Christmas cookies

What Christmas prep is complete without decorating dozens of Christmas sugar cookies?  Leesa prepped the cookies and then recruited her army of little grandkid elves to cover them in frosting and sprinkles.  I was actually impressed that not one child went complete berserk with the frosting or the sprinkles.  

Someone didn't want her picture taken.  She's like Bigfoot..there but mysteriously unseen.

They all did a really great job.  Now how on earth are we supposed to eat all of these?

K1 Speed

Time for some speed!  This year McKenzie and the boys were all tall enough to cruise in their own go carts.  Cambrie was also tall enough to race the parents.  The first race for all of us was a little humbling as we figured out our carts, the course, and got used to what the speed felt like.  But by the time we got to our second race we were ready to roll.  McKenzie and Kelton we neck and neck for the lead.  At one point they were stuck behind some slower traffic and another kid took the lead, but these two held their own.  Kelton even had some impressive moves as he maneuvered through the pack.  

Cambrie may have been the youngest one on the track, but she was not the slowest.  I'm thinking that this is really good practice as she's going to be getting her permit this year!  Jeremy won the adult race with Dantley just barely behind.  Bruce took third, but despite his mopey pose was a great sport about it.  

While the taller kids raced, Daxton and Pippa hung out with the arcade games.  They can't wait until it's their turn.

Moments in South Jordan

We needed to get out some wiggles and work off some of that extra Christmas sugar.  Alysha and I took the kids to Kids That Rip, which was a combination of ninja warriors, skate park, and trampoline park.  We spent two hours there and the kids definitely worked through that extra energy.  The boys spent most of their time playing dodgeball, while Daxton and McKenzie did circuits around the gyms.  They all loved the giant swing.  McKenzie tried doing a backflip on her release but stopped rotating half way through and landed kind of funky.  It was a good thing it was our last activity because she needed to relax her back after that.  But for the first time all week, the kids were quiet and peaceful back and home so I think it was a great success.  

One night while the big kids went to see Spider-Man: No Way Home, the littles hung out with Nana.  They went and got movie theater popcorn, watched a movie, then totally crashed in Nana's bed.  How funny that they sleep exactly the same!  

Sometimes I just love the simple games kids come up with.  That looks like quite the adventure!

Sledding in South Jordan

While I had some last minutes things to take care of, Bruce took the kids sledding.  There wasn't a ton of snow, but there was enough to have a lot of fun.  It looks like they found a hill with some fabulous jumps, that they went on time and time again.  I just know that they came home absolutely exhausted so it must have been a fabulous afternoon!

Christmas in South Jordan

Christmas in South Jordan happened after church while everyone was around. 

 The kids each got to open their gifts from Bruce and Leesa.  Leesa has been anxiously waiting for the boys' gifts especially.  Stockton and Kelton were each given a Red Rider BB Gun.  They were able to take them out in the backyard later that day and practice shooting.  I hope they don't shoot their eyes out! 

 

They have some serious Lego building to do.  Daxton's Optimus Prime transformer also took us a few hours to figure out.  But we finally transformed him!

The girls were given their own pocket knives, and now it's time for some proper knife training.  McKenzie got a new hedgehog for her collection and Cambrie got her own longboard so now she doesn't have to steal Jeremy's.  

Daxton got a couple sets of Hot Wheels tracks and spent the entire week enthralled with those.  

Jeremy and I got new tables for our indoor bike trainers that will work so much better than the random end tables we're using now.  I can't wait to get them set up in the gym!  

Jeremy has also been anxiously waiting to give his parents his gift to them.  He randomly received an extra medal for both his first half Ironman and his first full Ironman.  They also both coincided with his parents' birthdays.  I don't think you could plan that if you tried.  So he had Fond Memory Graphics make a plaque with his medal, bib, and picture of his parent at each race. 

Merry Christmas from Nana and Papa

We had a super tasty Christmas dinner of some bacon bombs from Morgan.  (Never had them before but any time you throw cream cheese and back on chicken it's going to make it even better).  

Before heading out we made sure to get pictures of the kids in their fancy Christmas duds in front of the fabulous backdrop Leesa had set up in the garage.  I think this is a good looking bunch.

Breakfast with Santa

Breakfast with Santa and we can't wait to meet the jolly fellow.  First we must begin with the breakfast part.  We feasted on classic muffins, hash browns, and scrambled eggs before cleaning up the garage to prepare for Santa's arrival. 

Some of us thought it would be a lot simpler to hang out within arms' reach of the food instead of sitting out on the tables...but I won't say who.

 When Santa arrived he read a story to us before bringing up the kids to sit on his lap.  I think I need to be worried, three of my kids asked for a puppy for Christmas! 

 

Family pictures with Santa.  

Aly tried so valiantly to get the newest little King in the Rogers' grandkid photo. 

 

While the boys were excited to be running around with their troop, 

the girls took a quieter approach and hid in my bedroom building Minecraft castles.  Oh well, they appeared for their required appearances.  Another Christmas tradition in the books!