Christmas Prep

So since Mike was leaving on the 12th and I had most (if not all) of the boys' Christmas already bought, we decided we needed to wrap, so that I wouldn't be stuck with it all before Christmas and/or it wouldn't have to be something that was done Christmas Eve. So we wrapped everything we had. I did buy something else for Greyson that I will need to get wrapped, but at least the bulk of it is done! YAY!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve this year we were in New Mexico. We left Tuesday night in the middle of the Eagle Mountain Blizzard and drove down to Moab to spend the night. The canyon was crappy, but we made it safely. On Wednesday, we got up and started the rest of the journey to New Mexico. It was crappy roads to Monticello, but other than that we made it to my parents at 3:30 on Wednesday. On Christmas Eve we took the train (like Trax in Utah) with the kids and they all loved it.  We had the traditional open faced sandwiches and Frappe and read the Nativity story. After that we drove around to look at Luminaries. After we got back to my parents, we put the boys to bed and played Santa to get ready for Christmas.

On the Train

The Farnsworth 5 (Grandkids) with the Train

Merry Christmas, Santa Came

Christmas Part One

So we did Christmas a little bit differently this year. My side of the family made the plan months ago to all go to my Parents house in New Mexico for Christmas this year since it has been 5 years since we have all been together. So, part one of our Christmas was on the Sunday before Christmas, we decided to give the boys their Christmas gifts from us and the big stuff from my Parents. We got them a Kitchen from my parents with dishes and food and they loved it.  We also had George the elf give the boys their Christmas suits for them to wear to Church that day.  The boys got a Kitchen set with all the pots, pans, dishes and food. They got a tool bench, Car track, Games, and lots of little Animal play figurines.

We had our Christmas celebration with Mike's mom on the Saturday before Christmas too so that we could get all of our stuff done before before we left for New Mexico on Tuesday night. They got Legos from Mike's mom that they are totally into right now, and cars for Garett.

Gingerbread House

We bought a Gingerbread House kit from Costco this year and the boys were so excited to decorate it. Garett was just excited to eat the candy from it.

Greyson's December Field Trip

On December 17th, Greyson had his December Field Trip to see Santa at South Towne Mall. It was a lot of fun and Greyson had a fun time. He froze when it was time to talk to Santa, but mustered up enough to say he wanted a Helicopter.  We ate lunch at the Mall then rushed down to Gavin's school for his December Christmas Sing in. It was a fun day with my boys!

Office Christmas

My boss usually goes all out for Christmas, but this year, it is on. So I went all out decorating my office (with stuff we have a home, but didn't use). I decorated my front and back windows and made these cute little Christmas Trees with the boys, that won the Christmas Office Decorating Contest! Woot!

Cute little Christmas Trees

Back Window

Front Window

Christmas (So Far)

Thanksgiving was uneventful this year (Thank goodness!) and we had fun at Aunt Bonnie's with family and cousins being Thankful for all that we have. We sure did miss Uncle Ron this year, it just wasn't the same without him.

So, let's move right into the Christmas season, shall we?  The day after Thanksgiving we set up the Christmas Tree, and Saturday after Thanksgiving, our Elf on the Shelf George came out of hiding. And we decorated the tree on Saturday.

On Sunday, George our elf brought Christmas Jammies for the boys to enjoy this entire Christmas Season.

And last Saturday, Eagle Mountain had their annual Santa on the Firetruck ride through Eagle Mountain that is always a favorite at our House, and when we went to Walmart to do our grocery Shopping, Santa was there also, so the boys had to stop by and say hi.

Last Night George left a new Christmas Book for the boys (I didn't get a picture yet), and I know that he has a lot more in store before he leaves us for the North Pole when we leave for New Mexico. Stay tuned for more Christmas Fun from the Wallenbergs.

The Christmas Tree

The Boys and the Tree

George the Elf

The Christmas Jammies

Cute Boys in their Christmas Jammies

Santa on the Firetruck

The boys and Santa

Garett wanted his own time with Santa, then regretted it

New Toys

For Christmas the boys got Wiggle Cars and Scooters.  They have been so excited to try them out, but with the amount of snow we got around Christmas, it has been a couple weeks before they could.  On the 3rd of January, we took them out to the school and let them play for a little bit before Greyson fell into the snow and was ready to go home.  They had fun though and can't wait for it to warm up so they can play on them more.

Christmas 2014

We had a great Christmas 2014.  It was filled with fun and family.  The boys loved opening their presents and playing with all the stuff they got while they could before we headed out to Uncle Chuck's (Mike's brother) house.  We woke up around 8:30 to open presents and had our traditional Monkey Bread breakfast.

Gavin's favorite present was his laptop computer and stop sign

Greyson's favorite present was his Dragon and Castle

Garett's favorite present was his Ballapalooza

Mike liked his carpet cleaner and Jurassic Park Movie set

I love my Jawbone Up!

It was a great Christmas, we were very spoiled this year and we are thankful for each and every year we are together, healthy, happy and thriving!

Gifts from Grandma and Grandpa Farnsworth

It is Better to GIVE than Receive

This year in Mike's family, it was decided that we would use the money that we would have spent on a family exchange and put it toward a Primary Childrens Medical Center donation.  We talked to Gavin and Greyson all December about it and took them to pick out material for blankets and had them pick out a toy each to donate.

I think by Christmas, it had finally set in and they were so excited to take the stuff to the Hospital.  While I was sowing and tying the blankets they kept talking about the blankets and toys going to the hospital because they needed them more than we did.  On Christmas, one of the cousins started playing with one of the toys we were going to donate and Greyson walked over to him and told him "No, no, that is a toy for the hospital.  We can't play with it because we are donating that to the hospital for them to play with it."  It was so cute and awesome for them to both notice and realize that we can do more to help out.  Gavin kept telling people all month long that Christmas isn't about receiving, it is about GIVING.

On Saturday the 27th, we headed to the Hospital to make the donation.  We brought a lot of stuff and I am so thankful that we could do that this year.  I am thankful that we had the means and resources to donate and teach our boys this year what Christmas is all about.  They didn't want to take a picture with the stuff we donated, but they wanted to get a picture after all the stuff was moved!  Cute boys!

Greyson helping me sow the donated blankets.

The boys at the hospital, so excited to donate to those in the hospital!

Our Family Donation.  Lots of blankets, cards, and toys

UPDATE - We received a letter from PCMC thanking us for our donation!  It is nice to be thanked for our time, thoughts and actions!

Ugly Christmas Sweater

I don't know if I have ever blogged about my Ugly Christmas Sweater.  I made this sweater the year that Gavin was born because we needed one for work and I couldn't find one that I liked.  I found one like it on the internet and decided to make my own.  It lights up and is kinda starting to fall apart, but I still love it.  Next year, I think I need to make a new one.

We had an Ugly Christmas Sweater party at work this year and of course, my sweater won!

Nursery

This is Greyson's last year of Nursery, he will be going to Primary and Sunbeams next year (week, Sunday).  It makes me sad and happy for him.  Hopefully he will be a good boy and go! (he is the reason I am in Nursery!)  The Sunday before Christmas we had the kids make these hand ornaments, and when I got home, I laminated mine so we could keep it forever.  I kinda love it!

Kindergarten Christmas Party

On December 19th, Gavin had his Kindergarten Christmas Party.  At the beginning of the year, when we had back to school night, there were signups for the class parties for the year.  I asked Gavin which ones he wanted me to help with and he said Christmas and Valentines Day, so those are the 2 I signed up for.  I was asked to bring the drinks and to make these cute snowman cups.  I only burned my hand once and they turned out so cute.

Gavin had so much fun at his party and giving his teacher her Christmas Gift.  He loves Kindergarten, school and his teacher!

Santa 2014

Of course we took the boys to see Santa this year, and just like in years past, we went to Walmart.  Because it is free!  Gavin loved seeing Santa and Greyson and Garett were a little scared, but did so good.  I am glad I got a good picture this year, which reminds me that I need to go to Walmart and see if they still have the picture they took :)

Christmas Eve Pajamas

After Temple Square, we drove home trying to find something open to eat, and there was basically nothing. It was ridiculous! So we bought some snacks at Maverik and went home to open Christmas Eve pajamas.  I tied fleece blankets for the boys this year too and gave Gavin and Greyson slippers.  Garett wasn't having any of it.  He was tired and hungry!

Christmas Eve (Lights on Temple Square)

This year for Christmas Eve, Mike's sister Michelle came into town and wasn't staying for very long.  So Mike wanted to spend some time with her while she was here.  They wanted to go to Temple Square to see the lights so we meet them up there.  It was a nice night and we had a lot of fun together as a family and seeing family.

We got so many comments about the boys hats.  The day after Thanksgiving we went to the BX up at Hill Air Force Base and Mike found these animal hats with mittens attached to the hats.  Gavin has a Dalmatian Dog hat, Greyson has a Tiger and Garett has a Moose.  Everyone that sees them loves them, and the boys love them too!