Christmas With Family

We have SO many traditions at Christmas time.  If we ever leave any out, you better believe my kids will let me know.  That's part of the reason that things get so packed in this time of year.  But, I am learning to say no, when I can.  That being said, you will see by the huge number of pictures, that I didn't say no very often!

We love to do puzzles at Christmas.  This was one of Dustin's family's traditions growing up, and we have continued it with ours.  It sits in our living room, and usually takes a couple of weeks to get it done, and it is fun to see the kids and Dustin sitting around the table, talking and working together on it.

 Almost every year for 8 years, we have gone over to our friend's house to do a puppet Nativity with them.  This is their tradition, but it is becoming ours, as well.  We always have fun together.

 The girls and I went to see Grandma Losee in Delta one night (Dustin was sick, and the boys stayed back for scouts).  She is 90, and fell and broke her hip a couple of months ago.  She has been such a fun, spunky lady for my whole life, and it is a little hard to see her acting her age.  We love her and are grateful for her amazing life and legacy!

 This tree was at the care center where she lives, honoring WWII veterans.  I found two of my grandpas on the tree!

 We just had to detour to drive past this house on the way home.

 Grandma and Grandpa Shurtz came up for Christmas this year!  In these pictures, Grandpa is having the kids feel his broken leg (from when he was 16).  A little strange?  Avery seems to think so, but I wouldn't know.  This was my life all growing up.  He also has veins on his hand that spell "hi".  He's pretty amazing.

 Dustin and I got a little excited about an ice cream sale, and we may have gone a bit overboard...  Eating too much ice cream is definitely a tradition at our house.

 We have a tradition that the kids draw names and then make each other gifts for Christmas.  It is for sure the most meaningful, loved gift every year.  This year (thankfully) Grandma was here to help the boys and me figure out some sewing projects.  Grant sewed Maren a bag and bought her stuff to make slime.  Ryan sewed Avery a bag and painted her a message on the inside.  Avery sewed Ryan a cool pillow bed, and Maren made Grant a white board to hang on his wall.  Creative kids!

 Food and walks.  Our favorite.

 For Christmas Eve, every year I make ebelskivers for breakfast.  They are little Danish pancake balls.  This was also Dustin's family's tradition, that we have made our own.  His people and my people are both from Denmark and Sweden, so it is fitting.

 Christmas Eve was on a Sunday, and I liked it.

 That night we had our Bethlehem dinner.  Along with my parents, we had Grandma Lana, and my friend Amy Parker, and our friend Todd.  Whenever I ask my kids, this is their favorite tradition, and it is mine, too.  It is fun, yummy, peaceful, joyful.

 After everyone went back home, the kids opened their Christmas jammies (tradition).

 And then we played some games, while we waited for bed time and Santa to come.

 Eventually Santa did come!!

 Avery is screaming because she just got a phone for Christmas.

 Ryan ended up super sick with strep throat, so for the entire day, he laid on that bed Avery had made him.

 The loot.

 Avery convinced me to get Dustin this 1 pound Reeses Peanut Butter Cups candy bar for Christmas.  He loved it, but she really loved it.

 A couple of days after Christmas, Monica and James and their family came from Illinois to visit.  They headed to Cedar first, but Maren went down with them to spend a few days.

 Then they made it up to our house in time for New Year's.  They brought their (huge) dog, Lincoln.  He and Pepper did surprisingly well together, once they figured each other out.  Lincoln is about 10 times the size of Pepper, so we still watched them pretty close.

We made it to Temple Square one more time before the lights got turned off. 

Lynnette and I have twin coats.  And we wear them with pride!

 Somehow we didn't lose any kids at Temple Square!  It was a Christmas (or New Year's Eve) miracle!

 We went back to our house that night to celebrate New Year's Eve together.  It was a little chaotic, as you might imagine.

 And it was Addie's 3rd birthday!  So, Jen stuffed an Oreo full of candles and we all sang to her.

 Christmas gift exchange with the cousins.

 White elephant gift exchange with the adults.

 Everyone is sleepy at 1 a.m.

 On New Year's Day we headed to Park City to the Olympic Museum.

We had so much fun with family this Christmas!