Christmas in California

Christmas Eve

Here is our little Nativity Re-enactment.

In case you were wondering, that big black blob is my brother Reed pretending to be the donkey.  

Here he is again hiding for Santa.  

Here's a funny story about this gorilla suit.  He and his roommates at college got these suits and would put them on and run around "the gardens" on campus and scare all the couples who were making out.  Ha!  I would have loved to be there and see the reactions he got.

Here are a few pictures from Christmas morning:

*We all look so glamorous because we wake up at like 5:45 and run out of bed into our hiding spots where we secretly watch Santa deliver the presents.  Once he leaves, the festivities begin, and we all look like we rolled out of bed and started opening presents because that's exactly what happened.

(you might notice I purposefully didn't include any pictures of myself. But in all fairness, I was the one taking the pictures, so how could I be in them? )

Nathan, Dallin & Melanie

Hayden

My sister Julianne & husband Eric

The kids all pitched in and got Dad some scout gear for the National Jamboree next year.  Here he is modeling his very cool official scouting hat.

Here is mom looking at her present.  Since her mother passed away this year, Natalie had the great idea of making an "ABC" scrapbook for Mom about Grandma.  We called it "A is for Alice."  We split up the layouts between any of the sisters who wanted to help, and Jacob and Emma drew beautiful portraits of Grandma that we included also.  It was a very sweet experience for me to help in creating this tribute to Grandma Alice.   I was reminded over and over what a remarkable woman she was and how privileged I am to have such a heritage.  

Merry Christmas Mom!

Getting ready for the Christmas Feasting:

Official Potato Peeler

Preparing the Christmas Feast;

Many hands make light work!

The Christmas feast clean-up got a little crazy this year with a dish towel war.  I can't flick those towels worth a darn!  Jenny is the best flicker of the sisters, but the guys have us all beat.  

But they don't look as good as we do.  Haha!

"Messiah" Performances

So, like everybody else, the holidays got really busy for me, and that's why it's taken me forever to get caught up.  Part of the busy-ness of my holidays were two performances of Handel's Messiah.  

I was involved in the Albuquerque Stake's 2008 production of the Messiah in preparing the choir and also singing one of the solos.  It was such a great experience to sing that wonderful music with other dedicated members of our Stake.  I can't think of a better way to start the Christmas season than with singing praises to our Savior.  It really helped me focus on the reason for this special time of year.

The weekend after the Albuquerque "Messiah" performance, I flew out to California to sing the Soprano solos in the Turlock Stake's "Messiah" Concert.  I was fighting off some kind of cough and was so blessed that it stayed mild through the performance.  Monday morning after the performance it really hit, so I was very grateful that I was able to sing my best on Sunday night.  

Here I am with my Dad in all my diva glory.  

I was walking down the halls of the stake center when a little girl who'd come to hear the performance stopped when she saw me and looked at me with her eyes wide and her mouth open, like I might be a fairy princess.  It totally made my night.  I don't think I've ever worn a dress that poofy before so it was kind of pain every time I stood up to sing.  I got glitter all over the stake patriarch who was narrating.  (That was kind of embarrassing.  But still really fun to wear a fairy princess skirt.)

From Left to Right, Aunt Kathy, Dad, Mom, and me.

Aunt Kathy sang the alto solos, Dad directed it,  and Mom and two of my siblings were in the choir, so it was really cool to have so much family participating.  One of my favorite things was singing a duet with Aunt Kathy on "Come Unto Him."  I wish I had a recording of it!

Look Who's Walking

Hayden took this walk on his birthday.  

Hayden's 1st Birthday

Demolition of cake:

Here comes the sugar rush.

I can't believe our little Hayden is one already. This boy is such a funny kid. He crawls around with his tongue hangin' out of his mouth, is quick to smile and wave, and loves to be held and cuddle. We can't imagine life without him!

Christmas Tree!

This is the third year we've gone to the mountains to cut our Christmas Tree the day after Thanksgiving.  This year was much more relaxed than last year's close call.  We got an earlier start, had food & water with us, a new set of chains, and even an extra chain,  (the sole survivor of last year's trip.)  It had snowed the night before and was so beautiful!  I think this was the highlight of Mike & Amber's visit -- for me anyway.  (Dallin's favorite was playing basketball with Uncle Mikey.)  We had so much fun in this winter wonderland.  All the trees looks so beautiful frosted in the freshly fallen snow.  Mikey gets credit for finding the one we ended up taking home.  

Hiking up a little canyon to find the perfect tree.

Hayden is bundled and ready for the ride.

"Cutest Couple"

Goofy brothers

Snowballs of death--Mikey really packs his snowballs so they have a little sting when they getchya.

Awww . . .

The chosen tree

Dallin & Dad displaying our little beauty.

Catching snow flakes

Family picture courtesy of Amber

And she's tied on and ready to go home with us. 

Such a fun day!

Thanksgiving with Uncle "Monkey" & Aunt Amber

We were so happy to have Uncle Mikey (affectionately called Uncle "Monkey" by Sean) & Aunt Amber come visit us for Thanksgiving. We had so much fun with them, playing games, getting our Christmas tree, shopping, eating, and just being together.  We love & miss you guys!

Dallin & Mikey playin' a little b-ball.

Dallin told me, "Mom, that's a good picture of me." ;)

Hayden's ride is pimped.

Thanksgiving Feast.  

I think the best part of Thanksgiving is smelling that turkey cook all day.  Oh, it is nice!

Daphne taught me this cute Thanksgiving song she learned at school:

"I'm glad I'm not a turkey, a turkey, a turkey,

I'm glad I'm not a turkey on Thanksgiving day.

They cook you and baste you and then they will taste you,

I'm glad I'm not a turkey on Thanksgiving Day!"