Christmas Day

We were sooooo excited this year to spend our first Christmas as our own little family! Each year of our marriage, James has had to work on Christmas, except for last year, when we were in San Diego for my sister's wedding. So this was our first experience having Christmas all together in our own home. Can you believe that? We've been married for SEVEN years!

We had the added adventure this year of having 9am church on Christmas Day. We told the kids that we'd do stockings in the morning, and everything else after church. We left Santa a note asking him to please wrap their presents so they wouldn't be distracted by seeing them in the morning. He was nice enough to do just that, and load them in Claire's Pack N Play with streamers over the top and a "Keep Out!" sign taped to it all. The kids were so good about leaving all the presents and going to church. We didn't hear one complaint, and they looked so cute!

After church they finally got to open their presents, and much joy was felt by all!

 ^^^Kenley LOVED her mp3 player. I think if James and I had realized how much it would reduce her constant jabbering, we would have bought one for her at the tender age of 3!

Then we headed over to my grandma's that night to enjoy some fun and family time!

 If you note that two of my children are still in their church clothes, don't think I forced them to out of respect for the Sabbath - they just really prefer to stay in them, and do it almost every week. Especially Parker - he LOVES his church clothes. Weirdo.

 My grandma, Gail, and Dave.

^^This is my Uncle Gary attempting to put some microscopic shoes on Claire's Polly Pocket. She's got a way of convincing anyone to do anything for her!

All in all, one of our very favorite Christmases! It was hard to be away from our families in California and Utah, but it was so nice to be together with James and our other extended family!

Christmas Eve Nativity

On Christmas Eve, we had a Nativity play with the six kids. It was pretty funny, especially once Claire agreed to wear a sheep costume. Because of the kids playing multiple roles, that meant we had a speaking sheep as an innkeeper, but when you have six kids under the age of 10 acting out a Nativity, that was the least of our problems!

 The show, apparently, was riveting.

Alyeska Family Fun

The week before Christmas, we went up and stayed at the Hotel Alyeska with lots of family. We got to hang out with some out-of-town cousins, and spent lots of time swimming in the pool. The view was gorgeous, the kiddos were great, and we had lots of great food! Doesn't get better than that!

 

December Adventures

Thanks to world's most ghetto advent calendar,

 we have been busy with December activities. We made a Santa Christmas Countdown

 crafted a gingerbread village

 bought and decorated the Christmas tree

 made popcorn balls

 and even got a snow day! Kenley made this to-do list for the day. A girl after my own heart.

Nutcracker

Once upon a time when I was a little girl living in Anchorage, I got to go to the Nutcracker with my mom (though, my grandma just told me that SHE took me to the Nutcracker, so maybe this is a fake memory and this was all with my grandma, or maybe I went more than once). Anyway, she bought me a delicate gold bracelet with yellow hearts, and little gold ballet slippers dangling off of it. I thought it was so elegant and special, and I have had a special place in my heart for the Nutcracker ever since. Last year I was determined to take Kenley, but missed it since I had foolishly assumed it would be in December, since it's a Christmas ballet and all.

ANYWAY, this year was the year! Kenley and I went to the Nutcracker together, and as much as I loved the ballet, I loved watching her sweet little face even more, as she gazed at the stage with her chin cupped in her hands and a look of awe on her face.

This is Kenley's "Can we PLEASE stop taking pictures and go in now, Mom? And by the way I'm 10" face.

 Me and my girlie, after the show.

Her favorite dance was the dance from China in Act 2 (random fact: Kenley loves all things related to China), and her favorite part of the date was that I let her get a fruit and cheese plate at intermission. I love that girl.