Our Christmas Adventure.....

This year we took the kids to Temple Square to see all the lights on Christmas Eve and got to ride the tracks downtown. The boys were very excited about the train, but did not like the cold once we got there. After 2 mins they were all screaming to go home and get hot chocolate. Once back on the train I was chased down by some crazy woman, not really my friend Jen Holt happen to be on the tracks at the same time and came running down to say hi to the family and give hugs. I am so grateful to her!! She is the tender mercy that was left in my life after Jocelyn was born when she came to take Jocelyn's photos for us. Thank You my sweet angel and Thank you Jen.

Home at last with the kids in bed. On with the marathon of wrapping Santa gifts!!! (hope the boys don't read this). Once they were all wrapped and placed under the tree it was finally time to crawl into bed and sleep for oh, a few hours since I knew it would not be long before the boys were up and ready to go....

The Boys got all new Pj's filled socks. Yes we filled one for Jocelyn.

The Tree looking nice and full with Santa's arrival!!

John and I's sock with a candy canes and butterfly book.

7:30am!!!! Two out of three boys up and ready to go!!! Joseph was out cold and still having issues on wanting to wake up. But big brothers made sure that he was up in no time.....

The boys waiting to open their gifts to each other. left to right: Joseph, Jacob, Jarren

Left to right: Jacob, Jarren, Joseph all dressed in their new Pj's holding their new Lego carrying boxes.

The boys opening presents. Look more Lego items!!!

Jacob, Jarren, Joseph so happy to have more Lego's from Santa!!! Can't wait to pick up all the little pieces every where!

Me and the boys!! Merry Christmas

  

Once everything was all opened and unwrapped the boys all piled into the kitchen to start building their Lego sets. I went and took a shower. Finally some peace and quite.

Joseph and Jacob working hard and serious. Yes Lego are serious business at our house.

Jarren is very determined and focused.

After spending time building Lego's and getting dressed we then took and piled into the van to head over to my parents place for the rest of the day and more fun adventures....But 1st we stopped at the cemetery to put Jocelyn's mini sock and candy canes on her grave. Something I never thought I would be doing on Christmas, visiting a child that was not physically with us. John and I did better then we thought on Christmas. I think because we had a good break down of emotions when setting up for Santa. I also tried to focus on the beautiful thought and image that I have child who gets to be with the really birthday guy and sit on his lap during his Birthday.

Her little sock with a J on it and two candy canes. It has helped to go through the motions of giving her 1st. Something I needed to help in my healing process.

Me with the boys

The boys feet showing off her Christmas decor.

John with the boys.

....Upon arriving at my parents place the boys rushed in and share all their things they got from Santa!!! While my parents are getting things ready for our breakfast brunch of breakfast burritos!!! Yum!!! So of course we were put to work right away...

Left to right: my dad and mom. haha mom you blinked!!!

John sauteing some onions in my parents kitchen.

After eating all the yummy food we went on to more present fun!!! It was more then we bargained for that is for sure!!!

Holy Crap!!! I think Santa over did it at my parents place or should I say my Sister Heather and her hubby Layne over did it!!!

John got a new baseball mit from my parents. Sweet he now can play catch comfortably with the boys. He has been using mine which does not work well for someone who is left handed

Left to Right: my sister in law Natalie, my niece Sophia, and Joseph

My sister Heather and her hubby Layne with their new puppy mini. She is sooo Cute I was ready to taker her home.

Left to Right my Brother Sean, Jarren, and John. They all look scared.

Sophia would rather sit on her gift then open it.

Joseph opening one from Grandma and Grampa

Jarren opening his from Grandma and Grandpa.

This was not the end of presents by far....My parents then brought out three large packages one for John and I and my sister and brother and their spouses. Which turned out to be new luggage with plane tickets to Orlando FL this summer!!! Yes everyone is going my Parents,the kids, and all of us. Nice mom and dad...

So I thought that was the biggest surprise in gifts?! Oh No!! Heather and Layne decided it was great idea to arm my boys with weapons!!! Yes I mean real weapons!!! They got a small 22 long rifle and bows and arrows. The boys were...well not sure what they thought at 1st. I am ok with these gifts. It will be good for the boys to go to a shooting range to learn gun safely and see that a gun is serious and not a toy. But we were able to go out back and set up a target and let the boys try out the bows. So that was fun. They even were able to get a left handed bow for Jarren, which also made it nice for John to try it as well.

Jacob giving his bow a try

Looking good and well focused

Loading for another round

Joseph taking a turn. Looks good I would say

Before Joseph taking a shot Layne giving him instruction.

Joseph getting help on how to load the bow.

I even took a shot at it. It was a nice release.

Jarren up and getting instruction from Layne

Jarren taking his 1st aim.

Jarren looking like a pro

Not bad for the 1st time!!

Even though we were not able to shoot the 22. Layne wanted to give some instruction on how to hold the gun and to be sure that it was not to big for the boys to handle. We will get out to a shooting range sometime this week to give it a shot.

So as you can tell it was a nice Christmas with the family with some surprises along the way. We hope that you all had a great Christmas as well and may you blessed in the coming year. Lots of Love to you all!!!