Christmas 2015

Another Christmas has come and almost gone.  This is our lovely house from in front of the neighbor's house.  These neighbors love our lights each Christmas and this year were a little concerned because it was getting so late and we hadn't had time to put them up yet.  They thought that because the house was for sale that we weren't going to do it this year but we finally were able to the week Saturday after Thanksgiving.  

We had a fun first week of Christmas break.  We made a gingerbread house that didn't even last through the afternoon because apparently we didn't let the icing dry enough when we put the house together before we added all the candy decorations and it was just too heavy.  

 We went to the movies a few times-- Peanuts movie--a total waste and we only made it through the first hour before Kyle was DONE!  We ate out at Cheesecake Factory that day and did a little shopping.  Connor and Caleb worked a lot with Grandpa waxing floors and they went out to Nevada Power several times for the regular afternoon cleaning.

 This was Costco on December 23.  It was crazy!  I got up early that morning and went to the temple and finished our shopping for the holiday.  Don took the boys up to Mesquite to finish his Christmas shopping.

Our Christmas Eve traditions for the last few years has been to go to the movies in the afternoon.  We went to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens.  Kyle did pretty good and we all really enjoyed the movie.  We took Caleb's girlfriend Kelly came with us too.  

After the movie we ran to Walmart for some last minute something or other and then we headed home for our Adams family Christmas Eve progressive dinner.  Apparently I didn't take any pictures at any other house but Grandma's.  We had appetizers at the Zundel's and opened gifts from them.  Then we came back to our house for salad and then to Grandma and Grandpa's house for dinner-chicken spaghetti.  We played the bell/pipes at grandma's house as tradition dictates.  Giving Kyle and Sophia the pipes and a big nail to bang them with left us all with a clanging in our ears and headaches.  

Connor wanted to open his gift from Sister Whipple.  She gave him a cup filled with cash.  I think there was over $20 in mostly ones.  She is so good to him.  

After the Adams Family Festivities we went home and of course the boys had to open their traditional one gift of jammies.  Dad read the Christmas story out of the Bible and we read the night before the Savior's birth from the Book of Mormon.  

We told the boys that they had to wait until 7am to get up.  I woke up at 6:30 and thought that the kids would be dying to get up but it was 7:45 before they started stirring.  Cayden actually woke up at 6 and went and woke up Caleb but Caleb saw the clock and told him to go watch Netflix because it was too early.  I sat out on the couch listening for movement and read my scriptures and some of my favorite Christmas stories.  The boys did their usual waiting in the hall for mom's ok to come into the living room. The boys each got a big new duffel bag and it was a very electronic Christmas.  Connor got a Chromebook, Caleb got an Ipad, Cayden got a Ipad mini and Kyle got a Kids Kindle.  Cody got more grownup gifts like a table for his kitchen, a bedframe and a panini maker and a griddle.  

 The only thing Kyle asked for consistently was a bunny treehouse.  He saw this up in  Provo at Thanksgiving in 2014 at Blickenstaffs and he has never forgotten it.  The one at Blickenstaff's was a really big tree house but this was the best we could do.  

We took his table up for him and put it in his apartment.  

 Cody's loot.  

 Kyle's loot.  

 Cayden's loot.  

 Caleb's loot.  

Connor's loot.  

We told the boys that they had to wait until 7am to get up.  I woke up at 6:30 and thought that the kids would be dying to get up but it was 7:45 before they started stirring.  Cayden actually woke up at 6 and went and woke up Caleb but Caleb saw the clock and told him to go watch Netflix because it was too early.  I sat out on the couch listening for movement and read my scriptures and some of my favorite Christmas stories.  The boys did their usual waiting in the hall for mom's ok to come into the living room.

Dad's new dress jacket.  

 I got a new laptop.  

 Kyle is always saying he doesn't like the dark at bedtime so Santa thought that this light up pillow pet would help.

Dad finally got the blanket I gave him the material for 2 years ago at Christmas.  

The boys each got a new scrubby in their stockings.  It had little pieces of soap in it and Connor didn't quite believe us that it was soap so he put the scrubby in his mouth to test it.  Yep it was soap and he promptly spit it out.  

Kyle got his favorite Lemonade gum in his stocking and he promptly shoved 3 pieces in his mouth.  

The front room was a total disaster and after we were all done Connor was so helpful by cleaning up the whole room and taking everyone's stuff to their rooms and putting away all the boxes and throwing away all the trash.  We had Christmas breakfast of grits, lots of bacon, and biscuits and gravy.  

At 2pm we headed to Gubler bridge area for Adams family pictures with all of dad's family since this was probably the last time we would all be together for a holiday and able to get a big picture.

Then we went home and got ready for Christmas dinner.  We invited the Morgan's over and had smoked ham and turkey, hasselback potatoes that looked better than they tasted, spinach and goat cheese salad, spinach artichoke dip, green bean casserole, strawberry pretzel salad, and Buche de Noel.  I think I spent most of the day in the kitchen.  

We are so so blessed.  We have plenty of food and family.  We have lots of love and are able to share with our friends and family.  I am so grateful for the Savior and to be able to understand his light and life and mission.