Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone! I know, I'm a week late, and now it's New Year's, but better late than never, right? If you haven't noticed, today is marathon posting for me because I spent the last two weeks with my kids, and enjoyed every minute of it. That's right, I pretty much swore off the computer and we had a ball (the post above this one shows some of the fun stuff we did). Anyway, Christmas morning was wonderful, if low key at our house (our big gift was the cruise, but the kids did get a little something from Santa Claus & some thoughtful friends & family).

Poor Dennis still had the stomach flu, so Connor and I got up at 7 a.m. and hung out for an hour until Devin came in bleary-eyed around 8 a.m. He went to the bathroom and then we got Dennis up. We headed down to Shaylee's room, because Aspen decided to sleep with her on Christmas Eve. It was just after 8 a.m., and we could not get those girls out of bed until we threatened to open their presents for them.

Shaylee mainly got clothes, which is what she asked for & wanted, although Devin got her some body butter & Aspen found some perfume for her to open.

Shaylee also enjoyed Connor's new keyboard:

Devin got the movie Eragon, a remote control car, and new snow boots (he's been using mine all year). He also saved a present from Grandma to open, because he knew there wouldn't be much. She got him a transformer that he has spent the last week transforming into a car & then back into a robot, and then trying to teach me how to do it. I am not mechanically inclined.

Aspen got a new doll, Belle & Beast dolls to dress up, and several puzzles from the dollar store (lovin' it!).

She also enjoyed Connor's keyboard (with microphone).

Connor just loved the excitement. He got a keyboard & a new Christmas sweater & some books.

It was a good day.
Mostly, we were just grateful to spend time together with those we love and think of the Savior and be reminded not only of his birth, but why it was important--because of his life, and his atoning sacrifice and subsequent death and resurrection. We appreciate Grandma Brown's reminder about the gifts we will give the Savior this upcoming year.

Christmas Traditions

We of course, held our traditional Christmas evening with both the Brown & Pearson families. We have our talent show and then act out the Christmas story (well, my family only read the story--didn't act it out this year for some reason). Anyway, my mother-in-law asked that we all bring a short presentation about Christ for our celebration. It was so wonderful to celebrate the true meaning of the season. Shaylee created a beautiful PowerPoint about Christ set to the music, His Hands, for one of her YW value projects. It was played at our Christmas Enrichment for Relief Society (which Shaylee and I missed while we were on our cruise), but she enjoyed sharing it with family at this beautiful season.

The kids were so attentive, mostly:

We needed a video to post on YouTube of Nick, Wendy, & Ellie singing their Christmas song:

What would the Christmas story be without some ANGELS?

A shepherd?

Wise women?

As our group grows, I've been thinking about President Eyring's talk and how they added Samuel the Lamanite prophesying about Christ's death & the tin foil balls that couldn't hit him. We might be safer with cotton balls or something.

Unfortunately, Dennis was sick with the flu on Christmas Eve (and Christmas Day), so we didn't get a lot of pictures with my family (I was too busy corraling kids to worry about a camera), but we did get a few of Aspen & Connor opening presents:

Temple Square

We love to go to Temple Square at Christmas time and enjoy the lights. This year, we were really worried about taking Connor out in the cold. I couldn't find a babysitter, so I stayed home with Connor and Dennis took the three older kids on a Thursday night. On Saturday, we went to the final show of the Center Street Musical Theater in Provo--A Christmas Carol, The Musical. A different twist on the traditional, familiar play. It was fun. That evening, we got reservations to The Melting Pot (only the yummiest, most expensive restaurant we ever frequent, but we had gift cards, hurrah!), but they were for 8:15 p.m., so we got to go to Temple Square together so I could see the lights as well.

My amazing photographer husband got these gorgeous shots of the temple & the lights (sure, I'll sell you a high res copy to print for your wall!).

Tis the Season

I thought it was time that we posted some pictures of the season. First, of course, our tree (which the camera does not do justice).

My sweet husband, being the good sport that he is (and under much duress), agreed to "help" Santa for the Project Read Christmas Party. Needless to say, Aspen wasn't fooled for a second, but it may be the only good pictures I get with Aspen & Connor & Santa at this age.

They were not so fond of the Santa at the ward Christmas party.

What would Christmas be without building a gingerbread house? We did this at Jeremy & Cynthia's house for FHE last week. Moral of the story: buy the $10 gingerbread house kits rather than buying $40 worth of candy & then spending all day baking gingerbread bricks.

What would building gingerbread houses be without raiding the candy stash with dad?

We had a nice snowstorm yesterday, so even though I was sick with the stomach flu, I headed out with Aspen while the kids were in school and Connor was napping. Eating snow seems to be her favorite winter pasttime.

Snow angels, of course.

Sledding (way funner today with Devin who ran her around and around the house on the sled).

Yes, I'm sick, don't criticize.

And what would Christmas be without the whoopee cushion?

Aspen had sooooo much fun with this.

Connor eating a cookie treat after Aspen's dance recital.

Connor learns to feed himself with a fork:

He actually got quite a bit in his mouth (not that you can tell from this picture).

Look mom, no hands!