Families are forever

Families are forever

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Fun with extended family at Christmas time!

We had a very fun family Christmas party in Cameron and Connie's beautiful new home in Mountain Green, Utah! Their home is beautiful. The kids especially loved the room in their basement that had a trampoline and a basketball court! We were blessed to have so many there, but missed the families who couldn't come. Connie had a fun party planned. We enjoyed great food, excellent company, and fun games!
Heath, Roger, and Jill excited to end up with a prize at the end of a game. Heath fought hard for those Reeses, as did many other kids!
Danica, Tyler, Jarom, and Collin enjoying one of the games!
Nathan, Porter, Danica, Tyler
Papa with 7 of the 13 boy cousins under 9!
We had the Kester family for Christmas this year. We gave them all four of the Home Alone movies, a popcorn popper, and dress-up clothes for the boys. Abram and Porter are dressed in some of the costumes in this picture. The Kesters had our family too. Amber and Ashlee each got a crock pot, Danica made beautiful watches for Emily and Brittany, she made me nice greeting cards, Mike got a book he's excited to read, and Tyler got a fun Batman cave and figures that he's enjoying.
On Christmas day we did our traditional sleep over with the Jones family. We all look forward to this fun time! We usually sleep at Nanny and Papa's, but with them on their mission in Boston, we went to Amy's home this year. We had a nice dinner, did a small talent show, the children performed the Nativity with Sydney as the director (Amber proudly noticed some of the similarities from when she directed), and then the kids opened the cousin exchange gifts. We also really enjoyed talking to Nanny, Papa, Jon, and Lissa on the skype cam. Lauryn, Sydney, Brittany, Emma - cousins and great friends!
Jack and Tyler each got a fun book from Matt and Jayne!
Ashlee and Melissa always enjoy their time together!
Jack was the only boy in the Nativity this year, the other boys played the Wii. What a good sport you are Jack! After the Nativity we all played games and then went to bed late! The next morning we enjoyed waffles together and more game playing!

Friday, December 25, 2009

Christmas morning

We went to the family room first to open stockings, then we ate breakfast, we then headed to the living room to see what Santa brought, and then we went to the basement family room to open family presents. It was fun. (We had a tree in the living room that Santa visited, but we had a tiny real tree in the basement where we put the presents we had for each other.)
All the kids were so excited to open a gift that showed a picture of the Carnival Paradise cruise ship and an itinerary for our cruise that leaves on January 18th. Everyone was especially excited when they found out that the Chris Jones family and the Leiseths are coming with us!
Emily, Brittany and Tyler playing Rockband; a gift from Santa to our family. We also have spent a lot of time playing Wii fit that we got from Nana Jody. What a fun Christmas. Tyler said, "We are the luckiest kids in the world!"

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Santa Clause is coming to town!

The kids made a welcome Santa sign and Tyler put out cookies and milk for Santa and some carrots for his reindeer! We are all excited for Christmas!