Christmas

December really equals Christmas, does it not?  We had a fabulous Christmas month, starting with a not so fabulous visit to see Santa at the BYU Employee Party.  We won't be doing that again.  After Santa arrived late and we waited in a line that hardly moved for 2 hours (and yes, we were towards the front of the line), we got a picture of the girls and then the camera battery suddenly died when it was Jamen's turn.  His first Christmas and no picture with Santa.  Thankfully they were also taking pictures so we did end up with ONE picture.

The next weekend, we ventured to Temple Square.  The whole day, there were lots of phone calls to determine whether we should go or not because it was raining then snowing then raining and we were meeting  my whole family there.  In the end, we did meet up, found perfect parking for everyone, and had Temple Square pretty much to ourselves.  It was the best visit to see the lights we have ever had.  It was warm(ish) and it didn't rain or snow.  We had dinner after and just had so much fun being together.

 The next day, we had family candy making day in Morgan.  Somehow I managed to not get a single picture, but imagine two tables full of hand dipped candy...you can imagine the lusciousness.  We are still trying to finish some of it off.

For Family Home Evening one Monday, we also got to go to the library and see a fun puppet show.  Santa made a surprise appearance there, so the kids got to see him twice this year.  Once again, Jamen did not get his picture with the old guy, as he was asleep.

 Jared had the 23rd off, so we decided to have a play day.  We went to lunch and then took the kids to see Tangled.  Loved the show, but we won't do that again anytime soon either. Kenzie could have handled it if there weren't 20 minutes worth of previews she had to sit through before the show actually started.  Linzie didn't even make it through the previews before she was up and walking up and down the stairs.  A few minutes into it, Jamen had a near blow out.  We did actually make it to the end of the movie with all three of them in the theater, but for our sanity and the sake of other movie patrons we will wait to take them to the theater until they are much older.  They did love playing at the play place in the mall, however.

 On Christmas Eve, we celebrated with the Christensens.  We made the traditional gingerbread houses...

 ...wished Jamen a happy 3 months

 ate tons of food, did our funny skits, then the Nativity (with the Embley girls playing guitars and singing Christmas songs), opened presents...

 ...got in our Christmas jammies and headed for home.

 We did Christmas morning at our house and, just as Kenzie had told Santa to do, he delivered his loot to our basement.  He managed to bring the Barbies and Princess dress-ups that were requested, among other things.

 Jamen totally got into Christmas this year. It will be really hard for him to ever be more excited then he was this year!  He is loving his Bumbo and ball popping machine.

 Christmas Day, we drove to Morgan and got to party more.  Once again, we ate way too much food.  We also did the Nativity.  We're still a little short on characters, but have some up and coming wise men and shepherds.  We really missed you, Corprons!  Mary, Joseph, the angel, and the donkey really did a great job though.  The pianist for the carols really came through too.  After presents, we put the kids to bed and then the party really began.  Our favorite tradition on Christmas is to play BINGO for fun prizes.  We have been doing this since I was a kid.  Everyone brings some random wrapped prizes for the pile and we play until the pile is gone.  Once the pile is gone, we set a timer and anyone who gets BINGO can take one of someone else's prizes.  Once the timer goes off, you get to open what prizes you have.  So fun and funny to see what the prizes are.  Right now, we have a pair of adult footy pjs that keep reappearing every year. 

 We all got to go to church together on Sunday and then on Monday, had our annual sledding day.  Grandpa found the ultimate sled to pull behind the snow mobile... pretty good when you can get all the kids and and one mom in the sled at the same time and still be able to be pulled.

 Jamen loved being inside and warm while we were all out in the cold.  He loves to flash this little grin.

 We also got to have a joint b-day party for Linzie and Tate.  They are just a week away from being one year apart.  I'll save the details of that event for another post.

 We had a very wonderful Christmas and feel so blessed to have been able to spend time with our families.  Mostly, we are thankful to have a Savior who's birth we got to celebrate.