I love Christmas!! I love the extra focus we give to the savior, I love listening to Christmas songs, baking yummy treats, buying gifts, finding ways to help others and sharing Christmas joy with those around. As a family we have a few fun traditions we have done for years, hopefully when our children are grown, they will continue these same traditions. It is such a blessed time of year. This Christmas Chads brother Shaun and his family came out from Arkansas to visit. For Christmas eve we had quite the houseful with 13 extra bodies, but what a great time we all had!!! We also were able to spend time with my Brother, Ben and his family and also Chads Sister Carrie, her husband and cute little boy Eric. We had a very enjoyable time. It is so fun to be surrounded by family.
Our kids have not been getting along as peacefully as we would like. We thought they needed a extra push to be more kind to each other especially at Christmas, so this year when we drew family names for gifts the rule was that you had to spend time and personally make the gift for whomever you had. Alex made me a apron, Jordan made Ethan a TCU blanket, Ethan made Jordan coupons, Chad also did coupons for Alex and I made Chad a tv remote control holder that hangs over the couch.
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The Sunday following Christmas We visited Temple square up in Salt Lake city. Ha, ha funny Troy, rabbit ears.
Chad, Jordan, Ethan, Me, Alex and my brother Troy.
Christmas morning opening presents with the cousins. Alex, Jordan and Dan.
This is a pillow that Sara made for Alex, she did a great job on it. The pillow matches Alex's room perfectly!!
Ethan and his new bike.
Squishy, Squishy, cousins playing around.
Cousins watching the Nativity story.
This is what unfinished basements are used for-- pinata time.
Alex
Aleena
Heidi
Ethan
Isabell
Katie
David
Christmas Eve we started by singing Christmas carols and reading the Christmas story.
This is a pillow that Sara made for Alex, she did a great job on it. The pillow matches Alex's room perfectly!!
Ethan and his new bike.
Squishy, Squishy, cousins playing around.
Cousins watching the Nativity story.
This is what unfinished basements are used for-- pinata time.Alex
Aleena
Heidi
Ethan
Isabell
Katie
David
Christmas Eve we started by singing Christmas carols and reading the Christmas story.
Hey Melissa!! Looks familiar! We have been lucky enough to have spent Christmas Eve with you before and caroled, eaten and hit the famous family piñata. We miss you guys and are so happy you had your house full. That is the only way to go. We filled ours this year with Jenni Monteath and kids, Alfred :) Wilson (his wife was in Houston w/ family), and with a new family of 3 young women. Ted played (like Chad) and we played caroling trivia and word games. We also dropped off a bunch of stuff that Sendera Ranch Elem (yea, Mrs. McNeese and staff!) helped us collect for the whole family of Alfred's house. One of his sisters has a tiny cute baby! And 2 Australians live there now. Anyways, it was terrific. Some details are on our blog, but more to come. Call me one of these days when you have time and let's catch up!!! we love all y'all!
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