Merry Christmas

Mom trying to get Lexie dressed on Christmas

All of her majesty's toys

Lexie's Christmas dress Grandma bought

Lexie playing with tea set from Grandma

Logan and all his toys this year

The kids holding Hilti trucks in their stockings (hmm I wonder where those came from!!)

Me with George

My jeans and earrings from Stacey

Mary Kay from Alisha!!

Lexie posing with her new kitchen

Gabe on his new bike

Grandma bought Gabe Elefun which he wanted most

Gabe and all his presents

George eating his present from Santa

Hanging out on Christmas morning

Merry Christmas everyone!! We had such a great Christmas this year. We were truly blessed. The kids woke up around 5:30am so we got up with them to come open presents. They are just so cute and excited you can't help but want to get up with them. Lexie got sick on Sunday and we were trying to deal with fever and sore throat and of course her lung problems which made it bad for her. But we drugged her up and she seemed to do just fine. Logan got his skateboard and of course protection so he won't hurt himself while learning. They got lots of books and video games. Gabe got a bike and then a nice t-ball set that actually launches the ball for you. So he should have fun with that this summer. He got books and video games as well. So they are both very happy. Lexie got her kitchen and tons and tons of play food and grocery cart and cash register. She has been playing none stop since Christmas morning. She got some really cute books and movies from Grandma Esquibel as well. The kids got lots of board games that they love to play. So we will not be bored in the Esquibel home for at least a couple of months. I got some cute jeans and earrings from my sister. I got some great Mary Kay face stuff from my Mother-in-law and Corey got me this beautiful silver and diamond bracelet. He has gotten much better with his present picking as of late. My mom and dad sent us cute letters with our pretend tickets to Cancun this summer. Since they are buying they are counting that as our Christmas...which we are most happy for. I hope that everyone had a great Christmas and I can't wait to see every one's pictures. Have a safe New Year!!

Christmas Eve Celebration

Logan listening to the Christmas Orange

Logan's new pajamas--Spiderman

They were so proud of their oranges

Gabe and Lexie listening to story

Gabe's baseball Christmas pajamas

The crew on Christmas Eve

The finished product of the pajamas

Lexie's cute pajamas, it had a built in skirt that she loved

I hope that everyone had a great Christmas this year. We always go to my mom's house for Christmas Eve and each family is responsible for putting on a little skit or show. Of course our kids did a rendition of Jingle Bell Rock which turned out really cute. They did a good job. My little niece Samm sang Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer with her brother James. Then my sister-in-law Sally told the story of the Christmas orange. It was such a cute story and the kids were really into it. So she gave all the kids an orange. You would think they were priceless with the way they fought over wanting to eat them right that second. Every Christmas Eve my mom buys Christmas pajamas so the kids got to unwrap those. They were ever so cute, although I think it was because I helped pick them out!! J/K. We didn't stay too late as Santa had a lot of work to do that night before morning. So the kids were in bed around eight and we had a great time with family.

What we want for Christmas

I thought I would quickly write what everyone asked Santa this year for Christmas. We actually had two opportunities to tell Santa. One at the mall and then when we went to Woolaroc, so hopefully the orders are all ready to go!!!

Logan: One day Logan was watching those extreme X games and saw some of the skateboarding. He was so impressed with how they stayed on the board doing all those amazing tricks. So ever since then he has been asking for a skateboard. Grandma keeps trying to talk him out of it, because it is dangerous she says. But he still holds that secret wish and tells me everyday he can't wait to have a skateboard.

Gabe: Our little Gabber, you would think would ask for something extreme himself. But he has seen the commercial for Elefun on TV and that is all he talks about. The game with the elephant that blows butterflies in the air and you catch them with the net!! Yeah, no boy games. But maybe Santa can pull this one off. I guess we will have to wait and see.

Lexie: She doesn't know what she wants. Every time she sees a toy she will tell me she wants it. She is still at that great age where she will be happy to get anything. I can honestly say Santa will have the easiest time with this one.

Corey: My lovely husband has been craving the new Xbox 360 for sometimes now and has saved up his money to actually get one. I keep thinking it has to be worth the 300 dollars right? But I think my dog is a good use of money and Corey does not. So to each his own I suppose. He is getting this late, as we are getting a deal down in Amarillo when we visit Corey's brother for New Years. I know I will be playing Halo with him in no time.

Kory: I have changed my mind so many times over this that I think Corey is about to lose his mind. I did get some black boots that I really wanted, but they were not that expensive because I am thrifty. So Corey got me jewelry for Christmas. He went again and ordered it online, but then I decided I wanted a boxing bag and gloves for Christmas. I know I got some weird responses from friends and my mom. Thinking I have finally lost my mind. But I did take some boxing classes in Phoenix and I really do like hitting the bag and shadow boxing. So that is what my new request is. Hopefully if I am a good girl I can have both the jewelry and the boxing bag. I will have to take pictures when I do finally get my wish.

We are hopeful Santa will be gracious this year. We will be taking pictures on Christmas morning and all through the holidays to post. So keep looking because I should have some new pictures up soon. Hope that everyone has a Happy Holiday.

Woolaroc

We went to a place called Woolaroc with my family. It is up North of Tulsa and it was so cute. It was very cold, but we bundled up everyone really well. There were so many lights and they had a cute wagon ride that was pulled by a tractor. It was large and there was also a museum that we went to as well. The kids had a little visit with Santa and got candy canes to go with it. This was before the ice storm hit. We had so much fun and maybe we can go again next year.

Winter Storm

Monday we started to deal with the lovely winter ice storm that came through Oklahoma. We of course lost power and did not get it back till late last night. So two days without electricity is so hard. Luckily we live by my parents and so they still had power so I went there during the day. There are so many trees down here. They are all over the place. Corey actually cut back all the big tree limbs on our trees this past spring and I am so grateful now. Luckily we have no trees to worry about in our yard. But everyone else has trees that are down or huge limbs have fallen. The ice has melted finally and we are getting back to our regular routine, although school is still out and I am anxious for it to get back in...so are the boys. I will have pictures to post soon.

Thanksgiving

Oh my goodness!! I could not believe it has been a whole month since I have written something. I guess I have been trying to get things done and taking pictures has become a thing of the past lately. But I am going to try and be better so I can keep everyone posted. I didn't take any pictures during Thanksgiving, but of course we spent the time with my parents and my brother and his family. We had to have both ham and turkey because there are a couple of men (I won't name names) that hate turkey. We ate a lot and had so much fun. Then on Friday my mom and I braved the stores for black Friday. We had so much fun and I actually got all of Santa's list done. With three kids I had a whole basket full when I left walmart. This is the one time of the year that it feels good to spend money on the kids. I am so excited for Christmas. Now I am just trying to get the house situated. Here are some pictures of our Christmas tree. I know that it looks bare, but we got this tree last year from someone and it is a lot bigger than our last one. So I will have to work on getting more tree trimmings as the years go by. The kids love it and always have to have the lights on.

When we had gotten all the ornaments on the tree Lexie points to one and tells me it is her. I look and it is an old ornament my mother gave me when I got married with my picture on it when I was her age. We do look a lot alike. So I couldn't help but take a picture to compare.

My 15K Run!!

Today I ran my first ever race which was the Tulsa Run. It was a 15K and I don't think I have ran that far before. It is 9.3 miles and I finished in about one hour and twenty minutes. I have to say that was one of the hardest things I ever have done. As I was crossing the finish line I was throwing up and dry heaving. I felt so sick because my blood sugar was so low afterwards, but I can honestly say I feel like I really accomplished something. Hopefully next year I will improve my time and be in even better shape. I guess we will have to say. I also give props to my training partner Jenn who gave her all and also another lady in our ward who gave us the idea in the first place..thanks Andrea.

Host a Murder Party

Who did it? That is the question we all had to ask. My sister Stacey and her husband Jason came to visit us this weekend. They put together this Host a Murder Party and of course we all had our parts to play. It was really fun and dressing up wasn't bad either. We were keeping it in the Halloween spirit. I got to be a cowgirl gun slinger and it was fun. Corey was an indian so it worked great. Although in the picture he looks more like a thug than an Indian. But when it came down to it, my sister-in-law Sally turned out to be the murderer!! Thanks to Stacey for a great time.

Fall Festival

We went to our church's Fall Festival which included our Trunk or Treat. It was held out in the country on one of our Ward member's land. We had so much fun. The kids dressed up in their Halloween costumes and thought it was the best thing ever. Lexie was an angel, Gabe a pirate and Logan a monster of some sort. We did our Trunk or Treat, roasted hot dogs on a fire and then went on a hay ride. We were glad that we went and also that the kids had a great time.

Swim Party

On Saturday night we were invited to Corey's boss's house for a swim party. Corey forgot to tell me the swim part so we didn't bring any suits. The boys just swam in their shorts and Lexie just swam in her underwear. I know so white trash. Plus we didn't have any of their floaty stuff so I had to watch them extra careful. I was just in my regular clothes and I had the impression that I might have to jump in with my clothes on. That proved a good assessment because Gabe fell off the step and was barely above the water on his tip-toes. I was on the other side of the pool and the people standing over there were just staring at him. I ran over and had to save him. He was terrified and I saw that plainly in his little eyes. He clung to me for a little while, but all was good. I was sopping wet the rest of the party though. Good thing I didn't wear a white shirt. The kids had a blast though and the picture of Logan turned out awesome. Check out those eyes. The water really just brings them out. It was a great night to spend together as a family.

family visit

This past week we had family in town visiting. Corey's parents came along with his brother and wife with their two kids. We had a lot of fun hanging out and with them helping to do our redecorating. It was great to see everyone again. Most of the pictures are on Corey's cell phone so I will post some later. Here are a couple from the zoo. The week went by too fast and so now we are back to our normal routines. Hopefully I will be better at taking pictures for posting. I have been slacking lately. Sorry.

(Logan, Gabe, Lexie, Chase and Brooke) My best friend and sister in law Tiff and I