Christmas Morning

6:45...not bad! Not 9 but not 4:30 am which has happened in the past!

The kids ran up stairs one at a time to see what Santa brought. 

I think my favorite thing about this moment is that the kids quickly look at their pile, and then check to make sure their siblings got something they wanted.  So many exclamations of joy, for themselves and each other.

Grandpa asked what the kids would like for breakfast and they said cold cereal?!?!

He whipped up some pancakes as well but they were pleased as punch to have cereal.

Then we opened the gifts under the tree.

This was by far my favorite part of the entire day.  These guys were so beyond excited to give gifts to each other. 

They were generous...

and thoughtful...

and so grateful for what they received.

Heart meltingly sweet.

I am still working on Darin's real gift...the kids bought him chocolates he loves.

And of course he was super thoughtful in his gifts to me. 

Miriam came up with a sneaky plan for my gift.

After layers and layers and layers of wrapping, there was a homemade lego box.  Inside was a note that said "sorry we forgot to bring your gift"

And then the kids laughing handed me a plain shipping box with my gifts inside.

Soren who has watched so many vat19.com gadget videos kept coming up with "options" to choose from so I know they kids were anxious about what to decide on.

They made sweet and thoughtful decisions.  

We had fun watching Grandma and Grandpa exchange gifts, and thought about cousins as we opened gifts from them.

After assembling things, playing some chess matches, making putty we had lunch and then opened the very last gift of the day was one from us to the kids.

They had to blow up balloons to figure out what it was....

Written in tiny letters were the words.

Lagoon Season Passports!

This was shocking and anxiety producing to Miriam...but after assuring her and the boys they are not required to ride anything that they don't want to....they became super excited about going this Spring Summer and Fall. We have friends and cousins with season passes as well, so this is just another adventure for our crew to try out.

By this time we all needed a bit of fresh air so Darin and I took the kids sledding at a nearby park.

It's a very fun, popular hill. It's not too steep, not too scary but fast and easy to walk up.  We spent about an hour enjoying the snow and getting some exercise. 

When we got home there was more playing, reading, putty making, and then we had a popcorn Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets movie night.  Grandma and Grandpa even watched with us!

Cheesecake and cake for a late night snack and it was time for bed!

Christmas Eve

We had our breakfast pizza on Christmas Eve morning, and then took our time getting all packed up and ready to go to Grandma and Grandpa's house.  The kids were anxious to get going, but we had some last minute errands to run and extra packing to do since we were hauling Christmas up there.  We made it in plenty of time to unpack and enjoy a clam chowder Christmas Eve dinner.  

I made the kids play some rounds of UNO before I let them open their Christmas Eve gifts,  they didn't want to at first, but ended up having so much fun. 

They were biting at the bit to open those jammies! Luckily the boys were happy with their polar bears, and Miriam who has lots of hand-me-down pajamas got some joggers and a top.  So basically jammies that are acceptable to wear to school.  Even though they know what the gift is, they were pleasantly surprised...especially Miriam.

Then we opened the photo book we had made from our California trip last summer. So fun to share those memories with G'ma and G'pa and remember our summer fun.

We read the Nativity, the kids sang Mary's Lullaby and Sleep Baby Jesus, the songs they sang in the Christmas program and then we all ended with Silent Night.

Whenever we are with Darin's side of the family we read "How Mrs. Santa Claus Saved Christmas" and "The Year without Santa Clause".  They are traditions from Darin's childhood, and the editions of these particular books are out of print.  We read the first and saved the second for right before bedtime. 

The kids ran downstairs to watch a Christmas movie while the grown-ups played a fun-petitive round Quiddler.  We all had some sort of a snack before bed...cheesecake or cranberry cake for Darin and I, cookies for the kiddos.  Luckily Ris had given us some of her beautiful and delicious iced cookies on our way out of town so we had something to offer the big guy.

The kids didn't fight going to bed this night! They happily and excitedly got ready for bed, eager for morning to come.

Ice Skating

So glad we got the ice skating with Ris's kids in this year!  Since it's happened twice I guess we will go ahead and call it a tradition.  These kids have been friends since birth even though they only get together about twice a year.  We got together a lot more with M & L but that was back when we were new moms who would drive any distance to get out of the house with someone who wouldn't judge our new mom inadequacies. 

Now days Ris and I leave our houses more than we would like, and traveling to play with friends doesn't happen very often.  So the boys haven't played as much but, it doesn't seem to matter.  It's almost like a cousin/friend relationship.  Kind of special when we get together.

Charlie is one tough cookie...totally banged his cheek on the ice but didn't skip a beat!

Just keeping these two on their skates kept Ris and I on our toes.

Our tweens....getting too grown up!

We came back to our house for hot chocolate, a gift exchange, and yummy pastries Ris brought with her.  So grateful for good, kind, friends.

Nerdy Holiday Work Party = Happiness

Darin's job's holiday parties have all been fun.  Some have better food than others, but it's always interesting for me to get to know people Darin interacts with on a daily basis.

But this year was the best.

We all wanted to see Star Wars, so to see it free, in a rented theatre, with provided snacks...well you won't get any complaints from the Ray family!

BONUS: Darin won the Star Wars sleeping bag in the raffle...the kids couldn't believe our luck!

BONUS BONUS: Holiday Miracle, we didn't have to take anyone potty during the movie!!

I am just so grateful Darin has a job, all this stuff is just icing on the cake.

16 years

We served cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate at our wedding reception 16 years ago. Since we didn't eat any that night, I made cranberry orange anniversary cinnamon rolls for breakfast. 

They are so good I really need to keep this to an anniversary tradition...otherwise we will be eating this every other morning!!

Saturday the plan was: Christmas Choir practice for me and the kids, Snowshoeing for Darin and I, take the kids sledding in the later afternoon.  BUT then I got an emergency company party job offer for Saturday night.  Because it was so last minute they were willing to pay way too much for admitting people into a party and handing out name tags! I just couldn't pass it up, but it made our plans for the day too much.  We decided to snowshoe somewhere the kids could sled...BUT THEN it turned out the sledding and snowball fights, and snowman building looked like more fun than snowshoeing.  I gave up the idea of a romantic solitary walk in the snow for some rollicking family play.

I think it was a good choice.

We agree 16 years later, we would do it all over again.

It's been an amazing 16 years.

Nutcracker Weekend

Friday night we met cousins for Ballet West's Nutcracker.  I am always wowed by Ballet West, but this year was extra fun because our friend Lindsey was a soldier in it! 

After much deliberation, Miriam decided to splurge and buy herself a Nutcracker at the performance.

I think it was a good choice. Although we have seen performances of this ballet nearly every Christmas, Miriam now has a Nutcracker specifically from the times we have gone to see Ballet West's performances. Cute tradition I think.

While we were watching the Sugar Plum fairy, Darin took the boys to Zoo Lights.

The boys loved it...had much more fun that sitting with us at Capital Theatre!

The next day we drove to Price to see Castle Valley Civic Ballet perform the Nutcracker.

So proud of my hard working dancing family! Julia is not in charge of this event but both her and Jared put in plenty of time to support it, and then my mom is there helping with costumes, decorating the entrance, and helping at every performance.  

This is the type of service and commitment that makes a difference in peoples lives.  The whole community is better because of this event. I am related to really cool people (who drive me nuts...but their worth it).

Madison was the snowflake princess, Claire was an angel, Tatum a Bafoon and angel, and Erik was a party dad and then hilarious as Mother Ginger...beard at all!

 

We ran to Erik and Kelly's afterwards for more hilarious Mother Ginger inspired dessert.

along with cute angel treats....

This is our "off" year for Christmas so we had a family Christmas brunch while everyone was in town together.  The kids sang or played Christmas songs they have been working on for the season.  Then my mom and dad gave their Christmas devotional and gift, which was so touching.  This year the kids each received a beautiful ornament, I hope when they see it each year they remember my mom's expressions of love.  

The cousins drew names and then ran around playing until we drug them apart. 

I hope they remember that too...

7 Days In!

Weeks are so long for Soren.  Christmas seems SO FAR AWAY, and each Monday morning is difficult for him, for all the kids actually, but especially him.  5 whole long days until the next weekend, and 3 more whole long weeks until Christmas. We don't do that much partying really, but, I kind of wonder if our weekends are too fun and relaxing...like we need to make the kiddos work REALLY hard and then get TOTALLY BORED so going to school is the fun?  The kids come home from school happy, having loved most of their day...but getting there Monday morning is hard stuff for a yellow personality 5 year old!

 Darin sat down with the kids on Saturday and looked over their Christmas $.  He helped them make a list of who they wanted to buy for and created a workable budget.  We went shopping for our Caring Cousin books, friends, and sibling gifts last weekend. This was actually really fun and empowering for the kids...I mean Soren doesn't really get it but the other two love having 100% control.  Of course, I want to take over and "help" them make decisions, but they are having too much fun for me to interfere.  I am still wracking my brain to figure out what to get a few people in my life...that is the hard part about Christmas!!

Christmas music is playing 24/7, the Christmas tree is almost always on, chewy gingerbread cookies have been made once, and will (I am sure) be made again, we have already watched Elf (lots of Christmas favorites on deck) started re-reading our favorite Christmas books as well as Harry Potter under the tree each night.  AND we have already made it to temple square to see the lights! 

Grandpa Byron's choir had a concert last Sunday in the Assembly Hall.  

We took in the candy windows...temple square lights and then listened to beautiful music!

Dad and Grandma watched from the ground level but the boys couldn't resist the balcony.  As Byron pointed out "you can listen AND spy on people!" well yeah...why not!

Got to get through this Monday; the laundry, emails, re-making beds, scouts, ballet, dinner, dishes, homework...so we can get back to the celebrating.....showing Soren how the waiting gets done, hour by hour, day by day.