The Noriega Family

We spent New Year's Eve at our friends, the Ramptons.  It was loads of fun.  The kids mostly played in the basement and the adults talked and played and ate.  It was a really nice group of friends.  The kids were happy and doing well in the basement after we rang in the new year that we ended up staying way later than we should have.  We didn't get our kids in bed until 3:00 in the morning.  We had our first Sunday of 8:30am church in the morning.  We did not make it on time, but we stayed and went to sacrament meeting after our Sunday School classes and then we all came home and enjoyed a Sunday nap.  

Estelle started primary for the first time.  She did great.  Between starting primary and getting a twin bed, she has decided that she is a big girl now and it feels like we may be turning a corner.  She is very excited to be one of the big kids now.  

We had Jodee for a few more days of fun after Christmas.  She watched the girls one night while Hector and I went to a Wizards game with friends.  We took the girls to the movies one day and bowling.  We also went to the Marine Corp Museum with them.  They spent the night at Grandma's agian because Santa got Jodee, Hector and I Broadway tickets; so went to see a play the night before Jodee left.  

We played lots of games with Jodee.  We taught her Scheming and Skulking and after playing at least 50 times during the week, Jodee was kicking our butts.  

We were super sad to see Jodee leave; the only thing that saved the girls from tears was the coloring house.  We told them we could not get it out until Jodee left because we needed to set it up in the basement.  As soon as we got back from the airport, we set it up and we have all had fun coloring it ever since.  

We spent the next two days getting our house in order.  We had new furniture delivered on Christmas Eve.  We didn't have time to deal it rearranging then, so we had our old bedroom and new bedroom furniture, plus the Christmas boxes taking all the space in our room for a week.  We took down the Christmas stuff, moved old furniture to Estelle's room, rearranged new furniture in our room, we set up our new king size bed, moved Estelle to the twin bed and cleaned and organized.  It is amazing how much time that can take, but it feels so much better to have our house in order.  

After Church we headed down to Grandma an Grandpa's house.  It was such a nice Christmas afternoon.  We ate and then opened gifts.  We all enjoyed watching each other open his and her presents.  

Estelle was most excited about her baby Anna doll.  She sleeps with her every night!

Sienna had a hard time focusing on anything else when she saw Luke open up the Iron Man gloves.  She came and whispered to me, "I hope I get some of those too."  She did not but it was good for her to be happy for someone else.  She did a good job of it and I was proud of her for not being sad.  She did get to play with them though.  

Everyone had lots to be happy about.  There were lots of smiles.  

The girls made lots of fun gifts for everyone this year.  Estelle picked all of her favorite beads and made special bracelet for Luke.  She was so excited for him to have it and I loved how thoughtful she was when she was making it.  She could not wait for him to open it.  

After gifts we played with our weapons; the girls brought their bow and arrows  and had fun shooting at everything in Grandma's house.  

We put the kids to bed and stayed up playing games and having fun.  We stayed the next morning and kept the fun going going.

It was  great Christmas day and Christmas season.  I am always a little sad to see it end, but it wouldn't be special if it lasted all year.  I love celebrating with my family; they are my best gift.  

Christmas morning was grand.  The girls did not get up too early; which everyone was happy about.  They woke up happy and excited and they could not wait to go downstairs.  

They came down with big bright eyes and found thier stockings.  They have been so excited for Candy Canes.  We took our time checking out what was in the stocking.  Estelle found new barbies and was ready to play.  Sienna found Ninja nun chucks and a blow dart and ran down stairs to get her ninja costume on.   She was a ninja for the rest of the morning.  

We ate rice pudding for breakfast; they discovered a barbie house hidden under a blanket and just wanted to play.  

After eating a playing, we opened the gifts under the tree.  There were lots of smiles.  Natalia is excited to start sewing with her sewing kit.  

All the girls got snuggle blankets that Jodee made them and really cute crocheted hats.  They are so excited about both gifts.  They wear their hats almost everyday and they love to snuggle with the blankets at night and when they watch a movie.  

We played for a little more and then got ready for church.  Apparently I forgot to take pictures of us before church.  That is probably because we were having fun and waited to long to get ready and then had to rush.  I do love having Christmas on a Sunday though.  I wish we could go to church every Christmas.  

It was a great Christmas Morning.  I love watching my girls be so happy and excited.  We loved having Jodee with us for Christmas.  She is a part of our family and it was so nice having her here Christmas morning.  I find it so funny to see the things that they are most excited about; sometimes it is surprising.  

Estelle got her own box of band-aids and she is almost through the whole box.  She loves not having to ask for a band-aid; she may be disappointed when they are gone.   But for now...all her boo-boos are well taken care of.  

Sienna loved the nun-chucks more than anyone could imagine.