The Holidays

Just before the Christmas break, Dallin had his first band concert. He chose to play the trombone this year. He wanted to play the trumpet, but my mom had a trombone in her garage and so I suggested to Dallin that he could play the trombone. Dallin thought this was a great idea because, and I quote, "If I play the trombone than I can hide behind port-a-potties and make it sound like people have really bad gas. I could also follow around fat people and play "dum da dum" theme songs for them." That last thought was copied from an ad for Family Guy on TV. We don't watch the show, but saw an ad for it involving the baby guy and a tuba. Anyway--he is improving with the trombone, and I videoed a song from his concert because Daddy couldn't be there. Dallin is in the front row on the left. It was also "crazy-hair" day and so his hair was dyed black. I think that, especially considering that they have only been playing for a few months, they did a fantastic job.



Up on the Housetop, the Image Elementary 5th Grade Band

We are blessed to live close to almost all of our family. Brandon's parents and siblings all live within 20 minutes of us, with the exception of his sister who lives about an hour away. My parents and siblings all live within 30-45 minutes of us, with the exception of my brother and his family, who've lived away from us for most of their marriage, and my little sister and her husband who recently defected and moved to the Midwest to attend medical school. So holidays for us are always full of family craziness, love and fun.

This year we had a Christmas Brunch the Sunday before Christmas with Brandon's mom and siblings. It was a great way to start our day. The only problem was that it was before church and so it was hard to keep the kids calm after spending the morning eating yummy treats and opening presents. We managed to make it through church, though, and then we were able to go home and enjoy all of our new gifts from Grandma.



(left to right, back to front)

Kyle, Jason, Brandon
Mom, Amanda
Erin, Erica



Grandma and all of her grandkids (left to right, back to front)

Keaton, Jerrin, Breanne, McKaya, Tyler
Joey, Moira, Celeste, Stephen, Mom, Gordon, Tamsen
Dallin, Kyleen, Eddie



The aftermath of so much fun.

Then, later that evening, we went with my family to Peacock Lane. We don't have any pictures of that because it was raining so hard I was afraid of ruining my camera. Despite the downpour, and the fact that Daya's kids were in PJ's and croc shoes, we walked Peacock Lane and got absolutely SOAKED! Payden even fell into the mud and stomped through every puddle he could find. We had a blast and it is probably the most memorable trip to Peacock Lane since the year that it snowed on us. Ironically, as soon as we got back to the parking lot to get into our cars, the rain stopped!

This year we spent Christmas Eve with my family. With 11 out of 15 grandkids there, it was quite crazy, especially considering that all but 3 of those 11 kids are 5 and under. Two 5-year-olds, two 3-year-olds, two 2-year-olds, and two infants. Needless to say there was a lot of laughing, and screaming, and playing, and hugs and kisses mixed in with a bit of arguing and tattling, but it was fun to be all together. We missed David and his family, and Dani & Clinton, but we're jealous that they all got to have very white Christmases in Utah and Wisconsin.



Papa told us the story of Christ's birth and the grandkids took turns answering questions and when they got the right answer they got to open a door on the advent calendar and have a special treat. It was funny when Papa asked 2-year-old Maddy what King Herod wanted to do once he found out where the baby Jesus was and her mommy taught her to say in her cute, sweet, innocent 2-year-old voice, "kill da baby, Jesus." The look on Jen's face when she realized she was teaching Maddy "kill the baby, Jesus" was priceless! It was a nice activity and hopefully will be a new tradition.



Kyleen flashes a grin at the camera while Ellie is opening her present. The kids were all very patient as we took turns opening presents. It was fun to see how excited they were for each other.



Dallin was very excited about his magic kit. He is learning all sorts of new magic tricks. FYI, if he asks you to pull his finger, it's not a magic trick...don't do it!



I think this is a really cute picture of Breanne. This swatch is perfect for her because she loves to coordinate her outfits and accessories.

After the evening of prime rib, presents, and new p.j.s came to a close we hurried home to get ready for Santa to come. Brandon and the girls went outside to cover the lawn in the special reindeer food that Tamsen and Kyleen made at Kyleen's classroom holiday party. It was so cold that night that the fog was freezing. It was really beautiful. If you looked closely you could see the fog freezing before your eyes. It looked like very small flecks of glitter falling all around you. It wasn't really noticeable, but when I was taking pictures of them feeding the reindeer the flash kept capturing it.



The girls were scattering it at first, but it was too cold, so Daddy finished it off.

Once the deer were fed, the kids hurried off to bed so Santa could come to our house, and he sure did! We had a wonderful Christmas. We chose to stay home the entire day and just spent the day enjoying each other and playing with our new presents.



Our beautiful Christmas tree



Jerrin was so sweet and he gave gifts to everyone in our family. I was given his Smokey the Bear mask. Kyleen thought this was a great idea!



We had a couple of visitors Christmas morning, including Brandon's dad, Steve, and his wife, Nancy. Kyleen is modeling the new stocking cap they gave her and the dress up dress from Grammy and Papa that she has worn every day since Christmas.



Here's Tamsen in her hat and dress up dress. She, too, has lived in this dress for the past week.



Jerrin opening his micro RC car.



Dallin's looking pretty toasty in his new p.j.s and fleece blanket.

Two days after Christmas, Kyleen came down with a horrible flu. It was quite sad to see her so sick. Tamsen had had it the week before and so we knew that at least it wouldn't last for very long. That night we sent her to bed with a bowl, just in case she got sick in the middle of the night. Before going to bed I went in and checked on her and I found her sound asleep like this...



I guess you can never be too prepared.

The next day she was feeling better, but not completely up to snuff, when we were surprised by a snow storm. By the time there was enough snow to really play in, Bre had come down with the flu and so just Tamsen and the boys were able to go out and play. They had a blast!



After taking pictures, I made the boys go in and get bundled up a little more. It was so beautiful and it really made me want to live somewhere where it would snow more often. Tamsen loved being out in the snow and thought it was fun catching snow on her tongue. She decided to lay down and "chill" while letting the snow come to her.



I love this picture! It looks like something that belongs in a Country magazine or something.

We had a wonderful Christmas holiday this year, filled with family and friends and very real reminders of the blessings in our lives. We are so thankful for our Savior and his birth, and even more so for His atonement and resurrection. For the gospel in our lives and for the opportunity we have to be a family forever. I'm looking forward to 2010 and the many adventures that we will have as a family. Excited for the growth that we will experience together. I am thankful for the blessings in my life, and hope that this year, we can be a blessing to others. Let the new year begin!



Tamsen and Kyleen in their pretty Christmas dresses all ready for Tamsen's first day as a Sunbeam.