Christmas Morning

Lexi asked Santa for two specific things: a horse and a chocolate chip cookie. This was the chocolate chip cookie. She LOVED it!

Although Santa couldn't get Lexi a real horse, he did the best he could. She still was in love. 

And, Christine couldn't be left out so she got her own pony.

Brian reagan! This was from me and after 5 years I finally got him a present he liked.

The girls in their Christmas dresses

Going to church on christmas

One last ride before we leave

Santa Cookies

Lexi loves cooking with me in the kitchen, and I love it too! So, on Christmas Eve night, she helped me make sugar cookies with cream cheese frosting for Santa. When deciding what cut outs to produce, I mentioned a stocking, bell, reindeer, etc. But, Lexi just wouldn't conform. She HAD to make dinosaur cookies. So, Santa got dinosaur cookies and milk. She also couldn't wait until the cookies cooled before trying one, so as a result, she burned her chin, you can see the burn on the bottom left of her chin. Overall, though, it was a fun experience, and Santa I know for a fact loved the cookies. 

She decorated these herself. 

Christmas Eve with Farrellys

Christmas Eve started off with a festive feast prepared by mi mama! 

Then, we opened presents!

Shawn and Shane got Lexi a bag of Cheetoes, a huge bag of her favorite chips, and this was one of her favorite gifts.

Christine loves her electronics

This picture makes me laugh. Look at the ad on the tv! Ha!

Maralyn got a deep fryer, I might have been a little jealous. 

One of my favorite gifts, Best Bite cook book! I have made so many recipes already from this and they are delicious.

 Rhett got a little bored with opening gifts

I made dessert, Decadent Chocolate Cheesecake with Chocolate Curls. Oh yeah, it was as good as it looks. 

Lexi's Art Project

While I was getting our Christmas cards ready to be sent in the mail, I couldn't find the stamps that we had bought, which was driving me crazy since I thought I knew exactly where I left them. Well, wouldn't you know, out comes Lexi from her room, maybe five minutes later, as excited as can be, saying, "Mom, I made you an art project with these awesome stickers, come and see!" This is what I saw:

Her hand and foot turkey she made at school, covered in "pretty stamp stickers" One of her more expensive art projects for sure. Have you ever tried peeling stamps off construction paper? Let me tell you, they do not come off easily. Looking back, it is pretty funny!

Mesa Arizona Temple Lights

Aunt Hallie, Uncle Ian, Aunt Autumn and Uncle Joel and Cousin Adee went with us to the Mesa Arizona Temple lights. This is a family tradition that we deeply missed while living in MI. It was so pretty and really put us in the Christmas spirit. 

Group Shot

Lexi was amazed by the twinkling lights in the trees

Mary and Joseph

Family Shot

The Meeting with Santa

Santa came to our ward's Christmas party this year, so of course we had to stay so that the girls could meet him. Lexi loved him and couldn't wait to tell him that she wanted a horse for Christmas.

Christine, on the other hand, did not love him exactly. In fact, she was surely not a fan of Santa.

This was literally 3 seconds after I handed her to Santa

Not loving him. The good mom that I am, just started laughing and took pictures. It took her a while after I held her to calm down, she kept looking over at him, seeing what he was gonna do. I guess it is official, she is my daughter. 

Thanksgiving

On Thursday morning, we woke up and headed to the Turkey Trot! Alice, my mother-in-law ran the 2 mile and did awesome! Look below at Alice the Champion!

Chris, my sister-in-law, Sarah, and I ran the 10K! It was so much fun! I ran the race in 55 minutes, which was my personal best so I was pleased. I also beat Chris, so that was awesome too :) 

My amazing mother came and watched the kids so that we could both run. 

And. it wouldn't be a turkey trot without a real, random turkey on the side of the road in a school parking lot! Lexi loved it and Christine didn't. 

Look at that beautiful bird!

Then, here is Aunt Hallie with Cousin Brady and Lex standing next to the competition! 

Grandpa Glidewell, Grandma Glidewell, Uncle Ian with Lex at the finish line!

We rock!

My face was still red, ha!

After the race, we cleaned up, I got the rolls and cranberry sauce ready and then we headed to Grandma and Grandpa Farrelly's house for our first feast of the day. Here is my dad with the turkey!

My mom with Cousin Rhett

Uncle Shawn, whom Lexi absolutely LOVES, with my girlies. They really are so lucky to have this guy in their life. 

After the feast, my dad, my uncle Rick, Rhett and Lexi watched some football!

Shawn and Chris played some video games while Shane, another amazing Uncle to my girls, played with Christine. 

Uncle Shane and Christine

Lexi loves, LOVES her cousin Rhett! 

Me and my man! After this picture was taken, we headed to the Glidewells for our second feast and pie! I forgot to take pictures over at their house, but it was also really fun! By the end of the night, we were stuffed but filled with gratitude for a Thanksgiving surrounded by good food and great family!