Christmas & Christmas Traditions

This year was a lot like every other year EXCEPT...last year. With my Mom being gone last year during Christmas we let a few traditions* slide. Christmas Eve service at church and jammies were just a few of them. Well, that's in the past so here is to this year and the many to come with ALL my Family together and HAPPY!

We started out with Christmas Eve gifts. Mom & Dad bought everyone new jammies (another tradition*). Ben and I invited a good Friend, Mark to spend Christmas eve, Christmas morning, and Christmas day with us. We took a few pictures around the tree, then we all jumped in our cars and headed to Grandpa Verlo Kendrick's grave to turn on the lights on his tree. (Tradition*, my Grandparents in Heaven are NEVER forgotten.) After Grandpa's we headed to church for the infamous Candle light service (Tradition*.)

Mark, Me, Benji

My BeAuTiFuL Parents

After church we head to Grandma Shirley's grave and turn her tree on (Tradition*.) This year Ben, Mark, Jensen and I didn't make it to Grandma's because we were on a time limit to pick up Jack in Draper.

We decided this year to have a sleep over at Grandma and Grandpa's. It was lot's of fun for Me and the Boy's but Daddy Ben had to leave about 10 because his allergies were so bad. I made him promise, swear on a stack of bibles, scouts honor etc. that he would be back by 5:30 am.

HE was!!!

This year I decided I didn't want Santa to get the credit for our hard earned money that bought the gifts SO... Santa didn't leave much and I LOVED IT!

Jaden's Santa Stash

Cheeser... Jaden was genuinely thankful this year! Yep, that's my Dad in the Scooby Doo PJ's!!!

Lil Jack's Santa Stash

Fake smile??? Na...

I think he just wanted to cut the pictures and start opening presents!Jensens Santa Stash Jensen on his new 4 wheeler you'd think was his FAVORITE, noper...

See the Woody doll in his hand???... that lame little thing was!!!

After the gift exchange everyone helps clean up then we play! While everyone is playing Mom and I (mostly Mom) prepare an awesome breakfast (Tradition*.) The day continues with visiting, munching, a drink or 2 (52 if your Ben...LOL) and almost always there is a Christmas nap fit in the day somewhere (Tradition*.)

Christmas this year was awesome as it is every year EXCEPT last year... again it just wasn't the same with Mom in California.

So AGAIN, I say...

I'm so thankful to have all my Family healthy, happy and most of all TOGETHER!!!

Lot's of Christmas posts below!

Yes you are an elf...

Today while getting ready for yet another day of Christmas shopping. I was listening to Jaden and Jack debate about Elf's.
This is how it went:

Jaden: Yes Jack, elf's can fly.
Jack: No they can't Jaden.
Jaden: Jack how do you know they can't fly then?
Jack: Because Jaden, you have big ears like an elf and you can't fly.

It was so sweet and so funny at the same time! I was very proud of my Jaden who just shook it off and laughed with us!

A Lesson in Life...

On Thursday night we took our boys, and their much deserved & well earned $50 dollars to Toys R Us. We told each 1 of our Sons that they had the spend a minimum of $10 on a gift for someone in need. We explained to them how Toys for Tots works and with the most unselfish 3 little Boys, we were immediately on the hunt for the "Perfect Toy" for a 'Perfect Stranger."

Here's our Big boy Jaden who donated games!

Here is Mr. Proud to help a stranger donating a big bucket of Army Men.

And Lil Jensy dropping off the Littlest Pets I picked out!

Take time to Donate at this time of year. Pennies, Nickles, Dimes, Quarters... it adds up!

This was such an awarding way to teach my boys about giving, also about less fortunate people that are all around us all year long, not just Christmas time.

A New Christmas Tradition for the Bank's Family

Last Tuesday Ben & I along with Jeannie & Steve and Lydia & Stephan took our kiddies to Thanksgiving Point. We drove thru the beautiful lights, got within a hands distance of 2 LIVE Reindeer, stood around a bon fire, then went inside and met the BIG man in red. It was a fun and magical night for everyone!

Daddy and Jensen enjoying the drive thru the lights!

Jack & Jaden LOVED it.

Their hat hair... I HATE it!!


This little baby couldn't smile enough.
It was totally worth the $8 just to hear his 'ohs' and 'ahs'



Just some of the AmAzInG lights!

Santa's "real" Reindeer.

They were my favorite part!

Jensen standing in front of them...

Our little Family

Our BIG Family hangin' around the bon fire!

Daddy and Dingy

waiting to see S A N T A!!

Little Jack excited and nervous at the same time!

I wonder...

Will there ever be a year where they all believe and aren't afraid

at the same time? I hope!!!

Jaden and Aunt Lydia

This Boy better be asking for some teeth to fill in those gaps,

YIKES!!!

Finally... our turn!

Jensen was so excited about Santa, I don't think he missed asking for anything!

He kept saying,

"Santa... Ho Ho Ho" it was the BEST!

Jack didn't have time to decide if he wanted to sit on Santa's lap or not.

I just threw him on there and started snapping away!

Ben and I decided, our Babies aren't going to be little very long. We want to make as many memories with them and for them as possible.

Family Pictures

Last week we had Family pictures. Aunt Sheila got a new camera and was doing some experimenting. If you ask me, she does GREAT! Here are a few of our favorite shots that didn't make it on our blog...

Mom & Dad caught in the moment!

Mommy and her Boys.

Mommy and Jensen (The baby that grew in my heart.)

Pouty pants...

Our AmAzInG Lil' J's.

Because I have a Brother, I always have a Friend!

Daddy and Ding!

November in a Flash...

Where did November go? Well, we can't complian because our Family had a great one. Here are a few of the things we did.

Sat around the fire with Family & Friends:

Jaden and I keeping eachother warm!

Benji & Me

Aunt She She and Me

Jaden & Daddy

We had a Wonderful Thanksgiving. It started out with breakfast at Mimi's with the Banks Family.Here is Grandma Banks with all but a few of her babies.

After breakfast we went to my Parent's house to help get dinner ready.

Here is our spread minus...a lot!

Here's our Jaders getting ready to dig in.

And...our Lil Jensey. He didn't wait for the blessing,

actually he didn't stop eating during it either. LOL!

Not pictured...Jackee

He spent Thanksgiving with his Dad Kenzie.

After dinner we searched the Black Friday ad's, came up with a game plan, then headed home to take a little nap until we hit the stores!!!

Alicia, Ashley & I met at my Mom's at 4:30. We fixed us some coffee to go and, we were off!

Ashley, Me and Alicia freezing our boobies off!

Here we are pointing at the sign that said, "line starts at the other end of the store.

Oh well, we worked (butted & pushed) our way in!

There was nothing special about this day. I just thought I'd share some sweet pictures of 2 of my boys!

Jen Jen and Daddy

And finally... Setting up, decorating and really gettin' excited for Christmas.

I couldn't put the hooks on the ornaments fast enough.

I wish this picture wasn't so blurry,

Jensen thought he was so big hanging his ornament for 2009 on the tree!

Little Jack hung about 50 ornaments on 1 branch!

I was pulling them off and re-placing them when he would turn around for more!

2 pooped boys!

AND:

The finished project, Banks Christmas Tree 2009!