Merry Christmas 2014

Merry Christmas!  We decided to cook a turkey for Christmas Eve dinner so that we would have leftovers on Christmas day.  Because of course, I don't cook dinner on Christmas!  :)

Todd was in charge of the turkey and he did a great job!  (Thanks honey!)

I set up the table in Christmas decor and we had my parents and Gina over for dinner.

I don't know why I didn't take any pictures while we were eating, but I didn't...oops.

Here are a couple of pictures before the kids got into their stockings on Christmas morning...yep, Santa came!

We have always started Christmas at 7 am.  Even the teenagers have gotten up.  I have wondered how long that will continue....I'll be sad when the kids want to sleep in on Christmas morning.  So far they still want to start bright and early.  And I'm so grateful for that.  I think it keeps the "excitement" of Christmas morning alive!

  

Even Ziggy got a couple of toys!  (The toys don't last long, of course.  He always finds the squeaker and rips it out first thing).

Then we took turns opening presents....one at a time.  This year we spent about 45 minutes together.  It was awesome.  I've noticed as the kids have gotten older, they are a lot more willing to wait their turn.  :)

Jacob's first present was a Minecraft lego toy.  He was pretty excited about that.

And Dallin got his long-awaited Ocarina.   By the end of the day, he could already play several songs on it.  That kid is pretty amazing!

  Brandon got a whole pack of Old Spice deoderant (his favorite) and Kyle got a Minecraft torch (but that picture didn't turn out)...  :(

Jacob got a Ninjago lego set, a really cool hoodie, a Minecraft shirt, and a model car.

 

Kyle got a couple sets of books (Minecraft and Heroes of Olympus), a Minecraft shirt, a leather crafting pouch, and Brain Storms (a game).  He also got an ipad mini last month for his birthday, and that counted as part of his Christmas too.

(This picture of Kyle is of the gift from Jacob)...

Dallin got a laser grand piano puzzle (3D), a bunch of peanut butter balance bars, an electric razor, and a couple of piano books.

(And this is from Jacob too).  

Brandon got a flute a couple of months ago and that counted for part of his Christmas.  He also got a wallet, some Batman socks, a couple of shirts, and a new book. (And a Pokemon gift from Jacob).

Jacob was so excited about his new jacket!  He wanted the kind that zips all the way up over your head and you can still see...

And Jacob even got me and Todd a present.  Remember last year when I got "World's Greatest Mom" and Todd got a little table-top garbage can.  HA!  Well, this year, I got a blue gem and an elastic bracelet and Todd got a little trophie that says, "#1 Dad."  I guess we're even now...HA! 

And then we got the best Christmas present ever!  We got to talk to Elder Jones!

This year Todd went and got the projector from the church (in the stake offices) and hooked it up to his laptop and then projected Eric up onto the wall of our living room.  It was so awesome!  He was "big" and everyone could see him!

Doesn't he look so grown up?

We sent him a "Link" hat from The Legend of Zelda game and he loved that.  He put it on first thing...

Oh my word!  He is so cute!  We got to talk to him for 2 hours this year.  It was awesome!  He has a new mission president and he told the missionaries, "I don't want to give a rule that most missionaries will break."  So, there was no time limit!  Yippee!

It was an awesome Christmas!  We even got snow!  We hadn't had any snow until Christmas day.  That was pretty cool too!

It was a great Christmas and just like every other year, it was over way too quickly!  Merry Christmas everyone!
 

Johnson Christmas 2014

The Johnson party was on the following Monday (after the Joneses) on the 15th.  We had it at our house.  

Here's Todd, Moriah, Caleb, and Michelle

Grandma Johnson, Aunt Gina, and Me (Yes, I know I'm not even looking at the camera....what's up with that?)  :)

We visited, had ice cream sundaes, and opened presents.  It was fun spending time with the family.  Except we wish Wendy and Anthony's family could have been there, but we totally understand that it's hard for them to come down all the time.

Kyle, Moriah, and Joshie

And here's the tree...just in case you wanted to see it.  HA!  :)

Josiah and Moriah

Joshie and Josiah

Moriah loved her present

Jacob, Brandon, and Dallin

It was a fun party.  The cousins drew names and the adults played a white elephant game to exchange their presents.  I ended up with the same thing I brought.  Oh well, it was useful, at least!  :)  Another successful Christmas party!  

And then Brandon got his wisdom teeth out on Friday, the 19th.  These next two pictures are of him on the second day.  He was really swollen, but these pictures don't do justice.  Fortunately, being swollen and sore didn't stop him from eating.  Here he is eating Arbys!  

He was not a happy camper.  Although he did recover quite well, he also got Strep Throat a few days after.  Poor kid!  He was pretty miserable!

Hopefully he'll be smiling by Christmas!  Happy Holidays!  :)

Jones Christmas 2014

The first of our Christmas parties began with the Jones family on December 13th.  It was held at Aaron and Kristin's home in Hooper.  They are always wonderful hosts, so we always have a great time.  And this party was no exception.  We met during the day this year (Saturday) at 1:00 for lunch.  This was so that Mike and Shauna and their family could drive down and back from/to Idaho in the same day.  Whew!  (Long day for them--they are awesome!)

Me and Dallin

Uncle Aaron, Uncle Ryan, and Brandon

I love this picture of Mike and Shauna.  I just happened to snap it when they were totally laughing.  So cute!!!

After we ate lunch, we watched a few videos.  Todd had prepared a "jibjab" video for each family (6 total--including Grandpa and Matt and Eric).  They were a huge hit and so funny!  Todd basically just put everyone's faces into a pre-made Christmas video.  We were laughing so hard.  I wish there was some way I could put them on here, but I don't think there is...you'll just have to take my word for it.  They were hilarious!  :)

After we watched the videos, we had a talent show.  These kids are growing up so quickly and they all have such amazing talents.  It was awesome to watch them.

Uncle Ryan and MaKenna

Shauna played a song while Sophie sang (Mike was the page turner).  :)

Jacob is the only child I can get to look at the camera when I take a picture.  All of the other teenagers won't even look up!  

We're getting closer.  

Spencer and Emma

Dallin played a song on the piano while Brandon played on the flute.  They always do such an amazing job!

And Sierra played the piano while Aubrey sang a song.

Annie and Uncle Mike sang a song together.

Everyone who participated did a great job!  MaKenna sang a song too.  She was so cute.  After the talent show, we opened presents.  Of course, everyone loves that stage of the party!

Jacob opening his present

And here's Kyle.  His present was huge!

Uncle Ryan made this sword for Kyle.  He has given a couple to other cousins in past years and he plans to cycle through the group so everyone gets one.  All the kids who have one love their sword (and everyone else wants one)!  Uncle Ryan is awesome!

It was a very fun party full of food, friendship, and family.  It was a great way to start off the Christmas season!  We missed Grandma Jones though.  The family get-togethers just aren't the same without her.  Hopefully she got to watch the talent show and spend some time being with us. We do always feel like she's there with us...but it's still not the same.  :(

We love the Jones family!