December 2014 - Christmas Day - New Years

I was taking video with my phone and snapped pictures while doing it. 

So they didn't turn out that good, but at least I have pictures. 

Christmas Morning

Mara got Ever After High Holly & Poppy dolls.

Jaina got Chelsea's Club House

Xander got an Air Hog Laser Racer car that could go on walls!

Melody got a book but didn't car too much. 

She was just going for the crumbs that Santa left.

New dresses for her Build-a-Bears

The game of LIFE for the family.

Wii U Mario 3D World, it's Xander's but we all play it.

Magformers from Grandma & Grandpa Tolman

I got a new Beauty and the Beast phone case

And a new shirt by Karen Hallion: You Comin' Blondie?

Pat got The Big Bang Theory MiniMates.

The kids with their gifts from Grandma & Grandpa Tolman

Magformers, La La Loopsy Mini Cinderella house,  Ever After High 

Daren Charming, and Disney Baby pop up toy.

After presents were done at our house, we headed over to Mana's 

for breakfast (Mana's Cafe) and presents.

She was so excited to get an Anna doll.

Mara just loves the little Lego Friends Animal sets

She got a ticket to go see The Little Mermaid at the Hale Centre Theatre 

in July along with Me, Karri, JD, Chris, Mana, Lisa, Conli & Sawyer.

Xan was super stoked about this Xtreme marble track!

Pat got the complete Calvin & Hobbes Collection. These books are huge!

And an awesome shirt from Karri

Melody was napping while the rest of us opened gifts, so when she woke 

up it was a bit overwhelming. She got a ton of clothes and a few 

toys like this Little People Wonder Woman Invisible Jet.

All the kids after all the present opening

Pat in his new shirt.

The next day we went out to lunch with Morri & Liza while Grandma & 

Grandpa watched the kids. This was the sight that we came back 

too. I love how much Grandma loves her grandchildren.

We started a new Christmas tradition last year of putting together a 

puzzle over Christmas break. Sadly with Melody I haven't been able 

to do much, but these two completed the puzzle and were very proud of it.

New Years Eve: We went to Morri's house for food, games and hanging 

out.  When it was getting late we headed home and put these two cuties 

to bed. Then Xander and Mara stayed up with us and we played our new 

Game of LIFE. Xander ended up with more than 11 children! It was a lot of fun!

This has been a great year and I hope that 2015 will be even better.

Happy New Year!

December 2014 - Christmas Eve

The Sunday before Christmas I set up the tripod and got a family 

picture with the tree. And it was perfect in 1 try!!

Then we got just the kids.

I upgraded my phone in September and gave my old one to Mara as an 

iPod. She has loved having it and not having to share with Jaina. It 

was so cute that they were both playing iPod and sharing the couch.

Mara had a box that she had decorated to look like a car. She put Melody

 in with pillows and pushed her up and down the landing. Melody just loved it.

On Christmas Eve we went to Mana's and ate dinner, 

made cookies, and went caroling on her street.

Here's Melody opening her Christmas Eve present from Karri.

They all got matching jammies.

Then they all came down the hall youngest to oldest and 

hung up their stockings, like I would do as a kid.

We got a picture with our stockings when we got home.

And put out cookies, eggnog and a note for Santa.

Here's the note that Mara wrote.  She was working on it for a very long time.

December 2014 - Hillam Christmas Party

The time had come for our Annual Hillam Family Christmas Party

These girls dressed up as shepherds for the nativity.

Karri was in heaven with Melody snuggles.

Still practicing this walking thing.

Daddy and two of his girls.

Me and my baby!

Here's Melody with her second cousin Harper. They are exactly 1 week 

apart. It will be fun to see them grow up together.

We got to see Santa and the kids got gifts from him.

Again, Melody wasn't too thrilled to be on Santa's lap.

Jaina got Chelsea's Swing Set

Mara got a Dork Diaries and Ever After High books.

Xander got Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Minecraft books.

Melody got an Ariel wand/rattle that lights up and plays music.