Christmas in a NUTSHELL

Well now that Deceber has come and gone...I guess it's time to update the blog. Briynn and Maycie were anxious for Snowflake (their Elf) to return this year. Maycie was so worried that Santa would send a different elf. One night when the girls came down from taking their bath, Snowflake had come to visit. She just had a hard time figuring out how to get "OUT" of the fireplace. Brilynn quickly took on the task of helping Snowflake come to the West home.So Maycie is seriously obsessed with Snowflake. She had her by her side the whole month of Deceber. She would seriously have an emotional melt down when she would have to leave snowflake at home. Was this a good idea???? Snowflake is supposed to go back to the North Pole right after Chrismtas but everytime I even mention this to her she starts to sob. I guess I am a little softy because I just don't have the heart to send her back yet. Any suggetions would be much appreciated:)Snowflake arrived with her magic dust. Each night the girls would sprinkle her in hopes of her doing a funny trick. Sometimes she would just hide and other times she was mischivious and turned the milk green, dumped out the fish food, and many other different tricks. We continued with the 12 memories this year. This is the 3rd year we have done this tradition and it is something that helps us celebrate all month long. I don't have pictures of all the memories we did but here are a few. Last year we skipped the trek down to SLC to see the lights but this year Maycie really wanted to see them. So we went!!!Can't you tell Payge and Preslee were so impressed!!!One morning the twins woke up and snowflake had put little green dots all over their faces. They weren't quite sure what to think:)One morning Snowfloke woke up in Preslee's bed with a diaper on. One memory was watching a christmas movie. The girls snuggled up in the basement with their blankets and ate bowls of popcorn while watching the movie.Another memory was making gingerbread houses. We went a little low key this year on the houses but the girls still enjoyed making them. This year my philosphy was the more simple the better!!!

A trip to Layton pack was also a memory. This one is close to home and a short stroll through the park. My type of Christmas lights!Afterward we headed to Barnes and Noble. I remember when I was in high school we spent many afternoons at a little coffee shop called "Spoofs" We would have what they called steamers. Which is just hot milk with different flavors. My kids had never had them and I had heard that Barnes and Noble did a similar drink. So we decided to try them. Brilynn didn't care for them and Maycie thought it was an absolute treat. We had hazelnut carmel and raspberry vanilla. I didn't care for the raspberry one but the hazelnut carmel was to die for. The perfect christmas drink!John thought I was nuts taking all 4 kids into Barnes and Noble. He was on edge the whole time trying to keep them all quite. I finally had to tell him to settle down and that this wasn't a library...it's a book STORE! He finally started to enjoy the memory. hahaWe did other memories through out the month that included a trip to Vernal, a trip to see Santa (still getting the pictures of this one), playing Chrismtas chimes, a night of hot chocolate, a shopping trip to buy gifts for siblings, an email from Santa, and I am sure I have forgotten a few but you get the idea right???

The last memory of christmas was opening their PJ's on Christmas eve. These are the most snuggliest pj's ever. I love when they wear them and I can snuggle up in a chair with one of them.Christmas morning we got up around 9:00 and finally woke the twins up. Payge wasn't happy one bit. Preslee wasn anxious to see what Santa brought her though.When Brilynn and Maycie came downstairs they were so sad. They knew that they had argued one too many times with each other and Snowflake had reported that to Santa. However Santa was kind enought to send them on a scavenger hunt. Looks at the change on their face once they found their stockings. They got automatic umbrellas...and their much wanted ipod touches. We then went to the basement to see the train set that Santa had brought to the twins.

It was the perfect Chrismtas day. We spent most the afternoon setting up the ipods and playting with all the new toys. Around 4:00 we went to see the movie Tangled. Such a cute show. So I know I have forgotten lots of other things that we did this year but when I don't have a picture...out of sight out of mind. We were very blessed this year and enjoyed spending time together with all our friends and family. We say goodbye to a happy 2010 and hope for the best in 2011.