It's great to be 8!

I can't believe Zach is 8! When did he grow up?! It makes me sad to think how fast time flies! This year was a big birthday year for Zach and instead of doing a big party (which you know I LOVE doing...haha!) we decided to do something a little different and FUN because we had some FREE tickets to use before the end of the year. We let Zach pick a couple friends to take to SIX FLAGS for a day and we left Madelyn and Kali with some good friends. It was just me and Mark and the boys and Lilly for a day of FUN at Six Flags and I'm pretty sure the boys had a BLAST!

 

Zach and his friends Ryan, Aiden and Jake. Super fun group of drama-free BOYS! They were so much FUN!

It looks like that bald Eagle is on top of Aiden's head but the boys were really just posing in front. haha!

Grandma and Grandpa Stacy came a few days before and took Zach out to dinner alone for his birthday since they weren't going to be in town on his big day. He of course wanted to go to ChickfilA :) Grandma and Grandpa also got Zach his Cub Scout shirt and patches and scout book for his birthday. Thanks so much G&G!! Zach was so excited to go out on a special birthday dinner and also for his scouting gear!

On Zach's actual birthday (Dec. 31st) we pretty much had a nice day with just our family. We let him open his presents from us and he was super excited for his new game and his very own set of SCRIPTURES! I loved seeing the excitement on his face when he opened up his scriptures and how he said they are exactly what he wanted...blue with silver pages, just like Ryan's  :)

Thanks Mema and Grandpa for the birthday money! Zach ended up using it towards a remote control car that he's been wanting. :)

Birthday cake time! These pics kinda turned out weird because of the lighting but I think it's cool how the camera captured the smoke as he blew them out.

And to make the day super fun and special we took the kids roller skating. And it was SO FUN! Zach of course was a natural with the roller blades but the girls needed a little more help. It was super cute to watch them learn and see how fast they eventually picked it up...especially after we had their skate wheels tightened :)

Happy 8th Birthday Zach!! We hope you had the BEST birthday ever! We love you so much and we are so proud of you and your decision to be baptized! You are the best big brother to your little sisters and they love you so much too!! 
It's so great to be 8!! 
(Baptism pictures coming soon!)

Christmas (part 2)

 Christmas Eve- Reading and acting out the Nativity story from the Bible. Kali as Mary, Zach as Joseph and a shepherd, and of course our little Angel Madelyn who took her role very seriously. haha! The kids had fun performing for Grandma and Grandpa Stacy :) 

 Just had to document my kids amazing stockings that were made by their awesome Grandma Stacy! Seriously AMAZING! LOVE them! Thank you so much Grandma!! 

 

Christmas Eve Pajamas! Who doesn't have this tradition? It's the BEST! Love my cute kiddos! 

 

Christmas morning- Madelyn couldn't believe that Santa ate the Oreo truffles all gone! haha! And Kali was so excited to get a personally autographed picture from Santa himself (she wrote a note to Santa the night before asking him for a picture of himself...haha!!) 

We really enjoyed our Christmas morning together with the kids and Grandma and Grandpa Stacy, and Uncle Jeremy and Tank. After yummy cinnamon rolls for breakfast we headed to church and enjoyed a really nice Sacrament meeting. It was so nice to have church on Christmas Day and to really focus on our Savior's birth and life and the true meaning of Christmas. I actually directed the choir for the special music and they did an amazing job and I really felt it bring the spirit to the meeting. After church we headed home and the craziness began!....

 Not long after we got home Zach decided to pull out his other top tooth!! WOAH! ...hence the paper towel in his mouth in the next couple pics! haha! Sheila and Jeff and their clan arrived and the present opening began!!

Enjoying our AMAZING Steak dinner from Grandpa Stacy!  SO YUMMY!!

 

AND we can't forget....Happy 81st Birthday to Grandpa Hobbs! How cool to share your birthday with the Savior :) 

It was so fun to have all the family at our house this year. It made for a very crazy fun and pleasant Christmas! We are so grateful for our Savior and his life and example to us. We are truly blessed in so many ways! We hope all of our friends and family had a very Merry Christmas too!!

Christmas Fun (part one)

 Ward Christmas Party- Thank goodness for free Santa pictures! (I refuse to wait in line at the mall :)) Gotta love Lilly's priceless sad face! Love these kids!

 The Primary sang and Madelyn wanted to go up there with the big kids too. She was quite proud!

 Zach and Kali had a school Christmas program and they both did great! Kali even played the Xylophone for one of the songs and she did awesome!! So proud of my kids!

AND Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a visit from Santa and his elf Noel checking to make sure the kids are being good !!

Just for laughs...

 Found these pictures while going through my picture files...They must have been taken at G&G Stacy's house while I was in Texas. The girls said those were Grandpa's silly glasses and Grandma gave them the giant pen. Haha!! Silly girls!!