December

Annual visit to see the Thanksgiving Point holiday lights and visit the reindeer--kids love it!

Rachel's choir held their Christmas concert on a Monday evening--perfect FHE! She was so cute. There were only four little girls in the choir (it is a new activity Lindon added). Rachel loves to sing!

Emma participates in her school's drama club. Their play was held in December--"Yes, Virginia." Emma played different roles, including a pigeon (my favorite). She's the pigeon on the far left.

Here she is as a townsperson in the brown dress.

After the play. They also performed the play at the mall in front of Macy's department store. It was cute to see our little girl up on stage!

I took the kids up to see the Festival of Trees. Always amazing to see the designs creative people come up with.

We have so many Christmas books and I love to see the kids cuddling up by the tree reading them.

The Familias came over for our annual Christmas dinner. The girls had fun playing in the empty remote control car box. They are such crazy girls together!

Luke's drawing of our Elf on the Shelf--I love it!

Our little Nativity pageant. It never really works out so well--we just don't have enough people to play all the parts and usually Max does something funny or crazy to mess everything up. But we try and it's still fun.

Christmas Eve was held at our house. Some of Ben's family came over and we had a nice soup and bread dinner with pumpkin pie for dessert (my favorite!). Kathy and Emma with the yummy pie.

Kathy took this fun picture of us on the stairs--family pictures with everyone are rare these days!

We have a real live elf on the shelf! Ben perched little Max up there and he was so happy. Adorable!

Time with Grandma

Santa just arrived! Look at the cool new kitchen set!

Christmas morning! Waiting anxiously on the stairs.

Emma drew a very detailed fishing picture for her dad. We were both amazed at her ability! What a special present.

Love Rachel's face in this one. Pure Christmas joy!

Luke's cool dragon!

After opening gifts on Christmas morning, we had some of my relatives over for Christmas brunch. It was so nice. We ate a sausage-egg casserole, hash browns, fruit, cranberry bread, apple cider and hot cocoa. Delicious. I think I want to make it a tradition! I loved hosting people earlier in the day--they got to participate in the kids' excitement of their new gifts, breakfast is pretty easy to prepare, and after everyone left, I could just relax with the kids for the rest of the day and not worry about hosting people for a big Christmas dinner that evening.

Rachel showing off her new art supplies to papa.

Luke driving his new cars with Uncle Dave.

The girls' new Christmas dresses. These outfits were gifts from my mom. So pretty!

Emma got hair chalk as a gift and she enjoyed chalking everyone's hair--and I do mean, everyone--all day. Even Sue didn't escape the chalk! We went over to Sue's house later in the day to eat leftover soup and bread there and exchange gifts with relatives. It was a lovely day!

This picture was too cute not to post. Back in their jammies before bed on Christmas night. I love these boys!

December is always so busy and filled to the brim with activities. We loved it, even though it got crazy at times. It is such a wonderful time of year!