A Christmas Story

We left on Christmas Eve for my parents house. The kids decorated some Christmas masks and showed them off parade-style. We like to do a structured project and this one was fast, simple, and kid-friendly.

Here is McKell complete with her "Miss America" style wave.

We had our annual talent show which was great. McKell played the piano and sang, but I didn't snap any pictures of her so here is Jacob and Rylee playing a piano duet. It was fabulous.

We opened presents and got lots of fun stuff.

Santa came and brought us even more good stuff:)

And here is Derek at his finest, modeling his new shorts and temperature gauge:) Overall, this Christmas story is a happy one, but instead of living happily ever after we have made 2 trips to the doctor and 3 trips to the pharmacy and I am still sick. The end.

Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time

I love this time of year. The colors, lights, music, everything. It is my favorite time of the year. We have had lots of fun celebrating.

We went to Salt Lake to see the lights with Allison and Thomas, Greg, Tasha, and their girls, and Jay and Hollie and their girls. I have such a wonderful family and love spending the holidays with them.

We were able to wear our Christmas pajamas to school for our school music assembly. A fun tradition. The program (my program) was fun and fabulous and best of all - OVER:)

McKell played in her Christmas piano recital.

We had a girls night out and put on our best or worst Christmas sweaters and exchanged gifts. It was fabulous (thanks Amanda, our marvelous hostess). There was great food, great conversation, and great fun. Love this group of ladies that live in my neighborhood.

But, most of all I have been thinking about why we really celebrate. Whenever I think of this, I am reminded of the time I spent in Bethlehem. I took these pictures 2 years ago at Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. The star pictured above is the spot where it is said that baby Jesus was born and laid in a manger. It feels almost unreal to think that I have been to the place where Jesus was born so long ago. I am so thankful for my Savior and for the many blessings and wonderful things in my life. I feel extremely lucky. Happy Holidays!

Thanksgiving 2010

This is so late, but a quick post (for my own purposes) of our wonderful Thanksgiving. All 35 members of my immediate family were at my parents. It makes for a fun, crazy and LOUD holiday. Because we were all there, I attempted to get a picture of all 19 grandchildren.

Attempt 1: Not quite ready.

Attempt 2: My nephew Chase is a character, he is the one with his shirt over his face, if you couldn't guess.

Attempt 3: This one is still not great but will have to do.

Most of us went to a movie, "The Secretariat" one night. A great family show!

Also, one afternoon, we snuck off for some alone time (the four of us) and went to the Playmill's production of, "White Christmas" which was fabulous (even the second time around, McKell and I had both seen LHS's production earlier that week.) I have had the songs stuck in my head ever since. Last, but not least, mom, all 6 sisters and 1 sister-in-law, did some serious black Friday shopping:) I love the holidays.