Christmas Weekend

We started the Christmas weekend with the Vincent Party on the 23rd. It is so much fun to see everyone on CJ's side. The family is growing every year. Last year I was 7 1/2 months pregnant with Jackson. It is so strange to think of how fast time goes by! We have it now at Great Grandpa Vincent's church. We had a good dinner and afterwards the great grandsons dressed as shepherds and the great granddaughters put halos on to be angels while Uncle Doug read the story of Jesus's birth. We always take white elephant gifts so we played that game after. It is a fun night to just hang out with everyone.

Every year Santa Clause comes to visit. This was Jackson's first time meeting Santa and he did not like him very much. It was so sad to watch his face, but at the same time it was so funny. We were able to record it and he started reaching for me after about 5 seconds. He was done. At least we got some cute pictures though!

We drew names between the grandkids on CJ's side so after visiting with Santa we went and exchanged our gifts since everyone couldn't get together the next day. Cohen had Jackson and got him a Little People Animal Train. Jackson loves it!!

Jackson didn't care about opening the present. He just liked to hit the box. I even tore a little of the paper so that he could grab it and tear the rest, but he wasn't interested in that. Next year I think he will be a little more excited about opening gifts.

On Christmas Eve we went over to Connie's house for lunch with Cory, July and their family. The kids got their gifts from Grandma Connie and we just hung out and played for a couple hours. Jackson got a shirt, sweater, book and car from Grandma Connie and he got Buzz Lightyear jammies from Cory and family.





CJ's family has the tradition to sing happy birthday to Baby Jesus every year. Connie made cupcakes for everyone and put a baby on them and used frosting to make a blanket for him. She put two candy canes on it to make a stable. They turned out really cute. After we sang we headed to my parents house to make dinner and get ready for our Christmas Eve Party.

We were very busy when we got to my Mom's house. We had to make the Christmas Eve sandwiches, 7 layer dip, oreo balls dipped in white chocolate (Mmmmm!), ham, clam chowder and clean the house! We were still working when everybody got there, but then it went by faster. This year we had Tim, Ashli and kids, Matt, Holly and kids, Scott, Kristy and kids and Kelly! Needless to say we had a full house! We had a ton of food and yummy desserts so we were all sick after dinner, but of course you have to continue snacking! That is what the holidays are really about, right?

After dinner we relaxed for a little bit before we headed into the living room for our entertainment. We sang songs and played the chimes. We had so much fun! Our family goes a little crazy for Christmas Eve, but I think all the in-laws are used to it be now! Every year we end with reading the story of Jesus's birth from the scriptures and we sing the songs that go with them. It is a great way to end the evening and remind us what Christmas is really about. I am so grateful for a family who taught me about the gospel and the blessings that come from it and will continue to teach my children about it also. As long as Christ is the center of our home, we will never have to worry about a thing. He will take care of us, comfort us and guide us to what is best for our family. I love this time of year and just wish that it lasted a little longer.

We wanted to start the tradition of our kids getting new pajamas on Christmas Eve, so we got Jackson the cutest jammies. They say "Best gift ever." He was getting tired so we thought we would open them up so we could put them on him and he could relax.

After our very exciting evening, some people got very tired...

Then Jackson got his second wind and was all over the place! He loved playing with the presents under the tree and watching the train go around.

Christmas Day!

On Christmas CJ and I got up and ready for church earlier so we wouldn't be in a rush to make it on time. Jackson woke up about 8:20 so we hurried and fed him so we could open presents.

Jackson loved pulling out the stuff in his stocking. It was so cute to watch him! I can't imagine what next year will be like. He got two cars and Mickey Mouse Club House movie.

Jackson loves his two cars. He loves anything with wheels that he can push around. I get so excited that he loves something so much. He also got a ball popper dinosaur, a new church outfit and socks. CJ got new golf clubs that he went and bought himself, but he is so excited to finally be able to use them. I told him he couldn't use them until after Christmas. CJ also got a new A's hat, shorts and a shirt. I got a new vacuum that I am very excited for. It was needed very badly, the one I have is my Grandma's old one. I also got a couple movies and a marble statue of Christ. It will go right on my piano, it is so beautiful.

We had a great morning and when we were done we headed to church. Jackson stayed in his jammies so we could be on time! It was a great Sacrament of the story of Jesus's birth and beautiful songs by the primary and choir. After church we went to Cory and July's with Connie for breakfast. We were able to see what the kids got and they were so excited! Little kids at Christmas time is the best!

Later that day we had Connie over for dinner. We had turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, rolls and corn. It was my very first turkey that I have cooked. Connie helped me since I had never done it before and because I wasn't at all excited when the packaging said to "prepare" the turkey. Gross! It wasn't nearly as difficult as I was expecting though and it was delicious. The rest of the day we hung out and then went to Holly's to play for a little bit. My parents and Kelly were there and we played some games. Jackson was very tired from having two very late nights in a row so we left around seven so we could put him to bed. It was a very fun and relaxing day.

CJ's Dad was in town for Christmas this year so we went over to Mark's parents house for dinner on the 26th. Cory and his family and Candice and her family were there too. We had a nice turkey and ham dinner and afterwards the grandkids were given gifts. Jackson got a cute animal book. We played bingo with white elephant gifts then had a delicious peppermint ice cream pie for dessert. It was a nice evening spent with family.

Needless to say we had a great Christmas Holiday. We loved spending so much time with our families and are very sad that it is all over.

Thanksgiving and Fun in December!

We have really slacked this past month on posting. So.... For Thanksgiving it was our turn to go to CJ's Mom's house. Cory, July and kids and Dallas, Candice and kids were there. It was a lot of fun hanging out with everybody and after a delicious dinner we played a couple games. For dessert I made an apple pie. My first attempt and I have to say it turned out pretty good! Jackson loves to watch kids, so he had a lot of fun watching his cousins run around and playing. It was Jackson's first Thanksgiving and I think his favorite thing he ate was mashed potatoes. We can't give him a ton of real food just yet because he spits it all up afterwards.

We left Connie's house around 7:30. We weren't planning on going to my Mom's house, but everyone was still there so we headed out there to play for a little bit. We hung out with everyone and ate more pie! We got a great game of Fudge going. That is a family favorite which we play just about every time the family gets together.

My Cute Daddy with his favorite Grandson!

Everyone at my Mom's just hanging out!

On the 5th, we went to Zoo Lights with Cory and his family and Connie. Jackson had a bad cough so we decided to leave him with Holly while CJ and I went. Not very nice of us I guess, but we sure had fun! It was a freezing night, but we were all bundled up and there were heaters throughout the zoo. We started off by seeing Santa and his reindeer. He could only bring Comet and Vixen with him. We wrote letters to Santa, put them in the mail and then Cayman and Cooper were able to sit on his lap. He was the cutest Santa and took his time with the kids.

I was really amazed at all the lights at the zoo. They do a great job and CJ and I really had fun walking around! We turned into little kids running around looking at the lights. You don't go there to see the animals. We were only able to see a couple, but the lights were worth it. The carousel was open so July, Cayman, Cooper and I went on it.

After the zoo we went to The Spaghetti Factory at Trolley Square and got dinner and yummy hot chocolate. It was a very fun night with CJ's family, maybe next year Jackson will be able to go!

It was my birthday that next Sunday so some of my family and Connie were able to come over for dinner. I was making chalupas for everyone. It is meat and beans that you put on top of chips or tortillas. They are so good and I have been wanting them for a very long time. We have church at nine and the first couple of hours it has to boil on the stove. I thought that checking it after Sacrament would be okay. CJ went home to check on it and when he came back to church he stunk so bad because it had burned. I sent him home with Jackson because he seriously smelled and I felt bad for those sitting around us. When I got home from church, it was ruined. It tasted burnt, our house smelled. I started to get a little panicky because I had no idea what I was going to fix for everybody to eat. Holly came to the rescue and we were still able to use everything we had for the chalupas, but we had Mexican Haystacks instead.

My nephew Beckett just loves to have me hold him when I am around. I will try to put him down for a minute and then he sits there with his arms up asking me to hold him. I don't mind it at all. He is such a cutie! And I love that he loves me!

Connie made a delicious chocolate cake with marshmallow frosting for my birthday cake. She made cute Mickey Mouse heads on it because she knows I love Disney!

Even though I ruined dinner and cried over it, it turned out to be a great day with family. Who could ask for anything more!