every morning at 5 am!

 Decorating her and Owens tree

 Joey is up to no good!

I love this one. Hannah and I made fake snow and Joey got into it. The funny part though, Owen CRIED so hard because Joey took his tractor. He kept saying, my tractor!! He got over it quickly but I had to call Jeremy and tell him to quit using Owen's toys! ha ha!

Less than a week and we head home! It will be a whirlwind but we are so excited to spend the time with family. Christmas at the beach house is my mom and dads dream this year and Im so thankful we will get to spend it with everyone. It means alot to them!