A Truly Merry-Filled Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas this year.  Our family is lucky in the fact that both sides of our family live close by, so Christmas was spent travelling around spending time with all our favorite people.  Here are some pictures of our merry-filled day.....

Trying to peek through the curtain to see if Santa came...

Stockings are missing....that's a sure sign!!

Lined up and ready to do our "Jingle Bell" parade.

She couldn't rip open her presents fast enough!

 

Hugs for Grandpa......

....and a kiss for baby Harrison!!!

A Merry Christmas Eve

As always, my mom hosted a wonderful dinner on Christmas Eve and we finished up the night with Christmas music and a nativity play put on by the kids. 

 

A beautiful reminder of our angel sister who celebrated with us in spirit.

 

This was the edible centerpiece that Mom made for the kid's table.  As you can see from the picture below, Jordan couldn't wait to dig into it.  When I asked him what his favorite part was about Christmas Eve, he told me it was eating his snowman.

The kids loved their new pajamas from Grandma Sally, although you can't tell from the look on Megan's face. She was troubled about the fact that Uncle Jordan had just brought in a big present, which you can see in the left side of the picture, and that it had Lily's name on it and not hers.

Cookies and egg nog all ready for Santa

Christmas Performances

 

 

December has been a very busy month for me as I've been playing in the "Singing Christmas Tree" production. I played in 11 performances and the kids came to one of my shows. Megan was sitting right on the aisle and so I had a clear shot of her. I loved looking over at her and seeing her with a big smile on her face, giving me a thumbs up.

 

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Andrew played a wise man in our ward Christmas party this year.

 

Piano Recital

Jordan and his teacher, Mrs. Haning, delighted us with "Jingle Bells."  He is doing very well with the piano and loves practicing.  One reminder is all he needs and off he goes.  Hope that lasts!!!!

 

Live Spectacular!!!

Andrew and Jordan went to the "How to Train your Dragon Live Spectacular" earlier this month and the show lived up to it's name.  They had a great time and Jordan was in absolute heaven the whole time watching one of his favorite movies come to life in a very big way!!! 

 

 

The STAR of the show

Megan had her preschool Christmas program tonight and was the shining STAR of the show.  She sang her little heart out and the event was 20 minutes of pure adorableness watching a group of preschoolers sing...or I should say shout....about their love of baby Jesus!

 

I love how Megan is gazing adoringly at her cousin in this picture.  Even though these girls pull each other's hair out sometimes, they do love each other. 

First Snow of the Season

I woke up this morning with 2 very excited, hyper children jumping on my bed, asking if I would go outside and build a snowman with them.  I did manage to hold them off for a little while, at least until the sun came up.  School was delayed for 2 hours so it gave us some time to run around and throw a little snow around. 

 

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.....

I thought it was so cute when they pulled out the nativity ornament.  They called it the "very special ornament" and wanted to put it on the tree together.

Little Miss Sass!!

Ta-Da!!!! The finished product!!!

 

We began our tradition of reading Christmas stories by the Christmas tree every night before bed. 

Thanksgiving in Spokane

 

We all gathered at Jared's house in Spokane this year for Thanksgiving.  The kids were in heaven having so many little people to play with.  Megan was especially excited to meet her brand new little cousin, baby Annalea and couldn't get enough of her.  Activities included: horseback riding, crafts, a talent show and family hoedown, games, a hike and lots of fun and good times.  Sadly, the last day was a much different story as 20 out of the 27 of us came down with a bad case of the stomach flu.  Somehow, Megan was one of the lucky 7 and escaped it.  It was totally crazy as one by one we dropped like flies...let's just say that it's a very good thing that Jared's house had 5 bathrooms because they were definitely needed.  Somehow I managed to drive our family home going on no sleep from the night before, having been up all night throwing up.  Andrew was curled up in the passenger seat looking miserable, and Jordan, who we thought had miraculously escaped it, started throwing up halfway home.  It felt so good to be home and let's just say...this is a Thanksgiving I'm sure none of us will EVER forget.  Here are some pictures of our fun adventures...before the plague hit us.....