Hillam Family Christmas Party

Saturday night we had our annual Hillam Family Christmas Party. We (The Ramey's) were in charge this year. JD did a GREAT job getting it all planned and put together! I was running around talking to all my cousins getting stuff taken care of for the 'man in red', so I didn't get many pictures early in the evening. But here's what I do have :)

Mara enjoying the frosting from a cookie.

I don't know how much my kids ate, but they seemed to be happy.

We always have a nativity and the kids dress up for it. Mara & Conli were some of the Angels. This was right at the beginning (when Mara was happy). She later decided that she didn't want her picture taken anymore, so she took off the costume and let Sawyer wear it :)

We have THE BEST SANTA that comes to our party. He sings great songs, tells the best jokes and the kids love him!!

Mara was a little nervous when he came out. I think she was just getting tired. So Pat talked to her, telling her that she needed to be happy if she wanted to get a present. She immediatly perked up, saying that she was going to get her "Ariel and Castle and Big Flounder". We had to explain to her that that is for Christmas day and not for the party, and that Santa had a surprise for her.  Well, she likes surprises so she was happy from then on!

Xander got 3 new Bakugan!!!!

And Mara, a Tinker Bell Color Wonder set!!!

After Santa was all done we had Pinatas for the kids to hit!!!  This was something that we did as kids at the family Christmas party and we really wanted to bring back for our kids to enjoy. We were smart and had baggies of candy for everyone that got to hit it, so all the kids got the same amount of candy, and the Pinatas were filled with some gum :)

It started with the smallest kids that wanted to hit (which were about 2 years old, I think) We were smart and got 2 Pinatas because the first one broke before the 6 year olds got to hit it!!!

Mara was so excited about the gum from the Pinata that she ate some right off the bat!!  I just had to laugh, because it was Double Bubble and it was huge in her mouth. We're not gum eaters in our house, so I was surprised at how well she did with it.  She loved it and even spit it out when she was done.  Xander on the other hand didn't care about it at all.

We stayed late and got all cleaned up. Mara was such a big helper :)

When we got home we let the kids open their gift and play for a few minutes before bed time.

It was a great party and everything went great!

I look forward to next year when someone else is in charge :)

The Utah Flash

Yesterday Xander came home from school with 2 tickets to the Utah Flash game for last night.  I talked with my friend Andrea and she gave us their 2 tickets so our whole family could go! The game was at UVU so it was easy to attend.

Xander was so excited he told Mara that "We're going to a real live basketball game, and not watching it on TV!"

Mara was so obsessed with the FlashFox! It was all she could talk about, and that was before the kids got a picture with him!  It really made the night one to remember.

We left after the 3rd quarter (Mara had had enough), but apparently The Flash won!!

Decorating Grandma's Tree

Every year we get together as a family and go to Grandma Joan's house and put up her tree. We were able to do it last week.  It's amazing how much faster it goes when there are more hands involved :)

Mara, Conli & Sawyer were BIG helpers! But by the end it was just Sawyer doing most of the work :)

Instructions For Ornament Wreath

The instructions can be found here.

I used plastic ornaments so there wouldn't be any worry of shattering (especially since I have it hanging on the outside of our front door)

Christmas Wreath

My good friend Kristen is always finding the cutest things to make, and it's sad to say, but I've copied her on more than one occasion.  Here's the latest one!  (Here's a link to hers)

I'm so happy with the way it turned out! My floor was covered in glitter for a bit and there were a few mishaps, but it's done :)

Thanks for the idea Kristen!!!

2 Cameras

Since we live with my mom, she has her own camera and will take pictures also.  There are so many times when I think about pictures that were taken and realize that they aren't on my camera. So here are a few pics from before Thanksgiving that I just remembered were missing.

Mara helped me make rolls for Thanksgiving. They turned out great :) Too bad Mara made more of a mess for me to clean up.

If you zoom in, you can see Mara's handprints in the plie of flour on the counter :)

This is a pic of the rolls before the baking process. I should have taken one after. Oh well, maybe next year!

Seeing Santa

We took the kids to see Santa last week at the mall! I was so happy that Mara did well, she has been a cryer since she was a baby, but finally decided that she was going to be happy when she saw Santa.  They both did great at tellins Santa what they wanted (Xander decided to ask for something different then he had decided earlier, so we had to do some more shopping), but Mara stayed with the one thing that she has wanted for months :) 

I know that we aren't supposed to center Christmas around Santa, but seeing him sure got me in the spirit and got me exicted for the season.  And it feels more like December now that there's snow on the ground :)

What We've Been Up To

Having tantrums over not wanting to eat Brocolli!!

Building Legos a new way!!

Making 'shakes' with our toys.

I made this little quilt from a kit. It was the first time I have ever done a patch quilt that wasn't just squares, and I hated it!!! Just because of the minky, it's too slippery. But it's done and Mara ignored me the whole time I did it, so I can save it for Christmas!!!

The kids like to hide when Mana and Dad come home and this is their favorite hiding spot.

For Thanksgiving we went to my sis-in-law Gwen's home. Most of the Tolman family was there, plus Pat's Grandma Ethel, Aunt Kimbur, Uncle Kevin & their kids. So of course we had to do group photos.

Here's Grandma Ethel with the Great Grandkids.

Then Grandma with her Grandkids.

Then Grandma with the Tolman Family!

And then an all girls picture!

Mara decided to be the helper that she is and sweep the floor!  It was great!  Gwen has a swiffer that has a little vacuum attached. I SO need to get one!

Mara & Grandma Ethel playing the piano.

I didn't take many pics of Xan or the rest of the family, but I know Lana & Tammy did!

Mara was soo tired that she crashed on the way home and then was really mad when I had to wake her up to get her in her jammies. But at least she slept all night :)

On Friday Pat's brother Ben & his family came down for a few days. We did alot of hanging out for the 2 days, went out to eat a few times and just sat around talking :) 

Aubrey & Mara decided to play Ring Around The Rosies with Maddox & Brody. It was so cute!

Then Mara got the camera and took some pretty good pics.

Me, Amber & Bryton

Ben & Bryton

So overall we've been busy with family and enjoying the holiday.  Friday & Saturday my mom got the house decorated for Christmas (pics to come) and we're totally ready for Christmas to come :)

Another thing that we're waiting for is baby #3 to come. Too bad we have to wait 6 more months :)

Christmas Cards

I am starting my list for Christmas Cards and I need updated addresses!  So if you have moved since last Christmas, please email me your new address (bregirl81@gmail) or just post a comment with it!
Thanks!!!

Old Things Found!

I just found a notebook that I was using last year. In it I had written some quotes of Xander's!  I love finding these treasures :)


11-1-08: I just never want to take a bath again because I get sticky and can't get my underwear on!


11-9-08: We should stop watching Sleeping Beauty because I am starting to learn the words!


The best was just the other day! He was talking to Mara about colors and started to spell the word blue, but got a letter wrong so I told him it was b-l-u-e.  So he turns around and tells Mara that you spell it b-l-y-o-u-e. Then he started to laugh because he knew he was being funny!!!  What a character!

Now I just need to pay more attention to Mara. She says some pretty funny things too.