Christmas Eve & Morning.

 

the Guys.

 
the Girls.

Christmas Eve was our typical "Jerusalem Dinner", except this year Barbara, Aunt Erin's mom, joined us.  (It was so nice to have her with us.  I just loved chatting with her after dinner.  She is someone that I can connect with easily and deeply on a spiritual level.)  Something different was the M & M (Movie & Massage) Christmas present(ation) you kids gave.  You gave a gift package to the people you had been designated (Brie: Aunt Em, Rach & Erin, Alex: Uncle Matt & Uncle Tim, Elijah: Buck, Dad: Bompa, Mom: Mémé and Barbara) which included a specially picked out movie treat, a pair of snuggly socks and little ornaments that each of you kids had helped to make.  We gave Bompa & Mémé an M&M blanket that you kids helped to tie and while everyone watched "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" we rubbed each family member's feet.  It was a special project that we had been working on for a few months.  I had been SO excited about it and it was fun to see it all come about thanks to you kids.  Mémé kept mentioning what a special gift it had been!  Aside from that, we got new PJs from Bompa & Mémé (even soon-to-arrive Abi :0)), took pictures, read "The Night Before Christmas" then we had Santa's bells and you kids darted to bed.  Once there Uncle Tim presented a new Christmas book that he had bought for you kids.  How thoughtful is that??  He read it to us then it was time for bed, with visions of sugar plums in your heads :0)

Unfortunately Alex & Lij both were throwing up on Christmas morning :0( BUT you boys loved the battery-operated machines you got from Buck, Brie was SOOOO excited about getting the AG doll, Grace AND Dad & I were so grateful for all the thoughtful gifts from you kids (like the ugly tie decorating kit from Brie :0)) and the rest of the family.  It was really sad to not have Grauntie with us this year, but we were grateful to have Aimee, Gracie Lou Lou and Rue.

Christmastime in Utah.

I decided this year that I can not do dozens of posts about our Christmas vacation.  SO, this is me trying to REALLY consolidate here.  Don't mind collage after collage ;0)

 Making gingerbread cookies with Nana Julz.

Highlights: Going to Golden Corral with the Stevenson Family (all the kids stampeding the ice cream machine and cotton candy! :0) AND very purposely picking out my meal so that I could stay within calories...at a BUFFET! Victory!) * Bowling at Fat Cats with Grandpa & Nana Julz * Giving Heather (& Rex) their Holiday pillow cases Christmas present! * Watching the cousins play * Dad giving the Limitless sign to Nana * Meeting Kingston and Carrie for the first time :0) * Spending time at Grandpa & Nana Julz's house doing projects and crafts *

 I got this little "1st Christmas" set at the Goodwill Outlet a few years ago and was waiting for the right opportunity to use it.  With Aimee and 2 cousins celebrating their first Christmas, I had to bring it to Utah with me for a few photos.  Aunt Heather & I were cracking up about Kingston here!

Bompa taking the kids on the tractor * Mémé reading to Aimee and generally getting such a kick out of her.  Aimee brought out the best laughs and smiles * playing games with my siblings * Seeing Alex be little buddies with Bompa * Mémé filling in for Bompa (who wasn't feeling well) & I going shopping at Shopko * giving Mémé and my sibs their gingerbread aprons * Aimee getting dressed up in her giant pink bunny snow suit and going out in the snow * seeing how much you kids enjoyed all the pets at the house * Bompa coming along for an impromptu Day's run *

Bompa & Mémé helping you boys build a gingerbread house fort out of a BIG box * Seeing you kids with your aunts & uncles, grandparents and cousins * Aunt Rachie teaching me how to make pasta from scratch * playing with Alex up in the loft (building "garages" out of Jenga blocks) * Attending the PV6th ward and seeing so many friends and familiar faces * doing a crêpe brunch and get together with "the Beckys" (Becky Griffiths and Rebecca Soderquist and their kids) * Mémé giving me so many decorations and fake flowers to have for our house * Watching Aunt Rach & Rue play out in the snow--those two sure love each other :0) *

Mémé coming to pick us up from the airport with snacks, water & big hugs! * Bompa making his fun pancakes * Uncle Tim being such a sweet uncle * Dad getting to work with Bompa out in his workshop * Doing an impromptu GNO to the Distribution Center * Pet Smart * Bajio's * Meeting Gracie Lou Lou and Primrose for the first time * Aunt Em being SO thoughtful to take each of you kids shopping for Christmas present for dad & me * Spending so much time with Uncle Matt & Aunt Erin (helping pack, playing games, chatting, Studio C, decorating Abi's corner AND a date to do sealings at the Provo Temple and out to eat at Los Hermanos) * Princess Date to La Jolla Groves (with Grace :0)) * The elf (whip cream in the face) game @ Aunt Rachie's * Grinch Party @ Aunt Emmie's * Spending time with extended family!!

Christmas with Aimee.

As I'm starting to work on Christmas posts I can't help but post these pictures of Aimee.  It was a joy to celebrate your first Christmas with you.  We love you dear girl!

According to Motorola, 12 (December).

Brie's 4th tooth...All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth :0)

Brie playing the musical snow globe at her door leading up to Christmas

Inherited Grove Gator hoodie (Thank you, Sagers!) that we embellished with a bow

Putting up snowflakes...and what a great book!

Father-Son time one snowy afternoon.

Brie & Alex helping me to tie the M & M blanket for Bompa & Mémé

Craftroom chaos = many Christmas present projects underway!

Silly Elfie ;0)

Delicious snickerdoodles from Yuling.  For not liking sweets she sure is a sweet person ;0)  I am SO glad the Nowlands moved in down the street.  We are blessed to have them as friends!

Roo happily pushing his own mini cart at Kroeger (It's so nice having a few hours a week when it's just Lij, Aimee and me at home).

Love me some chubby knees :0)

Impromptu picnic lunch by the Christmas tree and fire.

Thoughtful Thanksgiving cards and candy from Em & Buckley

Alex helped me to make a fabric gingerbread for each of the kids in the family.  It was so fun to work on it during nap time with him.

Gold foiling Valentine note cards for part of Heather & Rex's Christmas present

Orion and Brie with painted faces at the ISU Children's Christmas party

The Graden group with Santa

Sweet Aimsey!

With Reggie the Redbird

My December package, so cutely wrapped in kitty Christmas paper, and a look inside...

Insta hot cocoa bar, courtesy of Aunt Emmie.

After Patricia Seader's baby shower

Dad & I after attending Nancy Ferrero's retirement party

Trying out some "rabbit food" for breakfast (called it that so you kids didn't want any ;0))

Aimee clapping :0)

Olivia and Aimee, undoubtedly one day after school (Sometimes Olivia will come over and sit in the house with you napping kids while I pick up the carpool--Andrew, Brie and Whitney)

Extra special Tea Party Tuesday for Brie's birthday with Olive and Orion.

Sister Sleepover!

Played with the boys one morning...we ended up color coordinating all of their trucks, cars and machines, and we had fun doing it ;0)

A little felt Christmas tree for the kids to decorate

Alex and Shamae playing the piano one day during a play date

Brie in her French beret ready for hat day

Alex with an orange wreath to give his teacher for Christmas

Lij helping to make the Roodolph the Red nosed Toddler cards for Christmas...

I just LOVE how they turned out!

Brie finishing up her "All I want for Christmas..." ornaments

Brie's cute note to Santa

Our 2nd fish, bought at the beginning of December, Joycey Noel.

I should play with the boys more often, creating with blocks is therapeutic and fun :0)

"Mom, I'm smiling at Grauntie and she's smiling at me."

Alex after helping to set up the giant bed for our "Christmas Eve" sibling sleepover in the basement

Packaging and stacking the Christmas presents.  The name tags are newly designed and made this year.

Outing to the Dollar Tree to get candy and socks for our M&M Christmas present

The beautiful Scandinavian ward Christmas dinner

Brie in the BEAUTIFUL dress that Grammy Ruth and Grandpa Ed sent for her birthday/Christmas

Brie being an angel, "earthward winging"

We attended the Journey to the Manger put on by the Lutheran Church around the corner.  It was a really nice presentation.  I appreciate such efforts to keep Christ as the center of Christmas.

Doing the 2nd Advent Sunday night before bed--lighting candles, singing German hymns, having European chocolate.

I love this view from upstairs

Assembling Christmas gifts

My little pink shimmery reindeer :0)

Gingerbread house decorating at the Ringers, all put on by DeAnna Silvey.  What a fun evening!

Boys, did you know it's Winter??

An incredibly thoughtful package from Michelle Graden, Dad's cousin.  A Forgotten Carols project she's been working on for the last several years.  What a treasure.

Printouts for little ornaments for the primary children's Christmas present

Putting together Em's January box

A beautiful spread at the Nowland's house prior to Christmas

Lij and Banks

Yuling's owl...I mean Christmas tree ;0) housing presents for our family.  HOW THOUGHTFUL!

John and the kids walked us home (our van was in the shop)

Getting Christmas cards ready to send to the (great) grandparents