This year we did our service stocking again. It is so fun to be able to focus on the importance of service and giving to others. After Christmas we put all of the things we had done and sent them off to Emma. We hope that the things we do throughout the Christmas season will help us to focus on the true meaning of the season and help us feel close to our baby girl.
We had a really fun Christmas this year. The boys are at such a fun age when they understand more about why we have Christmas and they aren't in such a me, me stage. We started off the holiday a few days before by shopping for a present for Emma and then donating it to Toys for Tots. This really helps bring the true Spirit of Christmas in our home.
On Christmas Eve we do the traditional Christmas pjs. This year the boys requested robes so that is what they got. They loved them!!
Christmas was a little scattered this year with it being on Sunday. Our church is at 9 so we opened presents quickly and then headed off to church. When we got home from church we had our traditional Christmas morning breakfast. We then packed up the car to head down to Andy's family for more Christmas fun.
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| Opening the Christmas Eve pjs |
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| Cuddly |
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| Waiting to go downstairs |
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| Logan's Santa present: a new bike |
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| Sleds from the Neu Grandpa |
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| Opening presents from each other |
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| I finally caved and allowed video games |
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| Their favorite place to eat |
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| Our fam Christmas 2011 |
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| All ready for Chrurch |
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| Loving his new bike |
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| Christmas at the Reggie grandma and grandpa's |
The boys each received a video from the North Pole right before Christmas. It was so fun to watch their eyes twinkle with the magic of Christmas. They were both glad to hear that they had been good and that Santa knew what they wanted for Christmas. Now they just have to wait for the big day to see if they get what they asked for.
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| Alex's video |
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| Logan's video |
One tradition from Andy's family that we have kept going is the candy table. We spend hours in the kitchen making all kinds of sugary goodness to share with anyone who stops by. I think this year I made 10 batches of fudge. This is not your ordinary easy fudge. This is a stand over a hot stove forever stirring and praying that the fudge turns out. After what seems like hours you are done stirring and then you let it cool off. Then more stirring as you beat the fudge into yummy, creamy goodness. The melt in your mouth taste sort of helps you forget the pain in your arms and your feet. Along with fudge we made pfefferkuchen, cookie dough truffles, white chocolate pretzels and fudgy bon bons. I wish I would have taken a picture of all of the treats. They were all divine!!
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| Stirring the fudge |
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| Decorating the pfefferkuchen |
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| YUMMY!! |
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| A beautiful Christmas tree |
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| Devri and Logan |
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| I was on the wrong side of the room to take the cousins picture. I think I got an even better shot. |
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| PRESENTS!! |
On Saturday afternoon we headed to Provo to watch the Cougars take on the Baylor Bears. It was a close game but unfortunately the Cougars were defeated. It was fun to hang out as a family.
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| It was a little too loud for Logan |
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| I have the world's cutest family |
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| Logan and Cosmo |
This weekend we headed to Salt Lake for several things. The fun started off on Friday with Andy having a doctor's appointment in Salt Lake. (Not so fun) I took the boys to the Planetarium and then to the Grand America to see their window displays. The Grand America is so fancy. The boys loved wondering around finding hidden pictures in the window. When we were done with the windows the boys went to the bathroom. Alex came out and said, "That is the fanciest bathroom I have ever been in." I went to check it out and sure enough it was quite fancy. I wish I would have thought to take a picture of it. The counters were all marbled and the stalls closed with plantation like doors. They even have hand towels to use to dry your hands. We are going to have to save our pennies so we can stay there one time.
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| Forming clouds |
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| Alex shooting Logan with electricity |
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| Welcome to Mars |
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| And the moon |
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| Fancy village set up |
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| The perfect tree for kids |
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| Merry Christmas!! After our fun we went to pick up dad and headed down to a cousin Christmas party. For some reason I didn't take any pictures. It was a lot of fun to hang out with Andy's cousins that we haven't seen for a while. |
Alex has gotten too big to go to this concert with me and it made me a little sad that I wouldn't have anyone to go with. When we were talking about it Logan said he wanted to go so I was thrilled to take him. We set off to the theater and enjoyed 2 hours of beautiful a capella music and silliness. Every year these guys don't disappoint in the comedy department. Afterwards we met up with Alex and dad at the Bluebird for dessert.
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| Heading off |
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| One very excited boy at the theater |
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| The Bluebird |
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| Many generations of our families have enjoyed desseret at this counter |
At the ward Christmas party the Primary kids were in charge of the nativity. The boys were suppose to dress up as shepherds. Logan was all excited about that but Alex refused to dress up. They both did a great job singing. I had to laugh as they were assembling on stage. I was in the back of the room zooming in for pictures with my camera. Even from far away I was able to capture Logan in all his glory. This is what I get when I try and take a picture of him 90% of the time.
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| WHAT A GOOF!! |
After the Voice Male concert we went to the mall to visit with Santa. I was a little annoyed that they would only let you take pictures with your phone camera and nothing else. I told her I was using my camera for video and so she relented. I was able to sneak one picture in there. Yes, I am rebellious. Alex was too cool or too old to sit on Santa's lap (not sure which) so it was just Logan this year. I love the magic of Santa.
Alex came up with this year's ornament design. He had made God's eyes in school and thought they would be perfect for the Christmas tree. They were a challenge trying to make sure you did it right but they were fun to make. Once you got the hang of the pattern they went really fast and everyone was able to make some. This is one of my favorite Christmas traditions!!
I have the best aunt and uncle in the world. They are always sending us fun surprises in the mail or doing fun things for us. They gave us our Christmas present early so we could enjoy it throughout the holiday. The boys loved opening everything and finding out what was inside. They had given us everything we needed to make cookies for Santa, including a recipe book and a plate to put the cookies on.
