Who wants Candy?

Another one of our favorite traditions is the week of Candy making. Here are the kids cutting the hard candy and coating it with powder sugar.

Chandler is such a big helper.  He is cutting the nuts for the Toffee.

Here are all 13 Candies for 2011. Peppermint Patty,O’Henery,Chocolate caramel Nuggets,Peanut Butter Cups,Twixs,Cinnamon  Nuts ,Cherry Bombs,Oreo truffles,Turtles,English toffee,Cinnamon &watermelon Hard Candy,Dipped Pretzels , and Caramel.

Goodies containers for our friends.

The assembly line.

I was smart this year.  I cut all the candies in half and labeled them on this cookie sheet.  That way as people voted for their favorite candy they knew exactly what they were. and look you can see all the insides.  YUMMY!!!!

Here is the first section of people voting for this years favorite candy.

The Valeson's, and The Sorensen's joined us for New Years Eve. 

Jeremy, Mauvia, Michele, Ben and Tony

Round 2 the kids Voting.

The Burns also joined us for New Years Eve. Round #3 Burns voting.
And this years Candy winner is The Peanut Butter Cup.  For the last three years the Oreo Truffle won.  But not this year.  The kids favorite candy were the Hard Candy.  Both ot these recipes were new this year. 

We had an awesome party.  Lots of games and good food and laughs.
The Sorensen's had this game that was so much fun.  You held a card on your head and had to ask yes no questions to try and figure out what the picture was on your head.  LOL it was HILARIOUS.

I just couldn't keep my mouth closed.  I would always help them if they got stuck.

The kids had a pretty fun night.  The older boys played Wii the younger kids went from play with toys, doing crafts and watching a movie.  What a fun New Year Eve Party.
Happy New Year Everyone.  We hope your 2012 is filled with lots of new memories and traditions.

The Best Gift EVER!!!!

Grandma & Grandpa Bastian gave us the best Christmas present ever.
A gift card for a Hockey game and Dinner.  AWESOME!!!
 I really like this family photo. (waiting for our table)

We started our family date at Applebee's. Where we ate lots of yummy food.

Then off to the Wenatchee Wild Vs Alaska Avalanche Hockey game.  Here is my sweet family ready for the game.  The kids all have some yummy candy to enjoy while they watch the game.

This is how the boys were 90% of the night.  It cracked me up!!!
Don't mind the green candy in Kayden's mouth.  LOL

Beautiful Brooklyn loving the game. She however, didn't scream and holler like the boys.

Here come the Wenatchee Wild!!! See how close we are to the ice?  AWESOME

This isn't the best picture but I had to put it in as we did a lot of dancing. Every time music came on and we were told to dance the kids literally pulled me up to dance with them. WE had a lot of fun and made a lot of memories.

 It was a super close game. We were tied at the end of the third quarter 2-2 . We then went into overtime played 4 on 4 for 5 min Still tied. So they went into shootouts Alaska went first and missed, (Yeah) then we went and missed (boo) then Alaska went and Missed. (Yeah) then we went and scored. Then Alaska went and missed (Yeah) Then we went and scored (yeah) and Won 3-2 AWESOME!!!  It was such a wonderful end to an awesome night. Thanks Grandma & Grandpa Bastian.

Christmas dinner with The West's

We had Christmas Dinner with Matt, Jenn, Hunter, Jessica, and Logan West along with Jenn's Parents and her sister Shawna.  They were so sweet to invite us over to share in all the yummy food, games, and Canadian traditions.

First, Grandma read a story to the kids.  It's called the true meaning of Christmas.  Each of the kids got to grab an ornament out of her bag and read the saying that went with it then they got to hang it on a tree. 

Here they are reading their little part.

Brooklyn has such a cute smile.

Chandler is getting to be such a good reader.  He didn't need any help.  Good Job buddy!!!

Daddy helping Chandler put the ornament on the tree.

Here is the kids table setting with their "Christmas Poppers"

Here is the adult table setting with our "Christmas Poppers"

I made these cute place settings for Christmas Dinner.  They turned out so cute.  They were kind of a pain to make.  Who would have thought Candy Canes are not all the same size.  But they worked and were very cute.

Tonight we got to join The west in one of their super fun Canadian traditions.  Remember the cute Christmas poppers in the previous picture?  Well it turns out before you eat your dinner everyone "pops" their Popper out come a party hat, some jokes, and a little prize.  Here we are in our super cute Canadian hats and our prizes.  I got a diamond watch and Jer got a whistle.  Some of the Jokes were really funny.  I wish I would have brought some home.

Here are the boys with their hats and toys.  I can't remember what they got.

Here are the kids opening their poppers.  Very cool!!!

After dinner and clean up the kids played some Dance party on the Wii

Here is Brooklyn and Jessica and their super cool moves.

Now it's the Boys turn to show off their moves.

The adults had fun playing Tabo Boys against the girls the boys totally Won!!! And here is the kicker they had one less member then we did.  Way to go Matt, Jeremy and Grandpa.

Jenn's Parents are a Hoot!!  They were so much fun to hang out with.  They made us all laugh.
What a super fun memorable Christmas. Thanks West!!!

Christmas Morning

I love Christmas being on a Sunday.  It's so nice to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas with Christ in the Center and what a better way then going to Church.  We told the kids we were not going to Open ANY presents  until after Church.  Brooklyn tried to compromise  saying she would just look at her stocking.  Brooklyn, made a good argument.  Aunt Britany was totally on her side.   But No Sneak Peaks!! .Jeremy got up and made Biscuits and Gravy Yummy!  The kids got ready for Church I didn't take a picture.  HUMMM..  We went to Church and had a wonderful Christmas Program.  WE loved singing all the Christmas Hymns and all the beautiful talks it truly was awesome.  It was fun seeing all our friends too and wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.  When we got home everyone changed *Quickly* into their PJ's and we started opening our presents.

Chandler's Face was like this all morning long.  He looks so big in this picture. :-( My baby is getting so big.

So if he wasn't smiling from ear to ear he had this face. I love it. So excited!!!

Yes!!!  Just what he wanted Hot Wheels bet that wall addition.  AWESOME.  Christmas is so fun!!

Brooklyn wanted a Doughnut maker so badly.  It's so fun to watch the kids expressions and excitement as they open their gifts.

Brooklyn did this funny tongue thing as she opened her gifts.  It's super cute.

Here is that cute tongue thing again.  I really Love her.

Kayden had the biggest smile the whole time.  Christmas through your kids eyes is MAGIC.

Kayden couldn't open this gift.  Too Much Tape!!!

I love to see the expressions on their faces. 

This year Jeremy and I did sentimental gifts.  It was awesome.  Jeremy wrote me a special sweet letter about Hope. 

He gave me the Willow Tree Angel of Hope statue.  I love it!! 

Here is Jeremy opening up his gift.

I had a lot of fun putting Jer's sentimental gift together. I got a deck of cards with Golfing stuff of course. Then wrote 52 reasons why I love him.  Here is Jeremy laughing at one of them.  Awesome!!!

This year with our new family economy the kids earned and bough their own gifts.  It was so fun to watch them save their money and purchase their own gifts for each other.  It was defiantly a new experience.  The had a different kind of excitement Couldn't wait for you to open up the gift they saved and picked out especially for you.  Very cool!!! 

Awee, We love these two!!!

Everyone needs a Big Brother!!!

Here is the big present.  The kids did not know what The Spirit of Santa got them.I just kept telling them they were going to LOVE it.  So here they are opening their gift.  *Note Brooklyn and her cute tongue.*

Here again is Chandler Super cute face,  Brooklyn so excited and Kayden is saying What is it???? He was having issues opening it.  Darn tape!

This was the best part.  The kids trying to get into their MP3 player I love the faces.  Jer and I were rolling on the floor laughing.  They were so determined to open them.  Not once did they ask for sciccors or a knife or help.  Nothing!!  Oh these pictures crack me up.

Chandler so determined to open the package.  Giggles

Brooklyn trying so hard...

Success finally got them open.  This is what the kids did for the next 15 minutes.  We were not finished opening Christmas and the kids could have stopped and been totally and completely happy.

Brooklyn Checking out all the songs on her Mp3 player.  Mom we can download books too.  Yes, indeed we can.

Kayden checking out what was on his Mp3 player.

Then we were entertained

With Singing

And Dancing

And singing and dancing.  The kids kept saying this is the Best Christmas EVER!!!  Indeed, this was an awesome Christmas.

This is the picture I texted all our family with the kids saying Merry Christmas We love you.
We are saying the same to you.  Merry Christmas!!!  We hope you guys had a wonderful Christ Centered day.
We do Love you all and hope you have a Happy New Year.