CHRISTMAS 2010

Christmas is over. I am so sad. I love Christmas. I love the feeling that is in the air, the carols, the buying and giving, the shopping, the crowds, and everything about this season. I love to be in the crowds at the store and watch everyone. For the most part, people are happy and kind and excited. I love to think about what to get people and wonder if they will like it. I LOVE Christmas Eve because I think that the anticipation of Christmas is almost as good as the actual day. I love to think about the Savior more...believe it or not. I love to work at the school and listen to the kids as they get excited about the approaching event. I love vacation during Christmas. This picture was the beginning of our season when Kaylee came with the kids the week before Christmas. We don't get to see Olive much so this is the only picture that I got with her in it. The kids love to get on Papa and play horse. This one ended like most of them end, with someone getting hurt. This time it was Olive. But luckily she was okay.

I love the kids' Christmas programs. Scotty performed this year and he did a great job. I loved listening to him sing and seeing his expressions of pride and happiness as he looked at us.
Will and Kaylee were there for it and this was at the end of the program when Will ran to Scotty and jumped in his arms. They are so cute with each other.
This was at the end of the program. Look how grown up he looks.
Santa's helper on Christmas eve. He was not only Santa's helper, but my helper as well. He totally did all of the decorating and a lot of the wrapping. I got to do the shopping. I love online shopping almost as much as I enjoy the real thing.
We had a quiet Christmas Eve and Christmas. The only ones here on Christmas Eve were Becca and Kyle and Sammy. Joe and Candy came earlier in the day and we had a nice visit with them. Joe shot the beebee gun with Scotty in the backyard...a holiday tradition apparently. That night we had Charlies for dinner and it was delicious. I stewed and stewed over what to fix and then I decided that I was putting too much effort into it and I would just get Charlies. We all love it and I didn't have to cook it. It was a win win. I ordered an extra Mongolion beef for Than for the next day too. I thought about my Shauna and Ben as I ate the Sesame chicken. So not only was the food good, it evoked great family memories. After dinner there was a lot of smack talk about who was going to win the game of Risk. I am not even sure who won (I think it was Sam) but it was fun listening to them rag on each other. I was wondering if Kyle and Becca were going to end up in a divorce over it though!!! Louie and I played cards on one end of the table while they played Risk on the other. Becca is playing with her new phone, one of her presents to herself.
Here is the tree with most of the gifts. I love our Santa. We were all spoiled. Walt got me a Kindle. We got Joe and Candy a Kindle. Walt and I got each other matching computer chairs...if you had seen our other ones, you would realize that this was a need, not a want. I don't think that our others would have lasted more than another day or so. There were gift cards given, blue ray players, garmins, dog beds, season passes to Six Flags, clothes, BYU apparel, a golf club, a beautiful handmade quilt from Candy, home decor, cruise money, a scrapbook of Scotty, and dvds.....lots of dvds. I love presents....what can I say??
Sam playing with his phone. What did we do before cell phones???? We got to talk to Dennis and Everett on Christmas day. They are both doing well and seem to be enjoying their missions.

Than and Erica came late Christmas afternoon. We opened gifts with them and then had our dinner of snacks and treats. I love just snacking on fun things that I have never tried before. On Sunday I actually cooked a real meal. I made a roast and mashed potatoes, corn, fruit salad and fruit with dip. We ate after church and then just hung out. Later the kids got in the hot tub with Than and Erica. It was a windy, rainy weekend but the storm finally broke enough to get in the hot tub.
I love this picture with all the goggles....so cute. The only one missing was baby Gentry.
There she is...not the best picture but I wanted to put it up because we all loved holding this little one so much.
Gentry and Papa.
I was so glad when some grandkids finally got here for Christmas. She is just the cutest thing in the world. I am hoping that at some point, we can someday get all of our kids home for Christmas. That is seeming less and less likely though. I just have to remind myself to enjoy the ones that come. I am so glad that I will get to see this little one more often now that they live a little closer.
I found out via Facebook that Than had planned a party here on Sunday night. A lot of his friends came over to hang out and it was fun seeing his high school buddies....and Erica's. Walt and I said hello to them and then retired to the bedroom and watched a movie. The kids enjoyed playing Wii. Scotty got this new hunting game and he and Walt love it and sometimes fight over who gets to play it. Overall it was a great Christmas. We are blessed people. I love my family. I love this little girl.
As I said before, I am so sad that this time of year is over. I wish that I could keep this feeling year round. Now I will have to just look forward to summertime.