Christmas Eve

We started out Christmas Eve with breakfast with Stephanie and the Burtons at Cinnamon Productions.  Afterwards, the Burtons took the kids for a fun day at the movies while Brandon and I and Stephanie did some last minute Christmas preparations.  That evening they brought the kids back home for a Prime Rib dinner.  We were tracking Santa on Daddy's phone all night and as soon as we saw that Santa was in North America we gave the kids their Christmas Eve jammies and got the kidos in bed so they could be asleep before Santa arrived.

They are seriously the two sweetest siblings!

Christmas with the Mullins

Since Mom and Dad go to California for Christmas we always get to get a head start on the celebrations!  This year we had a turkey dinner (using the new - and loved - brining method from the Our Best Bites website) with all the yumminess and a chocolate ganache cake (also courtesy of Our Best Bites).  After we were completely full of food we exchanged presents with the family.

Matt and Stephanie with their new Best Bites Cookbook -- a perfect addition to any newlywed kitchen

Ella asked for four different pairs of boots for Christmas - I think she wanted one in pink, red, green and black...Grandma and Grandpa got her started with a pair of pink Ugg type boots

 This year for Christmas we decided to give "time"...Dad opened a book "if you give a mouse a cupcake" and Mom opened the legos that they let us borrow.  We gave them a choice, we could go to the Dallas Childrens Theatre and see the play If You Give a Mouse a Cookie or we could go to legoland.  They decided on Legoland and we can't wait to get to go!

 Brandon is now an official Texan...he got his first pair of cowboy boots

 We had to take a picture of this yummy cake before it was devoured!  It was really rich...but SOOO GOOD!

Letters to Santa

Ella got the envelope all ready to send off her and Brody's letters to Santa.  We put it in the mail and wouldn't you know it...on Christmas Eve Santa wrote back!  The kids were SO EXCITED!  It came as a big surprise to all of us...but very fun!

Ella's Winter Field Trip

On December 1st we took Ella's preschool class and a few friends on a field trip to Color Me Mine in Frisco.  They were given a tour of the kiln room and taught how ceramics were made.  Then they were let loose to paint two Christmas ornaments of their own to keep.  Ella used a lot of color and we ended up with a very "unique" Santa and Gingerbread Man.

Ella with her good friend Taelee

Our budding artist

Playing in the Leaves!

These two couldn't think of a better way to spend a fall day...piling all of the leaves on their slide and then taking turns sliding down into the pile!  They are such fun kids!

New Church Ground Breaking

The church is growing out here!  Last year they announced a new building would be constructed and would serve the Denton and Frisco Stakes.  The building is about 3 miles from our house, but as the boundaries are right now we probably wouldn't go there...who knows what will happen over the next year while it is being built though.  (We secretly wouldn't mind driving further to have our ward stay how it is now, but I don't think they are asking for our opinions!)  We did think it was a unique happening though and we took the kids out to be apart of the ground breaking ceremony. It was a very cold morning, but worth being a part of.

Brody's Thanksgiving Feast

I love Brody's school!  They celebrated Thanksginving with a feast for the whole family.  All the parents brought in turkey, with all the sides and desserts you could think of!  The parents and young siblings were invited to join in as everyone celebrated together.  It was a super fun day! 

The school had been doing a canned food drive for a local food bank and the class that donated the most won an IPAD2.  After the first week of the contest our class was in third place.  Another mom and I got serious and decided that they would win that IPAD!  We went a tad bit overboard, and strategy and sneakiness was involved, but at the end of the feast day they announced that Mrs. Spencer's class had won the IPAD.  I stayed at school all day just so I could see the kids faces when they won!  It was worth every can of food and money spent!  It was an awsome way to start off Thanksgiving Break.