Christmas week with the Weber family

 

We always love it when the Weber's are in town!  Our trip to visit them over Labor Day last year was one of the highlights of the year.  Our kids get along so well and they are just fun people!  When we get together with the Weber's we just don't want it to stop.  They came around lunch time and ended up hanging out the rest of the day.  Riley and Andrew picked up some Backyard Taco for lunch.

Later we did some chocolate taste testing from Trader Joes.  The hot chili and double espresso went in the trash (who would want spicy chocolate?!).  We've done taste tests in the past (eggnog one here), and want to do more, so it was awesome doing it with friends.

The Weber's are like family so when they're in town or live nearby we do a little gift exchange with them around Christmas.  They're really good gift givers.  They boys got some cool books.

Avery and Zara got these sparkly body mists from Bath & Today works they try on every time we visit.

They gifted us a gift card to On the Border so we treated them to dinner.  They're just the best friends and we're grateful to have them in our life.

Christmas tree progression

 

We put up our Christmas tree!  We picked it out on Saturday but had it in the office because of Andrew's party that night.  Sunday Andrew was gone most the day, then we had family council, and Monday we had FHE and decorated gingerbread houses.  Tuesday night Andrew worked late but didn't want to wait another day.

She's looking pretty!  Pretty much all our ornaments are homemade or gifted.  I have started getting monogram ornaments for the kids the last couple years, mostly from Anthropologie.  They have the prettiest felt ones.  This year I got all but the "Z" so I need to come up with a plan B for Zara.

I thought we got a Noble fir tree this year but we lucked out with a Fraser for the first time!  So happy about this because it's the best of both worlds.  Douglass firs smell the best, and noble first look pretty, and the Fraser smells amazing and looks beautiful!  There are also a few mini pinecones on it.  I'm a big fan.

A friend, Somer Lang gave us that pickle one.  Apparently there's a German tradition/family game around it.  I'll have to look that up but it sounds like fun!

We just put this one up in the boys room.  It's new since the girls got a white one from Lizzy.  Still needs a few ornaments.  The red garland is a yarn chain I made a couple years ago.

The girls' tree has a fat pink garland that came with there tree and they made their own ornaments.  Feeling extra festive now.

gingerbread houses

For our Family Home Evening activity Monday night we decorated gingerbread houses.  We used this kit last year and it's our favorite!  The frosting is a great "glue" and since the houses are small they don't topple easily.  There are just the right amount of candy decorations which are colorful and festive, plus it's only $10.  We also had some hot cocoa.  

 The only flaw is that there are only 4, and next year Beatrix will want her own.  Maybe Elliot will help her instead of have his own.  Do you buy a gingerbread house kit, make from scratch, make graham cracker houses, or something else?  We've done a lot of graham cracker houses in the past, and I made this cute little gingerbread village for Andrew's birthday cake this year.

Love these kids and their cute gingerbread houses.

Oh Christmas Tree

 Ever since we moved into a house of our own we have been buying real trees.  It's what my family did growing up and it's been fun having it as a tradition for our kids.  Last weekend Andrew put up the outdoor lights on the house.  Since Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday we wait until after Thanksgiving to put up Christmas.  On Wednesday the kids helped put up our indoor decorations and Rupert couldn't wait to get a tree! 

We always get out trees at Home Depot.  Last year we got a Noble Fir because I love the look, but this year we went back to Douglass Fir because you can't beat the amazing pine smell they bring!  We even grabbed some free spare branches to make garlands out of.  Last night I made my first two garlands and put them on my kitchen windows and they bring so much Christmas spirit in the kitchen.  I haven't taken a picture yet because I want to dress them up a bit.

The kids each put up their own ornaments, ones they've made or given to them.  We had our first glass bauble casualty last night when Rupert accidentally dropped it.  I didn't know we even had glass ornaments anymore!  

We love decorating the tree with the rainbow lights because they're so playful and fun.  This year we added the white lights that are round and add more light.  My Target only had one so I want to grab another box at another store.  Our tree topper was thrifted years ago and reminds me of the yellow fabric star my dad always put on our tree growing up.

Since Beatrix is 19 months and at the perfect age to be interested in all the decorations we kept the bottom of the tree pretty bare.  It looks a little silly but brings me a smile knowing that she is our last and this phase will be gone soon.  We also don't put presents under the tree until Christmas so the kids won't pick at them and Bea won't open them. :)

^ ^ A little boomerang from decorating the tree. ^ ^

We have the beautiful shelves in the kitchen I get to decorate too!  We moved into this house a year ago this week so decorating was super minimal.  This year I'm having fun figuring out what to do with our decorations.  So far I only have the bottom shelves decorated.  I got 4 of these pre-lit houses from Target for $5 each.  The other three are on the long shelf by the sink.  

We also had these glittery bottle brush trees from Target last year.  A few are on these shelves in the kitchen and the rest are on the piano.  Speaking of piano, our piano is green and fits right in this time of year.  I didn't take a picture of the piano yet so maybe this list will need a part two with more home photos.

 The kids really wanted some Christmas magic in their rooms which can easily happen with a little twinkle lights.  This is the boy's room where we dropped twinkle lights around their bunkbed and added the Christmas tree.  Elliot's bongo drum came out of the closet as a perfect nod to The Drummer Boy and a Christmas print was placed over the frame.

The girls also got twinkle lights in their room as well as a couple trees and a reindeer.

So excited for Christmas in just a couple weeks!  Of course there has been a lot of Christmas shopping going on but to help keep our focus on Christ, giving and service we have tried to participate in the Light the World initiative.  We started off watching this new nativity video from the Church of Jesus Christ and it is unlike any other nativity video I've seen.  Very reverent and powerful.    Happy holidays!

Christmas in England

It's been too long since sharing anything here (6 or 7 months!) but if you follow me in instagram you would know we went to England for Christmas.  All these are iPhone photos so excuse the quality, or lack thereof.

It was a short trip, just over a week, but one we were so grateful to be able to do.  Since we flew in and out of London Heathrow airport the first day and a half of our trip with spent in London.  Then we took a train up to Hull to be with family.  We squeezed in a day trip to Scarborough and York, and loved going to Hull 2nd Ward Christmas Eve but mostly spent time with family, as you should over the holidays!  Andrew's parents hosted us this time.  The last several times we've stayed at Di and Grandma's.

 Elliot and Avery were into making weird faces when this group photo was taken and this was the best one out of the bunch.  Funny enough Carol, my mother in law, requested this group photo be taken.  Normally I'm the big photo taker, but I think she wanted something to put up in her house.  I wish she were more into photos while raising Andrew because he was a very cute boy. :)

 Christmas morning we woke up at Nanna and Grandads!  Millie the dog was so interested in what everyone got. :)  A couple days before Carol took the kids to pick out toys for Millie so she would be distracted but I'm not sure it worked.  Millie especially loved Rupert's new electric toothbrush. ;)

 Andrew grew up with this tradition, which i think is the norm in England, to have all your gifts wrapped and put in one big bag for each person.  So here is everyone with their big bag of gifts.  Andrew's family were and always are so generous.

Seeing Andrew so happy over this trip was pure magic!

 For Christmas dinner we ate at Grandma Freeman's and Di's house.  The smells were heavenly!  We brought stuffing balls and trifle to contribute to the meal.

 Here's my nephew, Oliver, Claire and Rich's son.  He's about 6 months younger than Rupert but about the same size.  I wish Rupert and Oliver got along better but Oliver really loves playing with older kids so it was fun watching him with Elliot, Avery, and Zara.

 Wish you could smell and taste all this!  My favorites were the yorkshire puddings, brussell sprouts, turkey and brown gravy.  I'm salivating just looking at this.

^ ^ All of Carol and Nev's grandchildren! ^ ^

With two more on the way!  It's so exciting being pregnant together again, this time for both of our last children.  I'm due early May and Claire some time in June, I believe.  Elliot snagged this photo shortly before we headed to Heathrow Christmas night since we flew back home the next morning.

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year!  Mostly I'm just grateful my morning sickness has (mostly) finally passed!  The last three weeks have been soooo much better than last several months.

I haven't made too many concrete goals this year, but my word of the year is to be more Proactive, as opposed to reactive.  Now that morning sickness has passed I'm able to be on top of things so much better and I want to be more intentional with my time.  And maybe you'll see more of us here!

Merry Christmas!

So far this month has been filled with joy and happiness.  I'm taking a few minutes to update you from this busy Christmas day to say that all is well.  The Savior was born and I am so grateful for the blessings it has brought in my life.  I love my little ones.  They make this holiday extra special.  I'm grateful for a loving husband.  We have a great life and I can't believe how lucky a girl I am.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas day

Our Christmas was fabulous!  We woke up way too early, Andrew read the birth of Christ in the scriptures, we opened presents, and then I headed over to my parents' for breakfast while Andrew and the kids stayed home and played with their toys.  Each of us got one Santa gift.  Elliot and Avery's were their razor scooters.  Peter and Emily had us in the family rotation and they spoiled us!  Andrew gave me my first smart phone . . this is big!!, and some great books I look forward to reading.  I gave Andrew some water color materials and sharpie pens he wanted and some other things.  My parents and aunt gave us some family history which is priceless.  Altogether the day was a success, even though everyone was sick.

Yep, there were a lot of naps taken on Christmas and Boxing Day and we are all still sick, except Andrew, but at least we were together and for most part very happy.  Last year I made more handmade gifts and that is something I want to do more of next year.  I guess I better get started now!

There's one more thing I haven't mentioned yet.
It's some very exciting news that pretty much made my week.
Andrew's sister, Claire, got engaged on Christmas Eve!
Ahh!  I'm so happy for her and Rich!
They have been dating since before we moved to Arizona from England, about 5 years?, and getting married is something they had talked about before but nothing final.  When we were in Florida I asked Rich what he was waiting for and he said he really wanted to save up for a ring.  Claire said the ring and proposal was all a surprise for her.  No date set yet, but they'll choose a time when we can come, of course.  Another cool fact: Rich proposed to Claire in a car just like Andrew did to me, although he had more romantic plans that weather didn't allow.  I just find that interesting because incidentally, Andrew proposed to me the same day my dad proposed to my mom, and we got married on his parents anniversary.  Totally unplanned!

Can you tell I'm just a leeetle excited about all this wedding stuff?  Claire and Rich!!!!  Oh, and when we told Elliot and Avery that Rich was going to be their uncle they were like "yea, I know!" as if he was all along.  I guess they never knew a Claire without a Rich.

Christmas Eve Night!

I have to say, the Stapley Christmas Eve family talent show has got to be one of my favorite family traditions.  We all get together the night before Christmas and throw together musical numbers last minute.  My Dad tries to make a program that changes at least thrice.  We laugh and eat lots of goodies.  What is Christmas without a little music?!!  This year we added a British themed dinner to the evening.  We ate bangers- similar to bratwursts, and mash- mashed potatoes, gravy, yorkshire pudding - which is not a dessert!, scones, trifle - pictured below, and lemon tarts.  Andrew's was in heaven!

My yummy contribution, among many.

Nora and Ammon, Ruth's boyfriend, were the children entertainers.

Nora taught them to dance and Ammon read.  They are the best!

As the family gets bigger family activities get more and more relaxed and fun!

I wish I got pictures of everyone but Zara really needed some snuggles.  I did, however, manage to video record Andrew playing his ukulele and singing.  Seriously the highlight of the night!  Elliot sang a snowman song from school, Avery sang a primary Christmas song, which name has escaped me, and I played my viola in a hymn trio with Nora and Chris.  Yes.  A trio for cello/viola/flute.  You see, pretty much everything goes in this family.  Oh, and I can't wrap up without honorable mention of my brothers and dad singing "We three Kings".  It's tradition!!  Classic.