Christmas party photos

Found the Christmas party photos.
These little guys sat at their table for quite a while eating and chatting like mini-adults.

 The older cousins had their own table too which seemed fun.  Grandpa Dan sat at this table for most of dinner to talk with them.

We drew for parts in the nativity which added a little variety and turned out really nice.

Then a few days later we did it all over for a little afternoon party with the same set up... different family.
I can't believe I didn't get any photos of Jen and Denny as the newly engaged couple. 

 Waiting to open gifts.  The cousins decided to go from oldest to youngest.

Which was somewhat painful for the little ones.

Merry (late) Christmas!

I had good intentions of sending out a Christmas card but then decided I just didn't have the time.  We even looked coordinated this day at church so we have the photo.  It was just the actual ordering, addressing, and mailing of the card that didn't happen.  I love to receive all the cards and see how  people are doing but it was liberating to accept that the card wasn't happening this year.  So for anyone that actually reads this blog or wanted to receive one... I'm sorry. 

This Christmas season was a lot of fun and we were busy planning and hosting all kinds of parties.  First weekend of December I was in charge of the ward party so we did a breakfast with pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, hash browns, orange juice, fruit and muffins.  It was quite the spread and the 10 people that came to cook an hour before it started were lifesavers.  We had a huge turnout of over 250 people and Santa came at the end to surprise the kids.  I think it turned out to be a great party if you ask me but I am biased.

We also expanded St. Lucia Day on the 13th to include a full dinner and invited more guests.  My parents came this year and it was especially nice to have them. 

We also hosted the Anderson family party which I don't seem to have any pictures of but it was a lot of fun to visit with the adults and for the cousins to be together.  Taylor put together a Christmas trivia game which was a lot of fun.

We also hosted all my family as Jen was coming but would have to fly out too early on Christmas day to do all the family gift exchange etc.  We had a big taco bar and played the trivia game too.  Then we had the customary exchange with each of the cousins and then the adults played our game where you can steal a gift twice before it has a permanent home.  It was a relaxing party and nice to all sit around and visit.

Carissa performed in her dance studios 'Nutcracker' in two different parts.  Ethan joined in as they needed more Oriental Servants.  They did a terrific job.
We went to 'This is the Place Park' again which was a blast.  Nobody was there so we felt like it really was a tiny pioneer village open just for us.  Father Christmas had nobody else in line so we took our time chatting with him. 

We took Carissa and Sophie to the Motab concert of David Archuleta which was AMAZING!!!  He is phenomenal----love him and his voice!

Overall, we had a great and fun Christmas break.  Taylor ended up working a lot to close a deal that had a deadline of the end of the year for tax purposes.  The kids were out of school for 2 weeks and we all remained healthy through the holidays which really was... a Christmas miracle! 

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve day we went to the movies.  Taylor and the boys saw 'Tron' and us girls saw 'Tangled' which was adorable.   We had a nice dinner at Marcia and Dan's and then went into the gym for James' gift which was.... a bagpiper in a Santa Suit of course.  Everyone enjoyed it.

Then we came home and everyone searched for their new pajamas that were hidden and then got cozy.

We opened some of the kids gifts to each other which is always so sweet and thoughtful with the hard work they put into the home-made gifts.  We talked about the true meaning of Christmas and then the kids put out food for Santa and his reindeer.  (Ethan always puts a carrot on the plate for Santa to give to Rudolph) The kids went to bed and Taylor and I wrapped and watched our traditional show, 'It's a Wonderful Life.'