Christmas 2012!

Along with Christmas comes parties.  We had several this year.  The first one was our Ward Christmas Party.  We had a nice dinner.

Then they had a musical presentation.  I was asked to play my flute and chose to perform my favorite rendition of Away in a Manger.  

It was fun to just be together with family and ward friends.

Then Santa and Mrs. Claus came!  I love this picture of all the kids with them.  The three oldest are all grins, while Sophie is just beside herself in tears.

The next week, Tom had his work party and I had our R.S. Christmas social on the same night.  The kids enjoyed playing with friends in the nursery at the church.

The next party was supposed to be going to Temple Square to see the lights on 12/12/12 with Tom's family, but that was the same week we had the stomach flu and colds going through our house so we weren't able to make it.

The next party was watching the movie "Trapped in Paradise" with Tom's family at our house.  We didn't have a huge turn-out, but with all the sickness, it was probably better that way.

Then we had the party with Tom's high school friends group.  Unfortunately, most of our kids were still sick that day, Jeff was taking a double dose of sick with not only a cold, but the stomach flu.  I was really frustrated that day and so sick of dealing with sick kids all week.  I really needed a break and was so touched when my mom's good friend, Kim was inspired to contact me on Facebook that day.  She offered to come watch the sick kids to give me a break!  I can't express how grateful I was for her service that day so that Tom, Lily and I could still make it to the friend's party.  

The only pictures we took were of one of the 'minute to win-it' games Tom and Lily played.  They had to get a pom-pom to stick to their nose (which had a glob of Vaseline on it) by flipping their heads.  

 

It was a really fun party and just the break I needed that day!

The next party was the next day, Sunday.  Luckily we were all feeling much better.  Other than the traces of colds the kids had, we were doing well enough to make it to this party.

We had a yummy dinner of chicken Alfredo.

Then we did a talent show with all the kids.  Here's Lily playing "Away in a Manger".

Then we put on the nativity play.  Sophie the Sheep with Grandpa.

Lily was Mary and Jeff was Joseph.  It was fun to have our niece, Adair as the baby Jesus.

Cedric was a wise man.  Here are all the grandkids, each one played a part in one way or another.

After, we watched the Luke II video with the song "Breath of Heaven" playing along with it.  This was always my mom's favorite night during the Christmas holiday, and we all really missed her.  My dad's especially had a hard time.  Not only does he miss my mom, but he and Lori are no longer engaged and although he feels right about the decision, it's been hard for him.

The kids had parties at school, but they don't do any performances for the parents like our old elementary did :(   Jeff's class had a Polar Express party, though and he got to wear his pajamas to school.

Here's Cedric at the preschool Christmas party.

Before we knew it, it was Christmas Eve!  We went to Tom's house for the traditional party, but this year we  had pizza for dinner.  It was nice to have a fun, simple meal this year.

We did the nativity play again.  This time Lily was the angel, Jeff and Cedric were wise men, and Sophie just watched with Nana.  

We had our other new niece, Charlotte be baby Jesus and her parents were Mary and Joseph.  Here's all the performers.  

Then we did the tradition of singing around the Christmas tree.

Afterwards, we did our gift exchange with each other.  Tom's mom had my name and made me new throw pillows to go with our family room.

I was so excited!  Look how well they match my green wall and the couches...

 When we got home the kids opened one more present.  Can you guess what it is?

New pajamas!

The next day was Christmas!  Here's what the gifts from Santa looked like before the kids got a turn to see them.

We let Cedric sleep downstairs in Jeff's room so all the kids (except Sophie) were in the basement.  We told them the rule was they had to stay in bed until 7am.  Then, if they got up they had to stay downstairs and watch TV or play Wii until the other kids woke up.  Once all three of them were awake, they could call our cell phones from the house phone and wake us up.  I was awake shortly after 7 and had a hard time falling back asleep.  That was okay, because the kids called about 15 minutes later, all ready to go!  We let Sophie stay asleep and lined the kids up youngest to oldest.

They were so excited to see what Santa had brought!

Jeff's stuff...

Lily's stuff...

Cedric's stuff...

Sophie woke up while the kids were still discovering their toys from Santa.  She was excited to see her stuff too...

Then we just played,

and played,

and played,

and played,

and played,

and played!

This was the first Christmas since we've been married we didn't have to hurry and get ready to go anywhere.  In years past my Aunt Karen always invited everyone over for a big breakfast.  Two years ago was the last year she did that and last year Tom and the kids had to run off to 9am church (I had a one week old baby at the time).  So this year we just stayed in our p.j.'s and took our time playing with our stuff.  I made the traditional  Christmas casserole and Tom's brother, Kurtis came over for breakfast with us.  It was nice having him there to be our photographer. While we opened all the presents under the tree, Kurt could be our photographer and we could just enjoy the moment.

Tom keeps the tradition he learned from his family, that as the dad he gets to pass out all of the presents under the tree.

Here's a great panoramic picture of the morning.

The kids got some new winter gear.  Jeff loves his bear hat!

Then my dad came over while Tom and I were opening our gifts from each other.  It was fun to have the two bachelors from each of our families there to celebrate with us.  

This gift was on our front porch when my dad arrived.  It said "to Tom, from Santa".

When he opened up his new tool cabinet, he was excited!  It was a lot of work to surprise him with it.  Luckily, I had some good neighbors that helped me.

That afternoon we finally got ready for the day.

Sophie's hair in a pony tail with her Christmas bow.  Cedric said she was a present.

Later that afternoon we went back over to Tom's parent's house for a bit to exchange gifts.  Then we went to my dad's to do our gift exchange with my family.

Even Mom was there!  We bring her picture out whenever we get together and it helps us feel her presents with us.

Tom, Matt, John and Jeff posing their team colors...  They all got new clothes for Christmas.

My dad then opened his presents from us.  One of which was a calendar made using beautiful photos my brother, Nate (who lives in Germany) took of the different places he's been.  Then on each birthday or anniversary date their was the picture of that person celebrating.

After my dad's house we went to my grandma's house.  Here I am with my beautiful grandma.

Tom and Sophie eating dinner.

Cedric loved Grandma Great's dancing Santa.

Soon it was time to head home.  Another Christmas day come and gone.  It was another memorable year and I am always in awe with how blessed my family is.  Merry Christmas!