A Little Christmas Eve Sumo Wrestling Anyone?

 Sumo Wrestling on Christmas Eve is quickly becoming one of our favorite Christmas traditions.  I think it was introduced into the Sanders' family when Macaia entered the family.  We are sure thankful for her and the fun traditions she brought into the family.  I love the smiles and laughter on everyone's faces.

Anna's got muscles!

 Marlee wasn't too sure about getting in on the action

With all the craziness there was bound to be a few casualties.  Luckily it wasn't serious.

Christmas Eve 2010

 We had a wonderful Christmas Eve.  We ordered pizza and took it over to Grammy and Grandpa Sanders' house to visit, play games (including sumo wrestling the pictures will be in a separate post) and act out the Nativity scripture story.  Here are a few pictures of the evening.

Karalee, Spencer and Bryant help Uncle Elliot build a fire

Marlee found the funny teeth

Chad and Anna doing a little hunting

Here are some scenes from our Nativity play 

Chad was the Narrator

 Anna was the donkey, Marlee was Mary, and Spencer was Joseph

 Calvin was a wise man

Bryant was a wise man and a shepard

 Karalee was the angel

Merry Christmas!!

Happy Birthday Spencer!

Spencer turned nine years old yesterday.  He is such a good boy.  We had a good time celebrating his birthday.  He opened his presents before school then Marlee, Karalee and I met him at school during lunch time and brought Panda Express.  After school we took him shopping to spend his Toy R' Us gift card from Grammy and Grandpa Sanders and birthday money from Grandma Flake.  He picked out a Pokemon Nintento DS game.  We then stopped at Krispy Kreme because Spencer requested donuts instead of a cake.  We were lucky we got the donuts for free because we showed them the boys' latest report cards and they gave them a free donut for every A.  After that we had Chad meet us at Souper Salad.  Spencer thinks that is the greatest restaurant of all time.  All the kids love it because their ice cream is lactose free and they can eat all they want.  Here are nine facts I love about Spencer.

1. He is a peacemaker.  He will make sacrifices to help his brothers and sisters be happy.
2. He loves Chinese food.
3. He is a good student and loves school.
4. He gets up on his own every morning.  We get up at the same time, but I hardly ever have to go into his room to wake him up.
5. He is a good brother.  Each of his siblings love him and love to play with him.
6. He is a big help.  When it is dinner time and Marlee is hungry and wanting me to hold her, but I can't because I am cooking dinner, I can always count on Spencer to take her outside or in the other room to play with her.
7. He loves to play sports and is a good athlete.
8. He is a hard worker.
9. He reads his scriptures on his own almost every day.

 

Have you ever seen a kid so excited to get socks!

Excited for his new basketball shoes. 

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I am thankful for him,

for him,

for my angel baby,

for her,

for her,

for him,

for a body that healed enough to accomplish this,

 for these,

and for this.

What are you thankful for?

Karalee is 4!

Today is Karalee's birthday.  This afternoon when we had some quite time together I told her the story of her birth.  I love to do that with my children on their birthdays.  We had a good time today.  Karalee is one of a kind.  She is a sassy little thing, but can also be sweet, when she wants to that is.  I love, love, love my Karalee girl.

Karalee wanted pizza for lunch and she wanted to stay at home, luckily I had a pizza in the freezer.  I love her saucy face.

playing in her tunnel

Sister's make the best friends.

We had a family party this year.  Each of the kids had a turn to hit the pinata.  Marlee's turn didn't last long enough to get a picture taken because she didn't like it.

 

The kids decided the remnants of the pinata made good party hats.

Halloween 2010

We celebrated Halloween a day early since Halloween fell on a Sunday this year.  We had a great time at our ward's Trunk-or-Treat/Chili Cookoff.  Here are the only pictures I took of the kids in their costumes.

Are those of you who live in cold climate jealous that we can wear flip flops when we go trick-or-treating?  I love our weather these days.

Spencer was a hobo.  I told him we could draw a beard on him and he suggested the red beard in jest, but I told him it would be perfect since his beard will be red when he grows one.

Bryant was a policeman.  At the last minute he also decided he wanted to wear a clown wig, I'm sad I didn't get a picture of that.  It was funny.

Marlee is as cute as ever in her piglet costume.

Karalee decide she wanted to smile in a picture and asked me to take another one of her as a ninja.  She pronounced it "inja".