Christmas 2015

Christmas 2015 kicked off with tree shopping at Home Depot. I know, sort of the anti-Christmas thing to buy your tree at a big box store but I promise we listened to Christmas carols on the way over. 

Charlotte joined us on our family Christmas tree outing. 

She's always game for more pictures when my kids are photoed-out. 

The tree we got this year was my favorite we have ever had! It was called a Nordmann Fir. I loved it because the bottom had its own skirt of leaves. It was super fluffy and full. 

Happy Mama doing abstract photography with her new favorite tree. 

Home Depot sure knows how to get into the Christmas spirit! 

That night we had a tree decorating dance party. 

Some serious moves were happening this night. 

Letters to Santa

Sammy thought she'd bribe Santa with gum in her letter. 

It was PJ day at school the Friday before Christmas vacation. 

Kindergarten had their Holiday Sing.

Thatcher's singing looks more like lip synching, then funny faces, then complete boredom and then every once in a while he will do what he is supposed to be doing. 

Holiday feast at school complete with pozole. 

Off to a family holiday party at the Stone's house.

These poses.... 

Holiday party at Leanne's which was fun because we got to catch up with Samantha's former (yes, former....no more flamenco!) flamenco teacher, THE Linda Vega. 

Our Mesa home decor. 

This picture does not do Todd's decorating much justice as the entire yard was lit up and Christmas bulbs were hanging from the trees. 

One night our reindeer blew off the roof and was headed towards the ocean.

Holiday cards flooded our mailbox. December is the only month where I enjoy getting the mail. 

I didn't realize that I had stapled right through heads when arranging our cards. Sorry Nicolas and all the other families I did that to.

 

Christmas artwork began to adorn our fridge. 

We weren't sure if Frisbee would make an appearance this year as the kids waited and waited for him to arrive. About a week prior to Christmas, he appeared! 

We found Frisbee in all sorts of predicaments up until his departure on Christmas Eve. 

Doesn't Santa looked overwhelmed by their Christmas requests? 

He was like, "you want what?! what the....!!!"

Headed to Grandma and Papa Ward's house for Christmas Eve. Thatcher's once a month nap took place on the ride down. 

Grandma's house always brings the fun for the kids. 

English poppers before dinner. 

 Underneath our plates were lotto tickets too! We are hopeful that one of these times we will be able to talk about the big winnings that a family member has won but so far I think the biggest winner has been about $20. Which means the biggest loser has been sweet Papa Ward who has kept up this tradition at all the holiday dinners and purchased the tickets. ;)

Yes, we all ate like Kings and Queens ;)

Present time!

These are for her American Girl Dolls not her. 

We arrived home to our tradition from Auntie Holley.

Jammies! 

Before bed, Samantha dressed her girls in their new clothes. 

The kids said goodbye to Frisbee and sent him off with a bag of treats to take back to the North Pole. 

Very excited kiddos! 

Lollipop woke up and we put on her Christmas headband from Grandma. She LOVES it can't you tell?!

Samantha's dolls were mysteriously moved at some point during the night. We have a feeling that Santa had something to do with it. 

Stockings were emptied. 

Lollipop got a stocking full of treats. 

Santa knew exactly what everyone wanted in their stockings. 

Samantha made a bowl for Thatcher in ceramics. 

How ironic is this photo with how bored she looks holding this gift up?

Santa did a pretty good job getting Samantha everything she wanted on her list. Umbrella, check!

She even got things not on her list! ;)

5-year-olds are awesome because a new package of underwear is THIS exciting! 

Sammy's gift to us that she also made in ceramics. 

My gift to Todd, a magnet that tells when the dishwasher is clean or dirty. How romantic is that?! 

Grandma and Poppy arrived with dinner-in-a-box a la Marie Callender's! 

Gift for Poppy. 

Just a touch too big. (Dad, we exchanged it and have your size now!)

Breakfast with Grandma

Gifts from Grandma and Poppy.

Making sure Sam's pedicure machine works. 

Christmas day walk.

Testing out the kids' new bikes. 

Dinner time!

Alex and Andrew, our neighbors, joined us. The rest of their family had a horrible flu. They had to do a Christmas re-do days later when everyone was healthy. 

Alex's new amp from Santa. 

Lots of Lego-ing. 

Music was flowing in the Fallon household throughout the day.

Dance Party with Poppy 

The party continued late into the evening when the Pirozzi's joined us to close out the evening. 

My friend, Maggie, had an after-holiday celebration to keep the fun going with the neighborhood. I love this tradition she has because really no one wants to go back to reality just yet. 

Hoverboard fun.

Can it get any more dangerous?! ;)

Time to ring in 2016!