Summary of Christmas 2010

This year was great for so many reasons! Conner was home for Christmas Eve and day, so everyone was together; I was able to surprise Aaron with his gift; all the kids seemed truly grateful for what santa brought them; and we got to spend a lot of time with family.

As kids get older, it is funny to see their gifts get smaller and fewer while the bills get higher and higher!! Con and Bay didn't have as much to open this year as Mikel and Nik did, but they were very patient and realized what was happening. Bay's "big" gift was tiny, so it was fun to watch her open slippers and books while everyone else got fun stuff, and then when she hit her stocking, BINGO! There was her new iPod. Mikel was expecting her DS so that was not a big reaction, but when she opened her Ivie and Bean books, WHOA! It was so funny...

I never get to surprise Aaron, but this year I got a gift card from work and was able to be sneaky and get him the PS3 he has been talking about for a year. And Aaron got me great jewelry this year - a garnet and quartz necklace with matching earrings and an AMAZING watch. He is so awesome :-) My boss also got me a gift this year which was so great - he bought me a Wii! I have been wanting one for a long time, but since I didn't know how often I would get to play it, didn't get it for myself...

Main gifts from Santa:

Conner - Electric guitar with amp & case

Baylee - iPod and docking station

Mikel - DS, Barbie Jet, EZ Bake Oven

Nik - TONS of Star Wars and action figures (Santa went a bit overboard) and a Mobigo

OH! Can't forget the dogs...Tyson Bear and Lucky Blue had a great Christmas too... :-)

Pre-Christmas 2010

Surrounding Christmas this year, as every year, there is a myriad of events leading up to the big day. Starting early in December, we have the Hooley-Fest which is the giant friend and family Christmas party that Aaron's parents have thrown for the past few years. It is a great excuse to get all dolled up and have some Christmas cheer!! Then there is the Nutcracker, which all the girls in the family get dressed up to see. It has been a tradition for the past 4-5 years, and we all look forward to it (though this year, I didn't take my camera to get the picture by the giant nutcracker!) Then there is the Santa Breakfast at the country Club, which was layed out in my last post.

This year, Torri started a new tradition of having friends and family over to bake cookies just before Christmas - which was a BLAST! So many people were there and we were all in the kitchen, but everything moved so smoothly and tasted so great. I hope that one continues as well... :-)

Then we had Christmas Eve at Jess' house, with a great dinner & conversation, and kids getting to open their Christmas jammies and sing Chrsitmas carols. They actually went out caroling to the neighbors this year and had a great time!! Unfortuantly, Sierra and Brinley weren't with us that night, but they got to rejoin the family the next morning...

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Santa

On Sunday, we went to the annual Chirstmas Brunch with Santa at the country club. The kids look forward to it every year!! Santa and Mrs. Clause arrive in a helicopter to save the strength of the reindeer for Christmas Eve. Mikel is convinced that this is the REAL Santa, since he flies in, looks so great, and brings Mrs. Clause. All others are elves who are just helping out.

Conner and Baylee refused to sit on his lap this year (last year was a HUGE struggle), but they posed nicely for the picture. It is hard to see the kids getting older, but at least they play along nice for the little ones. As long as they remember that Santa represents the SPIRIT of Christmas, and that never goes away, then I am ok with them not thinking he comes down the chimney... :-)

ANOTHER addition....

So, we have been talking for months about getting a little friend for Tyson to play with; someone to get his energy out with and to keep him company when we are at work. We went back and forth about the cost, the mess, the time...but it kept coming back to what was best for Tyson.

Well, Aaron made up his mind when he saw an adorable picture of a half black lab/half Australian sheppard puppy. We took Tyson Bear over to meet him, and though we thought initially a different pup was right, Lucky Blue made his way into our hearts when we saw how great he interacted with Tyson.

Santa gave him to Mikel technically, but Aaron and Lucky bonded so quickly that they are pretty much inseperable! But don't tell that to Mikel - she is proud to have her first pet, and Tyson is having a great time with his new baby brother!

Lucky Blue was born Oct. 20, 2010 ad is 8 weeks old. Welcome to the Hooley Fam!