PURGING Closets

So, I've been feeling really suffocated in our house as of late.  I feel that we have no closet/cupboard space and it makes me crazy.  So one night before Christmas, I started taking everything out of the linen closet and piled it on the ground.  After I did that, I had an epiphany. Why have I been shoving linens in the shallow hall cupboard when I could just switch the closets around!  Brilliant!  So Tucker and I ended up spending the next several hours switching the closets.  So much better!

This used to be food and now it's linens.  

And this was overflowing with linens, but fits food so much better! Yay!  Sometimes its the little things.

Family Dinner Date - a Rare Treat

It's rare, so rare I'm not sure it's ever happened, that just us adults go out together without any kids.  My mom, dad, Carly, Lindy, Kristy, and I went to Bravo Farms for an early dinner.  We had planned to go see a movie, but didn't realize that the day after Christmas, ALL the movies are sold out!  So, we ended up going back to mom and dad's and watched an episode of oprah's soul series we'd been talking about (prisoner rehabilitation) and had some good discussion on that.  I really enjoyed our time together, and hope it can happen more often!

Cousins & Christmas & Fun

I've set the expectation to the girls that they will practice a lot over their two week dance break...because two weeks is way too long!!  So they've had a couple really good days.  And here is Peyton clearly taking charge of warm-ups!

 My mom says "I don't let anyone cook with me in my kitchen"...and somehow Carly get an annual exception by helping cook when she is in town! She made a delicious roast and mashed potatoes.  Just like Mom!

I even convinced my parents and sisters to watch a movie one night (kind of rare in my family).  We watched Pleasantville...but since my Apple TV was streaming slowly, it took us 4 hours to watch a two hour movie!  Still had fun :-)

These kids are too much.  All six of them get along so well!!

LOL Paxton and Peyton found some hair pieces of mine!

Now this is pretty cool.  Jordyn has been into doing "photo shoots" with the kids.  They get ready and then find cool locations outdoors to take pics.  This is just a small sampling of pictures, but I've been very impressed with Jordyn's eye for spacing and lighting!  Especially with an iPod.

I love how much Tucker enjoys playing and interacting with the kids.  He is always willing to play a game with them.  And the amazing part is how much he seems to actually LIKE it, no matter what game they choose!

Tucker and Mike took the kids (minus Kylee) to see Star Wars and to eat at Buffalo Wild Wings!

Christmas 2015

This is after the stockings were opened.  The girls were quite satisfied with their stockings this year!

 And I love that they buy each other gifts.  Even if they are inexpensive, they still get so excited to buy them AND get them from each other.

 Jordyn's stocking that she LOVED.

 
My gumballs from Jeannine!

Tucker received this wonderful cross stitch from his mom - she is so amazing with her cross stitches! Apparently he gave her this design and requested the DO NO QUIT to be added to it.  She did an amazing job with it!  And the framing is so beautiful.  Tucker loves it so much!

 Some fun Christmas Eve portraits by the tree...

Then after the kids went to bed, the elves were hard at work!

The next morning, Elfie left a note for Peyton saying that his gift to her was that she could hold him and play with him for an entire day.  Look at that excitement in her face!

I took lots of video that morning, but not lots of pictures.  So here is our aftermath!  I think the main highlights were some UGG boots, Lululemon leggings, cute strappy bras, pretty shoes, workout clothes, and dresses!  Oh, and a keyboard piano for the entire family to share.

Then we headed over to Grandma and Grandpa's house. We did what has become an annual candy cane tasting contest.  My mom literally crushed a candy cane with a hammer and then passed around little bits to each person so that we could vote.  I think we tested 14 candy canes!

Carly took this panoramic pic...really cool!  Except my mom and Paxton look scary!