New Year's Eve

This New Year's Eve was a really enjoyable one. In past years, we have always gone out with friends and left the kids at home with a sitter or put them to bed and had a party at our house. This year, however, we had our own little party, which was a ton of fun. It helped the kids understand that the year was over and a new year was beginning, a hard concept for little ones to grasp. Kaylee went to bed super early. And then, we took down our Christmas tree decorations, and redecorated the tree with streamers and balloons for our celebration!! Then, we poured some "bubbly," (ginger ale) into our plastic goblet glasses and funky straws. We had a "cheers!" with our drinks and enjoyed some ice cream. We then watched "Rudolph's New Year" movie in our sleeping bags, and we all crashed in the living room for a slumber party. It was about 9pm when we turned out the lights for the night, and even Nate and I fell asleep soon afterward!! You'd think it was a lame, early new years night; but we had a lot of fun at our family sleepover!!

***Christmas Morning***

Good Morning!! It looks Santa DID come!! What are those massive packages he left, and how in the world did they fit through the chimney?!! Everyone was so excited!! They opened up the packages, remembering what they wrote in their letters to santa, and were overjoyed!! Kaylee got her own pink ride on princess bike that she can walk and push, and soon will be able to actually ride.

Somehow, Grandma in Utah was inspired. Somehow she must have known that Santa was bringing bikes, because she sent the kids each a helmet. The kids did not pick up on this detail!! They were just so happy with their new gifts!! Thanks Grandma & Grandpa & Santa!

The boys got new Puma shoes from Mom & Dad

We wanted the kids to experience the joy of giving this year, so each kid got to go shopping and pick out something for each of their siblings. Jaxton chose to get Cooper a monster truck and race car. He got Kaylee a pretty headband. Cooper chose to get Jaxton a heavy duty flashlight, and he got Kaylee a small purse that held a cute white kitty cat. He knew their presents the very moment that he saw them in the mall. It was pretty cute. Kaylee got the boys some books. It was a lot of fun for them to watch the others open their gifts and see the joy on both the receiving and the giving ends.

Kaylee got the boys some fun books

Gifts from the Giraldi Family in Utah: vibrating bugs!! The boys can't stop playing with these little guys!! Thanks so much!!!

And the perfect book for Kaylee Girl. She lovesssss to read!!

Kaylee got a shopping cart from Mom & Dad

Gift box from Becky in Utah: A huge box full of household cleaning supplies from Melaluca!! I am in heaven!! High quality cleaning supplies! What a practical, useful, perfect gift! Thanks Becky!!

Of Course Grandma and Grandpa's packages from Utah! Yay!!

What a fun Christmas morning!! After presents, we got ready for church and were able to celebrate the Savior's birth at church on Christmas Day. Merry Christmas!!

Our Christmas Eve

We enjoy having our own simple Christmas Eve together with our little family of 5. It has been a tradition that we love. Last year we started a few of our own family Christmas Eve traditions that held this year too. First, and foremost, we located Santa on the NORAD Track Santa website, which showed us exactly where he was at that point of the evening. Of course he was across the world where it was midnight. He has a long way to go!! Next, we each got to open one gift, new pajamas. After we all got cozy, we found a video of "The Night Before Christmas" to watch with the kids, since they practically have the entire poem memorized. Last, we talked about the story of Baby Jesus, that he was born, and how grateful we are for him. At the beginning of the month, we all put a personal gift into a golden box under our tree for Jesus that we would give to him during the Christmas season. So we opened that box up again and talked about our gifts to Him. After we left cookies out for Santa, we tucked in the kids, assuring them that they must go to sleep, or Santa would not come. They went to sleep faster than they ever have before!! What a fun time!!

Tracking Santa

Putting on new jammies

Just waiting for Santa to arrive....

Christmas Eve in Lafayette

On Christmas Eve when everyone in the Routsong family arrived in Lafayette (except Nick and Carissa and Kipton who live in Arizona), we had a big family dinner. After dinner, the kids put together a live nativity program for all the adults, with Aunt Melissa's help. Jaxton was a shepherd and Cooper was a wise man and they were both adorable. Kaylee was Baby Jesus in a pink outfit:-). It was a precious experience for the kids to be involved in the story of Baby Jesus to remind them what Christmas is really all about. Next was the most exciting part of the day, presents!! Each cousin was drawn the name of another cousin to buy a gift for. Jaxton drew Ryan's name, Cooper drew Asher's name, and Kaylee drew Kipton's name. In return, Kipton got Cooper some Spiderman pajamas with an attached web!! Jack was so excited to give Jaxton his present, which was a stomp rocket. And Cassidy got Kaylee a cute winter sweater. Everyone got presents from Grandma & Grandpa Routsong, and in turn, we all got them something too. It was a whole lot of fun!!

The little kids table

Live Nativity

Presents Time

Jack got a present for Jaxton. It was a .....

Stomp Rocket!

Kipton sent Cooper some cool Spiderman pajamas. So cool that.....

He just had to try them on right then and there!

Kaylee got a cute sweater from her biggest cousin Cassidy

Christmas in Lafayette

It has been a Routsong tradition the past several years to spend Christmas Eve day at the Routsong's home in Lafayette, Indiana. The kids especially enjoy going to the Routsongs' house since there are so many fun cousins there. We spent the night of Christmas Eve Eve and then spent all Christmas Eve with family before heading home in the afternoon to have our own simple Christmas Eve with our own little family. The most fun part of these family gatherings are all the cousins. There are 16 cousins in all, which makes for a very lively household. The boys just love the attention they get from all their big cousins who love them so very much. They are getting to know the cousins their age better and hopefully were able to establish some relationships this time. Cooper and Asher could be found often hanging out together, and Jaxton and Ryan were playing together a lot too. It was fun to see them socialize and play with their cousins so much!! What a fun time!

Grandma Great Routsong with Jaxton

Jack, Grandpa, Ryan, Jaxton

Jordan, Jared, and Bella

Nate with Austin

Cooper and Christin

Jaxton & Katie

Jaxton playing computer games with Lauren

Cooper, Ryan, and Asher

Jaxton playing light sabers with Uncle John

Tara

Cooper & Asher playing games

What Boys Do...

I caught all the boys in the family doing "what boys do," as they called it. They found a fun game on Nate's phone and the boys were enthralled in it! Its similar to Pinball, but instead of a ball, it shoots mini rocket bombs at different kinds of objects. The more of the object they destroy, the higher the score. The kids have gotten so good at it that I am amazed that they know how to use the touchscreen on the iPhone to change the type, settings, and style that they shoot little rocket bombs!! Its pretty funny to watch their little hands work just as easily and quickly as Nate, and their scores are just about the same as his!! They told me that this is just what boys do, and I guess if they are bonding, while shooting rocket bombs at objects, then it must be ok!

Simplx Christmas Party

We had our first annual Simplx Company Christmas Party. Our current full time employee, Jeff and his wife came. Christian, a part time technician and our newest employee, Danita Groff, our office secretary, also came with her husband. We had Stoffer's "cater" a delicious lasagna dinner, and then Nate had a chance as the owner of Simplx to talk a little bit about how the company has grown this past year. We are in the process of finishing the half of the basement where the official Simplx offices will be downstairs in our house. It is complete with a lower level outdoor entry, as well as an entry through the garage. This way, Simplx will be much more separated from home. The business is currently sustaining itself by regular referrals that come from family and friends of current Simplx customers. Its a point in the business that we have always looked forward to. And it is just going to continue to grow. We set some company goals for the year 2012 together, then celebrated the season with a fun white elephant gift exchange and dessert. It was so much fun to have a real company party, that we hope next year we will have even more employees and make the party an annual gathering!

Even the kids got to join in on the fun!

Florida Seagulls

Another of our most exciting pastimes while spending time on the beach was the seagulls. They were everywhere! When we started throwing bread to them, they came to us in abundance. Abundance is actually an understatement. The birds were swarming us. We would throw the bread in the air and they would catch it in their mouth while flying above us. It was amazing to watch!! They got so close they were flying right over our heads!! It started to feel like a horror movie like they were going to pounce on us! It was super fun!

Look at that handsome man! Geez I am lucky! He is the most sweetest, kindest, most considerate, loving, supportive husband and I get to be his forever!! No doubt that Heavenly Father helped us out a bit to find one another. He couldn't have made a better match. I love you, Nate, more everyday. Thanks for this trip!