Christmas Fun

1 tree + presents for 29 people = just a little chaos but a whole lot of fun

It was great to be home for the Holidays, we had a great time and a wonderful Christmas.  It stared with breakfast with Santa, and since there are so many of us (29 and counting), we hold our very own breakfast at a local restaurant.  We sing songs and wait for Santa to arrive, each one of the little kids get to sit on Santa's lap and are give a small present.   

Grandma and Grandpa with all but two of the grandkids

Chase loves the computer, he would walk over sit in the chair and say "Pablo" (from the Backyardigans) over and over again until someone would come over and help him.  It was a good thing that all of his cousins can navigate the internet and love to play on nickjr.com and playhousedisney.com so mom could have a break.  The picture above is Ryan, Ethan and Chase.

For Christmas we took the grandkids down to "Color me Mine" in Provo and had them paint coasters for grandma and grandpa.  It was a little crazy with 6 kids under 8 and each one wanting to paint by themselves but they turned out great. 

One night my dad watched Chase so my mom and I could go to a movie, when I came home my dad said Chase went down fine.  Note: we had major sleep issues in UT i.e. not sleeping.  I headed up stairs to check on him and found him sound asleep in the middle of the hallway. 

One of my families many Christmas traditions is we all gather together (including aunts, uncles, and cousins) on Christmas eve for soup, caroling and the reenactment of the Nativity story.  It doesn't matter how old or young you are everyone participates. Thanks to my Aunt Suzy being primary president for the past four years (she was just released a few months ago) we have actual costumes and not just bathrobes, sheets and scarves. 

Mary and Joseph (Sami and Ryan)

Angels (Steph, Audrey and Lisa)

The cow (Tyler and Chase) 

The Wise Men (Scott, Ethan, Matt and Gonz) - best in show, if I don't say so.

 Taylor, me and Chase just chillin' on Christmas Eve

Sledding: 

Chase just can't wait his turn...

Tyler, Chase and Oda
Walking back up the hill
Ryan - he could have stayed out all night
Steve and Audrey

It's been along time since my parents have had this much snow in their front yard.  It reminded my brothers and sisters of the time when we would go caroling and deliver neighbor gifts on our snowmobile.  It was great to have so much snow - not so much fun to drive in but still fun.

More Christmas pictures to come...