New Years Eve

We don't really do anything special for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. I am starting to think it is one of those lame holidays like Valentine's Day. However, we did do some fun things, especially since Eric was able to take some time off of work. On New Year's Eve we went to the Galaxy to go see a movie. We saw Night at the Museum 3. Cam and I did not get to see all of it due to him being too noisy. The boys liked the movie, but not as much as the previous 2 Night at the Museum shows. The theatres here are huge. Every chair is super comfy While watching the show there are Cantonese sub titles. As we were going up the escalators we noticed there was going to be a huge New Year's Eve party going on. They were practicing having the confetti blow out. Then the cleaners had to come clean it all up. Some girls practiced singing "Let it Go". It was probably a fun party to go. After the movie we walked over to the Venetian and ate yummy cheeseburgers and hot dogs at McSorley's. Then we just came home, watched movies, and fell asleep before anything even happened. Not even the fireworks woke up the boys.

 

Cam and I waiting for the movie to be done.

 

 

9 years!!

I can't believe it has been 9 years since Eric and I were married. However, one Sunday when Eric was speaking he told everyone we had been married for 12. I am glad he thinks it is that long even though we haven't even known each other that long. We had Sister Anna come over again to watch the boys. After she arrived I walked over to the Venetian and met Eric in the front. We then headed over to one of our favorite restaurants here, Morton's Steakhouse. Just like my birthday, it was amazing and delicious. They wrote "Happy Anniversary" on the menu. In the 9 years we have been married we have had 4 monkeys and moved 5 times (5 different homes, 2 different cities and 2 different countries). We have experienced times of frustration, sadness, being apart, happiness, joy and love. We have watched our relationship, as well as our testimonies grow. Eric truly is my best friend and I can't imagine life without him. I am so glad we are on this journey together. Our prayer is that our marriage will stay strong and we will be able to raise our boys the way we need to. I am grateful for how hard he works so I can stay home with Cam and be home when the three are out of school. My life is pretty easy because of him. I really have nothing to complain about. We look forward to what this next year will bring. Next year is the big 10 year anniversary!!!

 

Drummers we were watching at the Winter in Venice before we went to Morton's.

 





Christmas!!!

We were excited for our first Christmas here in Macau! However, it started extremely early. Kade, Kyle and Connor were all awake at 4:45. Eric and I laid in bed for another 45 minutes until Cam woke up. Once he was awake everyone woke up and Christmas began. They were so excited to see their presents.

 

 

All ready to open presents.

 



Cam thought it would be fun to bite open his present. Silly Cam!

 



They each received scooters for Christmas, except Kade. He asked for this remote control Ferrari. He was also given a keyboard so he can continue to practice the piano.

 



Having fun playing with their new toys.

 



 

After opening presents and playing for a little bit everyone was hungry. Instead of making anything we decided to, you guessed it, the Wynn for their breakfast buffet. It was so yummy, as usual. Everyone needed a nap though after we came back home.

 

 

In the afternoon we had our friends the Dyer's come over for Christmas dinner. We ordered a turkey from the Grand Orbit. It was really yummy and was nice to have our good friends over. We love having them over.

Playing in their room with their new toys.

 



Riding their scooters and Kade playing with his ferrari. We started laughing when we told him to watch out because he was going to wreck his Ferrari. ;)

 



Cam snuggling with daddy and, as usual, playing with his ear. We know he is going to be an ear doctor when he grows up.

 



 

What a wonderful Christmas it was, even though we were so far away from family! We hope all of our friends and family in America had a wonderful holiday as well. We are incredibly grateful for our Savior and all he did for us. He is truly the reason why we celebrate this holiday.

 

We love you!!!

 

 

 



Ice World and Christmas Eve

Eric worked the morning of Christmas Eve so the boys and I hurried to the store to pick up some last minute items. Here they are playing at the park while we waited for the shuttle. In the afternoon we met Eric at the Venetian so we could go to the DreamWorks Ice World.

 

Our view of "home" on our way over to the Venetian.

 



Part of the Venetian, City of Dreams and Hard Rock Hotel

 



All of the boys were really excited to be finally going to the Ice World. As we entered they gave us these really big blue jackets. Eric and I didn't think we really needed them. Once we were inside we realized we did them. It was freezing!!! But all of the ice sculptures were amazing. The pictures show how awesome everything was. What some incredibly talented people to be able to this to ice!

 



Everything in these next few pictures is ice.

 



There was a slide made out of ice also. Cam was the first one to go down. It was hilarious!! I don't think his jacket was long enough so since he was sliding down on his jeans he went really slow. He was even stuck at one point. All of us kept telling to push himself down. He would just sit there though. The workers wouldn't let any of the other boys help him, so he eventually had to figure out how to slide down. He had a blast once he did figure it out. 

Kade

Kyle 

Connor

 



 

After we were too cold to stay, we headed over to Sands Cotai Central to see the parade. The penguins were supposedly pulling Santa in his sleigh. However, after sitting for awhile we realized the parade was upstairs and missed almost all of it. Bummer! We did get to see the end of it though.

 

After that we decided to come home and let the boys open a couple of their presents. The first one was a beautiful blanket. Our family in Las Vegas has a tradition of going up to Red Rock and reading the Nativity story. Usually we would get kicked out of the park before we were done reading because it was closing time. Eric said we should go up on the hill behind us with the blanket and read the story. :) We opted for staying inside and watching a movie.

 



All of the boys in their new pj's, not quite ready for Santa to come though. They were still not tired, plus it was a little too early.

 



My boys and I.

 



Cam loved the blanket.

 



Reading our new book on the blanket and Connor playing with the candle.

 



 

Our Polar Express picture was exciting. The boys loved pushing the button to see the lights light up. We all ended up snuggling while watching the Polar Express and probably one of the Mickey Mouse Christmas shows, even though Cam had watched them practically every single day. After a little while the boys were ready for bed. Eric left before they fell asleep so he could bring all of the presents over. Eric and I had a "date night" earlier in the week to wrap all of the presents. They were all in his office. He loaded them up in a taxi and brought them over so they would be ready for Christmas morning after Santa came.