December 24th - Christmas Eve

December 24th: We woke up early and drove down to Springville in our pajamas to have Christmas Eve morning with my parents. I didn't take pictures! Argh! Georgia made pancakes, bacon, potatoes, and berries that were delish. Then we opened presents and visited for a while before we had to head home. When we got home, Dave started making enchiladas and Clara took a nap. We had dropped Josh off at my mom's so I went ahead and started getting things ready for Christmas morning. It was pretty easy this year - nothing to assemble!

Around 4pm we headed over to Ama's house to decorate some cookies and get set up for the evening. A while later, our friends started showing up: Mert & Ken Ashby, Oliver & Kristin Christensen, Dayna & Sara Nichols, Erin McBride, and my aunt and uncle, Jack & Karen Brotherson. It was quite the party! We had enchiladas, rice, tamales, chips and salsa, and a myriad of desserts.

Dave snuggling with Anna. He loves baby snuggles.

Baby Pebbles! She is such a cutie.

Josh and Oliver playing with Connectagons.

After dinner we got the kids dressed up for the Nativity. Josh played Joseph, Clara played Mary, and Clara Bright and Woodstock played angels. There was a very funny moment when Clara Bright stole the baby Jesus from Mary and went running off down the hall. I guess every homemade Nativity has its challenges!

After Clara Bright stole the baby Jesus, Woodstock stole it from her. It was mass chaos, but we still managed to read the Nativity story and all was well in the end.

Woodstock needed to be tall as she made the angelic proclamation.

Clara was very attentive to the baby (cabbage patch) Jesus.

Josh made a cheerful and handsome Joseph.

After the Nativity, each family took a turn showcasing a Christmas talent. Woodstock, Ms. Mert, and Dayna listening to Oliver and Clara Bright sing.

Aunt Karen, Uncle Jack, and Amabuela watch the show.

Suddenly the door burst open and Santa came in yelling "Ho Ho Ho!" He sat down and started pulling out candy canes. Clara Bright swooped in and stole the first one.

The kids were a little nervous about sitting on Santa's lap.

Josh sitting on Santa's lap

Clara sitting on Santa's lap

This picture is classic! Poor Pebbles - wondering what the heck is going on!

Erin snuggling with Anna.

The traditional "Oliver's feet in Dave's lap" picture.

We wrapped things up about 8pm so that everyone could head home. It was a great evening! I'm so grateful that I got to have so many Virginia friends there - especially since they all knew each other as well!

December 23rd - The Polar Express

Mid-afternoon, we bundled up and loaded up for the drive to Heber for a ride on the Polar Express. We had a great time! All of the Tottens came with us, as well as my mom and our friend, Erin, who is Clara's Fairy Godmother. After dinner we went to Don Pedros for dinner, which is our favorite Mexican restaurant in Utah. The weather was clear and the kids loved the train.

Rob, Erin, Dave and Amabuela

Closed eyed Kelly and Curt

Clara and Josh in their cute pajamas

The hot pink pajamas add pounds! Mom with Josh and Clara

Erin, Josh and Amabuela

Clara with Ama Ancy and Papa Rick

Mom and Josh

Santa boards the train!

Santa with Josh and Clara

Clara gets her bell

The conductor punches Josh's ticket

Josh and Clara show off their bells

Mrs. Claus showed up, too!

Singing Christmas Songs

Josh gets into the singing. He learned "The Twelve Days of Christmas" at school.

The four of us in our matching pajamas. A little bit scary, but warm and comfortable!

December 23rd - Morning

Josh's Kindergarten class had their Christmas party this morning. Dave and Amabuela and I volunteered to staff one of the "Centers", and we taught the kids how to make snowflake ornaments. It was so fun and the kids were really cute about it.

Cutting the paper

Josh, Carter, and two cute girls

Amabuela showing how the snowflake ornament works

Josh shows off his gingerbread house with the "Snowman Garden"

"1-2-3, Eyes on me!" Mrs. Proud wraps up the party.

December 19 - 22nd: Holiday Festivities

December 18th: Tonight we had Clara's dance recital. She was so cute and adorable - as all three year old girls are at their dance recitals. Dave's mom and my dad and step-mom came to the show. Bless them for their tolerance through 30 dances! Obviously Josh didn't make it very far.

December 19th: I woke up to this. Clara had decided that her hair was "too long". After shedding many many tears, I hauled her to my hair salon where they were able to fix it. It's cute, but I miss her long hair. She just looks too grown up now!

December 19th continued: For our cute friend Clara Bright's birthday, we headed downtown to Temple Square to have dinner and see the lights. We went to Rumbi Island Grill where Oliver was pleasantly surprised with the tortilla soup. Then we hopped on TRAX and went over to see the lights followed by cupcakes in the parking garage. I said to Oliver, "Did you think 10 years ago when we were getting ready for the big Y2K dance at the Hilton that in 10 years we would be in a parking garage in SLC celebrating your daughter's 3rd birthday?"

December 20th: After a wonderful Christmas Sacrament Meeting, we headed down to Orem for our annual Christmas with my cousins and aunt and uncle. We opened presents, had dinner, sang carols, butchered the "Hallelujah Chorus", and laughed a lot. It was a lot of fun.





December 21st: Blissfully, we had nothing going on tonight! So we just cleaned up a bit and Dave and I watched a movie.

December 22nd: After a wonderful birthday breakfast for my sweet friend, Laurie, I came home and worked for a while and then got my haircut. I look awesome. :)