Christmas 2015

 A little snapshot of our Christmas Celebration.  We may have had real life bits like a pouting stand off with Dad and Brent, last minute pajamas that were too small, and dry turkey meat, but there was also enough joy to outweigh any fuss.  Emily had organized (while we had been at ward choir practices) a sweet musical program after our Christmas Eve Dinner that all the children sang/played in.  We feasted on ham, turkey, sides, and Gingerbread Toffee Trifle, w/ Dad's Cranberry and Tonic Water to drink.  After the music (programs had even been printed!), we acted out the Nativity, and then everyone opened up new pajamas.  It was a pretty late night, as Brian miraculously spruced up a hand-me-down play Kitchen we had been given (THAT day!!--I wasn't sure when it would be dropped off, but when it came in time, we had to try!), and then collapsed in a bad headache while I finished up other preparations myself (not an easy one person job!).  I love that feeling on Christmas Eve though, knowing there's NOTHING more to worry about for days, while we just cuddle together as a family for a great while :). 

Christmas Morning was lovely and relaxing--we tried baked eggs in cream with our Cinnamon rolls and stocking cereal (YUMM!), and otherwise grazed on leftovers and played games and relaxed.  We had been SO dumped on with snow all month, that it was a very White Christmas, even without fresh snow.  (Thank Goodness for that Snow Blower this year!!!).  The older kids were content with clothes (and a rubix cube/ sketch pad), Spencer has made many cool Snap Circuit creations, and become a pogo stick pro, the little girls (especially Jane) have LOVED the play kitchen and Loving Family dolls, and we were excited to get an outdoor fire pit and pool membership from grandparents! We've gone swimming almost every weekend at our nearby Natatorium, and I'm even trying to get better at doing laps in the morning! We've also become pretty addicted to the card game "Cover Your Assets."  It was a cozy fun year to be together and healthy and so relaxed!

Lucy, Maddie, Anne, Brian, Spencer (snorkeling)