Jared at intermission during his performance of The Messiah. The performance really helped to bring the true Christmas spirit.
The kids had a lot of fun decorating mini gingerbread houses with their friends.
They were also excited to meet Santa at our ward Christmas party.
Maddy in some "Lobster Bisque" glasses she made.
The kids were super excited to get a little snow. Unfortunately they only had enough to make mini snowball size snowmen.
The kids had fun visiting Beaver Bark to see the Christmas decorations and the reindeer.
We got to the host the Elders on Christmas Eve.
We had an hors d'oeuvre party and the kids had fun helping me make Grinch Kabobs.
We read and acted out the Nativity story from the Bible. Maddy was Mary and Nathan was Joseph.
Nathan's baby doll was Baby Jesus.
The Elders were great shepherds. Don't they look "sore afraid?"
I got to be the narrator and Jared was a wise man.
Nathan after opening his Christmas ornament for this year. We all got ornaments with Thomas' picture and name engraved on it.
The kids were super excited to get Christmas pajamas from their Grandma.
Maddy opening her stocking on Christmas morning.
Jared got a new a collection of stories by Jules Verne.
Nathan was excited to get a new toy box. (It isn't actually finished since Jared was having issues with the paint in the cold garage.)
Maddy got a a new bed for her doll.
Santa brought Abby the same thing.
Santa brought Jared a new bow so he can do archery with the kids in the backyard.
Our family got a really cool 500 piece puzzle that had castles and dragons. We had a fun Christmas day doing our puzzle, eating left overs, and seeing the movie Frozen.
Jared lost his pictures of me (he accidentally deleted an album on his phone), but I got new Christmas jammies as well. Santa also brought me a new stereo so I don't have to keep stealing Abby's Hello Kitty CD player when I want to listen to music.
Jared lost the most recent photos on his phone, but we stopped over for a day in Boise on our way down to Utah. The kids had fun with their cousins, and were excited to get cool Lego sets from their Collett Grandparents. Their also loved the gifts their Uncle Bryan brought them from Australia.
We made to Utah just in time for the Donaldson family Christmas party. It was great to see a lot of my family members I hadn't seen in a long time.
My Grandpa with his great-grandkids.
The kids singing together.
It was really fun to see my sister Rachel who came out from Philadelphia to see us.
The kids visiting Thomas' grave. Nathan wanted to be sure to bring Thomas' teddy for him.
My mom ordered a beautiful wreath that said Thomas and Lavina (my grandma's name) on the ribbon.
Maddy enjoying the children's arts and crafts desk at Grandma's house.
My kids love giving Grandpa bear hugs.
We were excited to meet up with our good friends from Philadelphia at their son Aidan's baptism. It was weird to see him so grown up since he was Abby's best friend when they were babies.
On the 28th we had a birthday party for my dad with all of my siblings. It was the first time we have all been together since we went to the Oregon coast a few years ago. The kids had fun running around and playing in the gym.
The kids also did an impromptu talent show for all the adults. Nathan did crazy dancing and Abby and Maddy played a song.
My mom with her old mission companion Georganna.
The grandkids playing musical chairs to "What Does the Fox Say?"
We had a couple really nice visits with my Grandpa. We are happy that he is recovering well and should be able to go home soon.
Jared and I also had fun seeing the Desolation of Smaug with Nikki and Andrew and having a game night where we played Pandemic, which is fitting since we all came down with sickness after that party.
We all had a fun trip to the children's museum Discovery center in Salt Lake.
Going shopping.
Make sure that plastic fruit is fresh!
Maddy acting out the Princess and the Frog with their cousin Christian.
The older kids and grandpa went to the Planetarium while the younger kids were at the museum. We all had a nice meal at Chuck-A-Rama afterward. My parents and our family also enjoyed a 3D IMAX movie about Jerusalem at the Planetarium.
Unfortunately I got super sick with the flu after this so I don't have any more pictures, but the kids had a lot of fun playing with their cousins and celebrating New Years. Jared and the kids also had fun in Boise on our way back through.
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