Mike and the kids have been talking for a little while about trying to catch Santa on video tape. Last night, after the kids were asleep, Mike was messing around with our camera and just about caught Santa as he came down our chimney. We showed this video to the girls this morning and they were thrilled to hear we actually caught Santa's voice on the video as he and his reindeer took off from our roof!
Friday, December 25, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Merry Christmas from Zimbabwe!
By Special Guest Bloggers: Christian, Haley, Paige and Elle.
Our Grandma and Grandpa Mayfield live in Africa right now. They are missionaries for our church. We are so proud of them and the good work they are doing, but we have to admit that we miss them just a little bit more than normal this week. This is their first Christmas in Africa.
A couple of days ago Grandma and Grandpa sent a letter to our Mom and Dad. They said that they couldn't send us toys for Christmas through the mail, so they sent us money to spend on a Christmas gift! Two days before Christmas, Mom told us that we had a big surprise. We loaded up the car and headed downtown. When we got to a toy store, Mom told us about Grandma and Grandpa's letter and gave us the money and told us we could choose our own presents. Oh yeah!
Haley: This next picture is of Christian going "Grinch" on me.
Christian: What are you talking about? I thought you wanted me to have your Christmas money!
Because this was going to be a special gift from Grandma and Grandpa, we really wanted to make sure we picked the very best present...
...which means we had to take a LONG time to look at all the different choices.
Paige: I was a big help to Elle.
This looks pretty good...but would Grandma and Grandpa choose this for me if they were here?
Finally...after going through a bunch of different stores, we all made our choices for the very special gift. Paige chose princess make-up. Christian chose a legacy Star Wars set. Haley and Elle chose Build-a-Bears. 
We love you Grandma and Grandpa! Thanks for the awesome Christmas presents!
Our Grandma and Grandpa Mayfield live in Africa right now. They are missionaries for our church. We are so proud of them and the good work they are doing, but we have to admit that we miss them just a little bit more than normal this week. This is their first Christmas in Africa.
A couple of days ago Grandma and Grandpa sent a letter to our Mom and Dad. They said that they couldn't send us toys for Christmas through the mail, so they sent us money to spend on a Christmas gift! Two days before Christmas, Mom told us that we had a big surprise. We loaded up the car and headed downtown. When we got to a toy store, Mom told us about Grandma and Grandpa's letter and gave us the money and told us we could choose our own presents. Oh yeah!
Haley: This next picture is of Christian going "Grinch" on me.Christian: What are you talking about? I thought you wanted me to have your Christmas money!
Because this was going to be a special gift from Grandma and Grandpa, we really wanted to make sure we picked the very best present...
...which means we had to take a LONG time to look at all the different choices.
Paige: I was a big help to Elle.
This looks pretty good...but would Grandma and Grandpa choose this for me if they were here?
Finally...after going through a bunch of different stores, we all made our choices for the very special gift. Paige chose princess make-up. Christian chose a legacy Star Wars set. Haley and Elle chose Build-a-Bears.We love you Grandma and Grandpa! Thanks for the awesome Christmas presents!Love, Christian, Haley, Paige and Elle.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Family partay
The annual Farley family Christmas party. This year we had 21 kids and 9 adults. A little squishy room-wise, but so much fun.
All gifts were white elephant -- food items for the kids, something nice'ish for the adults. Lucky for us, no tears this year. :}
Should I steal my cousin's chocolate cupcakes or keep the Captain Crunch Berries?
Guess who's been having Reese's Puffs for breakfast every morning this week?
My brother, Quinn, with his boys Jake and Grant. They happily walked away with Dr. Evil & Mini Me.
"Hand over the candy and no one gets hurt."
She's cute even when she's trying to be naughty. There aren't many things better than nuzzling my baby and smelling her little neck.
My cousin, Linsey, and her great hubby, Ryan. We finally have some Farley cousins here in town!
Quinn and his daughter, Julia (aka Jewels), playing with baby Kate while Erin spikes the punch with Sprite.
A couple of the husbands couldn't quite keep their hands to themselves. They were cracking themselves up, that's for sure.
My girls were giddy over the tule tutu's that Julia made them.
Thank heavens for great cousins and siblings.
All gifts were white elephant -- food items for the kids, something nice'ish for the adults. Lucky for us, no tears this year. :}Should I steal my cousin's chocolate cupcakes or keep the Captain Crunch Berries?
Guess who's been having Reese's Puffs for breakfast every morning this week?
My brother, Quinn, with his boys Jake and Grant. They happily walked away with Dr. Evil & Mini Me.
"Hand over the candy and no one gets hurt."
She's cute even when she's trying to be naughty. There aren't many things better than nuzzling my baby and smelling her little neck.
My cousin, Linsey, and her great hubby, Ryan. We finally have some Farley cousins here in town!
Quinn and his daughter, Julia (aka Jewels), playing with baby Kate while Erin spikes the punch with Sprite.
A couple of the husbands couldn't quite keep their hands to themselves. They were cracking themselves up, that's for sure.
My girls were giddy over the tule tutu's that Julia made them.
Thank heavens for great cousins and siblings.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Elle's new smile
Try as I have to coax a beautiful, natural smile out of Elle, this is the smile she continues to give the camera ....
Can't see anything wrong? Look closer ...
That upper lip continues to curl under, making this beautiful child look harsh and weird. Lovely.
Can't see anything wrong? Look closer ...
That upper lip continues to curl under, making this beautiful child look harsh and weird. Lovely.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Photo shoot
My brother, Quinn, is a professional photographer and has taken many, many beautiful pictures for us over the years. I thought I'd take some pictures of him, taking pictures.
And the finished product, photographed by Quinn, card designed by my very talented brother-in-law, Zach ....
Merry Christmas, from our family to yours.
And the finished product, photographed by Quinn, card designed by my very talented brother-in-law, Zach ....
Merry Christmas, from our family to yours.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
The Polar Express
A few months ago, Steph and I hatched a plan to take our kids on The Polar Express. Mike and I have taken our kids every few years, the last time being about 1 week before Elle was born. The Hess' (Hess's?) haven't ever gone and Steph wanted to surprise her kids, right up until about 30 minutes before we actually boarded the train. My kids were in on the plan and thankfully kept the secret.
With all of our kids clad in pajamas and robes (some of which were new just for the occasion), we headed out from the Hess' cabin to The Polar Express.
Once we were at the train station, the magic began. The kids were giddy (can't you tell?) and even the older kids loved seeing how the younger ones believed it all.
(For Paige & Cam's wedding pictures someday...)
The actual train ride requires a bit of imagination. The Heber Creeper isn't the newest train around and it shows, but there were holiday lights and garland strung around each car and some of Santa's elves wandered the aisles, which all added to the effect. Paige eyed some of the local teenagers who played the elves and said, "Those elves are, like, over-sized." Like I said, you have to use some imagination.
Mrs. Claus also made the rounds. She handed out hot chocolate and cookies. Paige and Haley wondered why the hot chocolate servers weren't doing back flips down the aisle like in the movie.
Eventually, Mrs. Claus directed our attention outside the train so we could see Santa waving at us from "the North Pole." It was basically Santa standing out in the snow with a big sign overhead announcing that we had arrived, and a couple of flares alight at his feet. Again ... imagination.
All during the train ride back, Santa made his way from car to car, stopping at each and every child and giving them a bell from his sleigh. For the little kids, at least, that was definitely a magical moment.
Paige trying to think of what she wants most for Christmas.
The whole experience was so fun and worth the effort and money. Every kid should take a trip on The Polar Express to the North Pole at least once, don't you think?
With all of our kids clad in pajamas and robes (some of which were new just for the occasion), we headed out from the Hess' cabin to The Polar Express.
Once we were at the train station, the magic began. The kids were giddy (can't you tell?) and even the older kids loved seeing how the younger ones believed it all.
(For Paige & Cam's wedding pictures someday...)
The actual train ride requires a bit of imagination. The Heber Creeper isn't the newest train around and it shows, but there were holiday lights and garland strung around each car and some of Santa's elves wandered the aisles, which all added to the effect. Paige eyed some of the local teenagers who played the elves and said, "Those elves are, like, over-sized." Like I said, you have to use some imagination.
Mrs. Claus also made the rounds. She handed out hot chocolate and cookies. Paige and Haley wondered why the hot chocolate servers weren't doing back flips down the aisle like in the movie.
Eventually, Mrs. Claus directed our attention outside the train so we could see Santa waving at us from "the North Pole." It was basically Santa standing out in the snow with a big sign overhead announcing that we had arrived, and a couple of flares alight at his feet. Again ... imagination.All during the train ride back, Santa made his way from car to car, stopping at each and every child and giving them a bell from his sleigh. For the little kids, at least, that was definitely a magical moment.
Paige trying to think of what she wants most for Christmas.
The whole experience was so fun and worth the effort and money. Every kid should take a trip on The Polar Express to the North Pole at least once, don't you think?
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