Luke spent a lot of the holiday wheezing. His cold induced asthma came back with a vengeance and we fought it with Albuterol breathing treatments and a heavy duty steroid. Little did we realize that playing in the snow and the cold air makes it way worse according to the doctor. I am a great parent! Thanks heavens he's a ton better now.
John and the kids used up most of the snow in the backyard to make this awesome snowman. It was perfect wet snow. Kaycee and I also built a super cool Stegosaurus in the front yard but regretfully no pictures where taken and it melted the next day.
Kaycee played in her 2nd piano recital ever. She is a natural and did and wonderful job! She played Jingle Bell Rock and another song that I can't pronounce. She was one of the two kids who had their song memorized. I am so proud of her!
Later after Kaycee's recital John and I went square dancing for my work party. We hadn't square danced since elementary and it was a blast. John was seriously dubbed a "natural" by the callers wife (who is a dancer). We got a good laugh out of that one.
The next morning Mr. Snowman starting melting. He eventually bowed right to the ground and we had fun watching him!
We went to the Chamberlain family Christmas party. It was a lot of fun. John received a great white elephant gift from his brother Jayson. He photo shopped John's head onto some muscle man pictures - each with a year on it ('92, '97, '02, '07) and then it says 'Are you Ready for . . . 2012?' with John's signature on it. It is hilarious! Luke seriously thought that's what John used to look like! Edward the Elf (our elf on the shelf) decided to inconspicuously show up next to the picture that night.
The kids had a blast playing and putting on the nativity.
All of the older grandchildren had a part and a costume. It was really great!
Aunt Josalyn got this really cool background scene, rug and manger from her ward party. They were just going to throw it away. It will for sure get used every year by us.
We went to the Chamberlain family Christmas party. It was a lot of fun. John received a great white elephant gift from his brother Jayson. He photo shopped John's head onto some muscle man pictures - each with a year on it ('92, '97, '02, '07) and then it says 'Are you Ready for . . . 2012?' with John's signature on it. It is hilarious! Luke seriously thought that's what John used to look like! Edward the Elf (our elf on the shelf) decided to inconspicuously show up next to the picture that night.
The kids had a blast playing and putting on the nativity.
All of the older grandchildren had a part and a costume. It was really great!
Aunt Josalyn got this really cool background scene, rug and manger from her ward party. They were just going to throw it away. It will for sure get used every year by us.
Even Grandpa C. got into the spirit in a weird sort of way.
The grandkids also did a dollar store gift exchange.
A couple of days later cousins Celeste and Dallas had a birthday party at Kangaroo Zoo. Poor Luke had to miss it (doctors orders) because of his wheeziness. Kaycee and John went and said it was a lot of fun. Luke started crying when they showed him the video of it. He had to miss their birthday last year because he was sick too. Bummer!
The Thursday before Christmas we picked up Aunt Misty at the airport. It's always fun when she comes into town .:)On Christmas Eve we had my side of the family over for a big, yummy dinner, a short program and a gift exchange. It was a lot of fun!
I saw my cousin Adam doing this and I thought it looked so funny that I had to take a picture. Apparently he was showing my sister-in-law some good stretches for your back and neck.
Two of my aunts were able to come to (my mom's sisters), Susan and Bonnie.
The kids all played together really well and had a lot of fun. You could totally feel the excitement of Santa in the air.
They are such goofs!!!
Here are all the adults. We look so boring and serious here but I think we all had fun. It's always fun catching up and talking with everyone.
Grandpa and Grandma B. and Misty stayed overnight on Christmas Eve so we were lucky enough to get them on Christmas morning.
We had a great Christmas and we all got spoiled! The only disappointment was the lack of snow. Poor John got a few things that had to be returned to the store because they were the wrong size but he didn't complain. I think his favorite gift was the itouch he bought for me. We both use it but it's more his thing and I am happy about that so I can pretend he got at least one cool gift. My favorite thing was and is still my Amazon Kindle. A complete surprise from Santa. I love, love, love it. It is so easy to use and so convenient!
Kaycee's favorite gift was Julie's (her American Girl doll) calico dress outfit. It is darling! She also loves her new rainbow high top converse shoes.
Luke's favorite gift was Bakugan Dragonoid Collosus. He was so worried that he wouldn't get it and was so happy that he did. He also loved his THIS IS IT Michael Jackson dvd and his two MJ cds. He now reminds me that he didn't get a Nintendo ds and I remind him that Santa does not have to bring him anything next year.
Sometimes the feeling after Christmas is kind of a depressed, let down kind of a feeling. So the Monday after Christmas, to keep our spirits up we visited one of our favorite places. Sweets Candy Factory. We loved it as usual and came home with a good stock pile of chocolate covered cinnamon bears and taffy.
The rest of our Christmas Vacation sailed by with plenty of cousins, friends and sleepovers. I got one pink eye (so seriously yuck!!!) and we took a little trip to St. George for New Years. Let's just say it wasn't the best trip ever but the kids had fun and that's all that really matters. Cheers to a Happy 2011!!!