White Christmas & Sledding Down "Mount Clay"

A Merry Little Christmas Recap - Part 3

We didn't get a whole lot of pictures of Christmas Day, but it was, of course, very fun.  Our kids are at just about the perfect age for ultimate Christmas morning excitement. 

 Luke and Audrey each got a camera from Grandpa and Grandma Hall, which was a definite highlight for them.  In the background you might be able to see our new digital piano(!!), which was a definite highlight for me.  We had actually opened it a couple days before and set it up so that we could sing Christmas songs along with it on Christmas Eve.

We all got lots of nice things, and we appreciated the gifts we received from everyone.  Gifts aside, though, it was really nice to just spend the day together.  We had friends, the Duncan's, over for a nice dinner and games.  Merry Christmas!

A Merry Little Christmas Recap - Part 2

We stayed in Detroit this Christmas.  Clayton didn't have enough time off for us to go anywhere, but just enough time to have fun with us.  We missed seeing family, but it was kind of nice to do our own thing as well.  For Christmas Eve, we spent the day singing carols around our new piano, including "Hang Up The Baby Stocking" for Max, and playing together.  That night we went to our friends', the Beutler's for a little party.  It was very festive with decorations and lots of treats, and we acted out the story of the Nativity and played Christmas carols with bells.  Here are a few of my favorite characters from the reenactment:

Alan Hillstead was a fantastic Samuel the Lamanite - even standing on the back of the couch for a wall.

 Audrey was a lovely angel.  Unfortunately, my camera skills were pretty awful that night.  This is the best I got.

 Max was the cutest wise man.

We headed home afterward to open the most important gift: a picture of the Savior representing his life.  The kids each opened pajamas as well.  Can you tell that Luke liked his?

A Merry Little Christmas Recap - Part 1

There are so many things about this Christmas that I wanted to remember:  not to get stressed about to-do lists next year, start planning presents before the end of October (you would think that would be soon enough, but it wasn't), sewing takes a lot of time, etc.  But as I think back on our little Christmas 2010, the stress is already growing fuzzy in my head, and I remember the fun stuff, the traditions, and see the excited faces of our three little ones.  Christmas Day is fun, but the buildup beforehand is the best part, really.  

Here are a few pictures of us building gingerbread houses (out of graham crackers).  The kids were very intent on decorating, until they saw Clay stuffing his face with candy.  "Dad," Luke said, "You're not supposed to eat the candy until the end."  "Who made that rule?" Clay replied.  It was all sugar rush after that, with Dad leading the way.  Is that how it's supposed to go?

Hey!  Everyone's eating but me!

That's better.  (I took it away right after the picture.  He's not old enough for that yet!)

We had lots of friends drop-off delicious goodies at our house, but I was starting to feel a little bit over-sugared.  We opted to make Pumpkin Bread for friends and neighbors.  It still includes sugar, but has good stuff in it too.

I was in charge of crafts and activities for Luke's Kindergarten class Holiday Party.  We did Holiday Picture Bingo, a mitten craft, and built snowmen out of "snow dough" (sparkly playdoh).  It was fun to be involved and help out with the party, and I can't believe what a big guy our little Luke is becoming.  P.S. My arm was pretty tired of stirring after making 7 batches of snow dough!

A major accomplishment for me this year was finishing all of our stockings.  We've only had three for a couple of years, even though there were four of us.  This year we were a family of five, and I really wanted to get this done.  They may seem simple enough, but I am severely sewing-challenged.  I was very proud of myself!

Then there were the reindeer cupcakes we made with friends.  We also decorated sugar cookies with other friends.

And here are the kiddos decorating gingerbread cookies for Santa.

You would think all we ever do is bake!

A Brock-Friendly Thanksgiving

Clayton's brother, Brock, came to visit for Thanksgiving week.  We don't get visitors very often, so we were really excited that he came.  I would love to report that we did so many cool and exciting Detroit things, but we didn't.  We did spend lots of time with Brock, though, and the kids had a blast with him.  I would say that the highlights included Clay and Brock getting a new basketball and playing at the church together, taking the whole fam to the indoor pool by our house, Thanksgiving dinner at the Beutler's house, and - who can forget - a sugar coma induced by pie and slush.  Yes, indeed.  Thanksgiving night, after a huge meal with our friends (including pie), we came home and had 3 pieces of pie each (you know, one of each kind),  and slush.  Clay and Brock both fell asleep pretty fast, and I wasn't feeling too good myself.  Why did I make so much pie?  We each wanted a different kind, of course.  Brock ordered key lime, Clay wanted lemon supreme, and I wanted pumpkin pecan.  And what would the holidays be like without slush to complete the sugar rush!

Here are a few pictures from our the big dinner.  Our friends were so nice to invite us over.  I was very impressed when every one of the members of all 5 invited families had a place to sit at a table.

The Beutler's who hosted Thanksgiving dinner.                

Clay, Me, and Max's bald spot

Luke is hiding behind the paper turkey.

  

The princess table.  Audrey is at the far left in black and pink.  

Brock read lots of books to the kids, played football indoors and out, and is very welcome to come again!  We love you, Brock!