Our very Merry Christmas!

What a great Christmas we had. It was one of my favorites only because I didn't have to work and I was able to be home to help Ben in the evening and then to see, or hear is more like it, the kids when they got up-at 3:50 in the morning. Santa has it right at our house and leaves a new movie for the kids to watch while mom and dad can sleep in a little. This year he left two-which were both watched before 7:30! The kids had to pick 3 things they really wanted from santa this year. Ethan picked a tribot and nerf gun, Jake wanted -every bionicle in the world-he settled for six- and a nerf gun.


Jocelyn wanted twin baby girls, a stroller and diamond castle barbie and carriage.


Riley wanted McQueen, a choo choo train, and spongebob.


Owen settled for shoes and a toy.


I just wanted a cute scarf and a few clothes which Ben did great with. I suprised Ben with a hotwheels belt buckle and shirt. I know I know- a belt buckle!!! But a couple of weeks ago he came home from work and said on hotwheels.com there was a amazing belt buckle he wanted and I immediately said no way!. All I could think in my head was some cowboy in roper jeans with a huge belt buckle!!! I could tell he really wanted it and I just kept saying no(nicely and laughing of course!). So the week before christmas I signed up on the hot wheels website which means he got his belt buckle and I will forever be recieving emails about the latest hot wheels around. It's all for love!!!

It just made my christmas to be able to suprise him. Every year I get him something that totally suprises him. One year I got him a long board that I had my brothers friend design with M.C.Escher art work on it(One of Ben's favorite artists). I may have topped it with the belt buckle-crazy I know!!! For me, I really don't care what I get for christmas I just like to suprise the kids and Ben. This year we suprised the boys with digital cameras and they have loved those. It was just a great Christmas.
After presents and breakfast we went to my parents for dinner,pie,the annual white elephant exchange, the candy bar game and just lots of talking and laughing. We were all so exhausted. The kids crashed on the way home. We have been so blessed with everything this year and want to let our family and friends near and far know that we love and appreciate them. We love you all!

Allen Traditions

Our holiday traditions start a few weeks before Thanksgiving. A few of the adults get up at an unheard of time the first weekend in November and sit in the freezing cold to buy christmas tree tags. This year Ben had the honors since I had a newborn baby to feed. I kinda missed the crazy conversations we can have when we're all shivering and tired and bored. It sounded like fun-they went out for breakfast this year. Usually we just settle for donuts and Halloween candy-it helps to keep us awake.
Of course our traditional Thanksgiving feast-this year at KristyAnns house-was lots of fun. We ate a ton and then devised our plans for shopping the next morning. Last year we ad matched at Walmart at midnight and did the 5 am sale. This year we just met up at 3:30 and we were able to get everything we wanted. Laura, mom and I saved a ton of money. Thanks to mom who goes along just for the fun and helps Laura and I by standing by a pallet of toys for an hour and has quick reflexes to grab what we need. It's a blast.

That afternoon we usually all go up to the mountains and cut down our trees. This year Ben took the boys and met up with Scott,AmyLyn and Andy. The rest of us stayed home since we weren't sure if there was snow for the kids to play in while the men and AmyLyn tromped off for an hour or more to find the perfect tree. I mean what do you do with 9 kids and no snow in the middle of no where. Turns out there was snow but Laura and I were glad we stayed behind to let the kids play at my house. Next year will be easier. Ben brought home a great tree about 11 feet tall and this year -since I bought an after season fake tree last year- we have the real tree upstairs(mine) and the fake one downstairs (the fams) Let me tell you It has been fun but twice as hard to get two trees decorated.

Another tradition is we each get a new ornament every year. This year I thought it would be fun to get disney ornaments since we went to Disneyland in the spring. We got some cute ones and hopefully will get them hung tonight.
We also took our annual trip to temple square to see the lights last Saturday. It was a quick trip and I promised the kids to come back during their winter break. They love to visit everything there. We walked through temple square, ate yummy cookies, and then stopped by Mcdonalds on the way to my work. We ate dinner in the break room while I fed Owen and then poor Ben (the kids were acting crazy by then) took the kids home for bed.
The best tradition of all of course has to do with food. My dads toffee. Yum! Last week my parents watched our kids while Ben and I went to his christmas party at Sundance. My dad made a couple batches of candy and left one for us. We have almost eaten it all gone and I think this year I will have to make myself a batch.

Our family is getting big enough that this year I will have to make lots of cookies and fudge and right now I am cooking up my first batch of chex mix-Grandma Princes recipe. I don't think we'll have a problem eating it all.
It's been a busy season already and I still have cards to make, Jocelyns christmas dress to make, gingerbread houses, presents to wrap and I haven't bought anything for Ben yet. Luckily I'm done buying for the kids!

Business in the front, party in the back!

Jake finally got a hair cut! Yeah! But Ben and I couldn't resist as we started cutting to take advantage and expose Jake to the hair don'ts of the 80's. Sad thing is I just started chopping and Ben said that he had a hair cut like that when he was younger. So sad! He had hair cut flash backs. He admitted that years ago when I started cutting his hair he was scared they would look like the hair cuts his mom gave him when he was younger. Luckily I am pretty good at cutting it the way he wants. It was more for Ben's and my amusement to cut Jakes hair- we needed a good laugh at our kids expense-like we don't get that enough. Kids are just funny. Anyways Jake thought the haircut was pretty crazy and actually liked it. Too bad. He now looks completely different and has plans on growing it out again-The girls dig it mom! Oh my what a ladies man. Watch out girls!
Jake hates this shirt but I made him wear it to the ward christmas party - He refused to take off his jacket! He will be bugged I put it on here-Oh Well. This was before we started to cut.
During...


Every once in a while I see a kid at Walmart with either of these hair cuts and wonder what their parents are thinking!!