Family Pictures

December 20th at Garland Ranch in Carmel Valley

A Month of Christmas

11/29

A visit to Santa at Bass Pro Shop in Mesa.

Met Jacob/Rachel/Penny there.

They got a perfect picture of Penny on Santa's lap.

Ours was the opposite of that.

 12/1

Broke out the chocolate and Lego advent calendars.

Drew's didn't last long.

 12/1

Pacific Grove Christmas Tree Lighting

Love our small-town festivities.

12/3

School Christmas Program

 Sally, in her shyness, barely participated.

Drew had some great jazz hands.

12/4

Pacific Grove light parade with the Wades.

This giant shopping cart stole the show.

 12/5

Streets of Bethlehem with the Laflans.

 12/6

Ugly sweater/white elephant party with friends.

 Angie texted me this lovely mash-up of Justin now and then.

Glad he hasn't changed.

And then Justin put together this like-father, like-son collage.

 12/9

Copied Design Mom's stocking display.

 12/10

Santa at the Carmel Library.

 Sant was the best to bring Lula's chocolate.

Thank you August for not eating it all.

He wasn't so sure about sitting on Santa's lap,

then literally chased him around the block yelling, "Santa!"

12/10

Christmas pack meeting.

12/12

Made a LOT of cinnamon rolls for friends/neighbors.

12/13
Ward Christmas party/service project.

12/15

Decorated ice cream cone Christmas trees for FHE when Justin was doing reserves at Pendleton.

12/20

Then ours got blown out of the water by the houses at Spanish Bay.

 12/20

Caught the bag piper at Pebble Beach playing Christmas songs.

Also caught August trying to stand just like Justin.

12/13

Harley Santa at Candy Cane Lane.

 12/24

Christmas Eve nativity.

12/24 

Tooth Fairy and Santa came the same night.

 Christmas Morning Madness

 The bats and helmet weren't even his gifts.

He got pretty much baseball everything.

 Christmas Day sandman tradition.

It was cold. I had numb hands. Yet the kids still got in the water.

(traditional Chinese food dinner out not pictured)

12/26

This year's day-after Christmas clearance ornaments.

(in order of oldest to youngest kid)

12/26

Using their new airsoft guns against the neighbors.

One of my favorite things we did (not pictured) was caroling with my visiting teaching companion and her family. Owen and Drew even sang and it was great.

Just took down the Christmas tree decorations, so I guess that's it! It all went so fast. This year was pretty low-key being just us for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Missed extended family for sure, but my own little family is pretty cool.