New Year's Eve - Happy Birthday Warren

Warren and I looked ahead into the new year and realized that if we wanted to do a family vacation it would be ideal to do it over Christmas break.  We talked about what would be fun and settled on Snowmobiling.  We have talked for years about doing a vacation with the Atkissons and so we invited them along.  It was a lot of work to find an affordable place to stay that had what we were looking for:  a kitchen so we could make our own food, room to play together, and beds for everyone. We ended up in a VRBO in Garden City right on Bear Lake. It was a very comfortable house and there was an affordable place to rent snowmobiles nearby.

Playing games on New Year's Eve 

Of course, we wanted to celebrate Warren's birthday as well. The Atkisson's brought him gifts - a new sweater and socks.  He was very happy with both.  He commented, "How did they know I needed socks?" 

 He tried to be very entertaining while opening his gifts. 

The Atkinson's really know how to sing "Happy Birthday". We didn't have any birthday candles for him to blow out but the "Death by Chocolate" cake from COSTCO was delicious.

We had snack food and played games while waiting to ring in the new year.  Someone nearby shot off a few fireworks over the lake. 

Christmas Day

Christmas began by trying to dig out from the big snowstorm overnight.  We had about 12 inches of new snow.  Graig got busy with the snowblower while Warren and I worked with shovels.  The dogs thought it was great to run around in all of that fresh powder.

Federica trying to wake up Christmas Morning. This picture was taken about 9am.

Tyler, Federica, Jessica, and Melanie looking in their stockings.

Tyler in his Ute t-shirt and Graig in his BYU hat.

Jessica got most excited about a single gift when she opened the Star Wars Movie soundtrack and immediately ran down stairs to put in in the CD player.

 Federica was pretty excited Tyler gave her a coffee maker.

After opening gifts and eating breakfast we headed up to the Atkisson's house to open a few more gifts and play.  One popular activity was Ashlyn's new "Just Dance" game.

 Another popular activity was "Ticket to Ride" and putting together a puzzle.

It was a fun day.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was spent getting last minute gifts ready for Christmas day. One successful part of the day was getting Federica skis so she can start using her Snowbird Season Pass. We then all met up at my Mom and Dad's house for dinner and activities.  There was lots of good food that was part of our turkey dinner. My parents save their neighbor gifts for Christmas Eve so that we can deliver them as a family while Christmas Caroling. I must say we sounded pretty good as we caroled with lots of harmonizing. For the first time we caroled to the Bastian Mansion up the street.  It was fun to see the Christmas lights up close and peek inside the beautiful house. The Bastians were very gracious in complementing our singing.

 The not to cold weather made it so the caroling could last longer.

When we got back to the house, we gathered together to read the Christmas Story. The kids are a little big for the nativity costumes and so they decided to act out the story with the wooden nativity I painted for my Mom years ago.  We mixed in some songs in between the scriptures.

Once the formal parts of Christmas Eve were finished, the kids gathered to play games.

 It was just beginning to snow as we drove home.  The kids went to bed and Warren and I finished getting the gifts wrapped and ready. There were a lot of presents to open.

 Santa brought everyone a stocking filled with goodies and a snowsuit with a coupon for a snowmobiling trip at Bear Lake.

Star Wars, The Ward Christmas Program, Gingerbread House, and Pie Night

We decided to see the New Star Wars movie on opening weekend.  Jessica got a party together. She made Papusas for dinner and then we went to the show. I don't think anyone was disappointed with the story. We saw it in 3-D.

For the first time in two years our entire family participated in the ward Christmas program. We all sang with the choir.  Tyler played his bass in "Far, Far Away on Judea's Plains" and Graig and Tyler played their instruments in "Silent Night".  It was epic.  Our ward is pretty new and so we didn't have much time to get the program together but it was great. I had to think lots of happy thoughts to keep from crying the music was so beautiful.  I wasn't the only one.

Melanie, Federica, and Tyler decided it was a good night to make a gingerbread house.

Pie night at the Brown's house.

Star Wars Dance at LHS

Princess Leia (Erica) and Hans Solo (Tyler)

Annual Neighborhood Christmas Party

One of our traditions is to have a Christmas party with our next door neighbors.  Tina hosts the party in her preschool room.  This year we did pancakes, sausage, and fruit.  The buttermilk syrup I made was very popular.

Kayla and Tyler

Playing charades

Tina, Aften, Melanie, and Will

Ben, Amy, Dave, Mary, Warren

Thanks for sharing your pictures, Tina