Christmas 2018

Christmas morning is always fun and crazy and awesome. 

 Here is a very brief recap of our morning.  

 Jim and I gave each of the kids a special present from us this year.  Here is Ethan opening his. 

 We got him a Nintendo Switch. 

 I think he was very happy and surprised :)

He also got some games and a case to go with his switch, some board games and a gift card for when he goes to Disneyland in March with choir. 

Here are Afton and Lilly opening the
 special present from Jim and I

We gave each of the girls a ticket to WICKED in February! 

 They were super excited! 

Lilly also got lots of sharpies to color with, a box of clothes and boots and the Polaroid Camera that was #1 on her list!

Afton really wanted her very own art set- and she got it! 

           She also got a box of clothes and boots and a Lego set.  

I find this picture amusing!  A giraffe trying to open a box :)

 A couple days before Christmas Liz accidentally dropped her phone in the toilet and destroyed it.  She got a new one with some very specific instructions.  She also got a box of clothes and boots and a pull up bar. 

Jim got a special present from Afton and Lilly.    They both painted and glued together popsicle sticks for a frame and put a picture in it for Jim.  

 

 Lizzie got some giraffe pajamas as her Christmas pajamas.  Well she had Lilly's name this year and got her some Narwhal pajamas.

  I just thought this picture was cute of two of my girls in their animal pajamas.  

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve 2018

Our Christmas Eve Festivities include...

1.  We try to head down to the Humane Society on Lucky's official adoption date (December 24th) and leave some treats for pets that are still waiting for a home. 

 Lizzie usually seems to find  some cat she is more than willing to bring home.  This years cat was named Sydney.  

2.  Around 4 or 5 we usually head over to my parents house for some present opening

 and listening to my dad read A Visit From St. Nicholas

 3.  Afterwords we head back home to open up Christmas pajamas and hang out together for a bit. 

 4. Santa has come!!!!  Each of the kids get 3 wrapped presents from Santa in individualized wrapping paper too!

 Merry Christmas!!!

Temple Lights

We headed down as a family to go check out the temple lights and candy window displays. 

12.16.18

20 years ago in 1998 we celebrated our 1st Christmas as a married couple.  How lucky I am to have been able to celebrate the holidays with Jim every year since. 

Harrison Nativity

Another successful year of the

Harrison Cousin Nativity

12.15.18

Here is the Nativity Scene in action with Jim as the narrator

Our kids represented the angels and shepherds

New this year a few did musical numbers.  Here is Jim on guitar, Ethan on piano and Lizzie on flute playing Angels We Have Heard on High.  Afton and Lilly also played some Christmas songs on the piano.  

Also new this year- we tried playing songs to chimes. 

Fun in the Snow

We had our first big snowstorm

 of the winter and Afton and Lilly could not have been more excited.  

They were out and

 playing in the snow before 10:00

12.2.18

My adorable 10 year old snow friends

The cute little snowlady they made complete with broccoli eyes and carrot nose. 

Christmas Decorations

I love pulling out our Christmas decorations for all the memories they represent....

December 2018

Jim and I bought a Christmas village just a few years after we were married.  For awhile we didn't have a spot in our house to put it.  Now it has a cute home downstairs. 

Lizzie made this picture a few years back and I just loved it so much it got framed and comes out every year

The tree in our basement is what our kids call our "memory tree."  It has their handmade ornaments, ornaments from places we have been and just ornaments that are special to us. 

This Fisher Price set doesn't get played with as often as it used to but when they kids were younger it was played with ALL THE TIME

The reason for the season

One of my favorite Christmas Eve pictures
of the kids in their pajamas

Our nice nativity set which we have also had FOREVER

My favorite!

Our upstairs tree has red, gold and silver ornaments.