Grandpa

Khyl and I were supposed to fly home to Reno on Sunday, Dec. 28th, but instead we flew into Salt Lake City for my Grandpa's funeral on Monday the 29th instead. Grandpa was 88 years old and died on the 21st. He was an amazing man. He served in the AirForce, Coast Guard, and Army. He earned a purple heart during WWII and loved to tell stories. He lived with us for a while while I was in High School and would always make us Potato Pancakes for breakfast. He insisted that we wouldn't be able to think if we didn't eat breakfast. He was the best of the best and will be missed. I am so grateful that I know that families will be able to be together again after this life. Here are some pictures of the funeral service. It was freezing, but beautiful; he had a full military burial. My brothers, cousins, dad, and uncle were pallbearers and Jennifer and Dad played Taps.

22!!

So, this is way later than it should be, but My Birthday was Saturday, December 27th. Khyl were in AZ for Christmas so I got to spend my birthday with his family. Linda, Candice, and I (Tamera, we missed you) had a girls night on Friday night at Candices house. We went to Sonic for some Cherry-Limeaide, rented a chic-flick, gave ourselves pedicures, and talked all night long. It was so fun. In the morning (my birthday), we decided to go to IHOP for breakfast. And this is what I got when I got there:

SURPRISE!!!

The entire family (sans Justin, who's on a mission in Minnesota) was there to surprise me for my birthday! We had a great time and I was totally spoiled- check out that fatty stack of birthday presents behind Khyl's head! Later in the day, we went to the Mesa Temple as a family. It was the first time I had been there since Khyl and I got married. It is such a beautiful and peaceful place. I am so glad I was able to be there with my family.

Christmas

First thing Christmas morning, aka around 9:30, we opened our stockings which were stuffed full of goodies. Linda is so sweet, she even made a stocking with my name on it so I would feel at home. Then we had breakfast; bacon, eggs, and Lindas Rockin' Cinnamon Rolls! Yum! I did miss my Daddy's Waffles, though. Next, we formed an assembly line starting from the living room and passed the presents from under the tree down to the family room. The whole room was full of presents! The process of unwrapping them took a few hours. Khyl and Linda staring at all the presents.

Jared gaurding his and Candices stash with his drumsticks.

B-Love chillin' on the couch.

Jared and Candice.
Shaun opening his present from us while Linda and Brandon look on.
My "Spiritual Gift" from Linda and Doug- A scripture case made by Linda, a Scripture Journal, and "With Full Puropse of Heart" by Dallin H. Oaks.

After presents, the boys made a Filiberto's run for lunch (Khyl's favorite mexican fast food) and Candice, Tamara, and I decorated a gingerbread house. Check out that Snowman!
Later, we watched Horton Hears a Who as a Family and played games together after dinner.

It rained, no poured, ALL DAY LONG on Christmas in AZ. Back home in Reno, It snowed all day on Christmas. My family was watching Timber at my parents house and sent this picture to me of Timber playing in the snow.
It was a wonderful Christmas and I am so grateful we were able to spend it with our family.

Christmas Eve

Khyl and I spent Christmas with his family in Arizona. We celebrated Jesus' birth with some very cool traditions. We flew out of Reno around 4 and got to Pheonix around 6. When we drove into the neighborhood, the streets were lined with luminaries (like white paper bags with tea light candles inside) it was gorgeous! And when we pulled up, the whole family was clustered outside around a firepit set up in the middle of their driveway. Linda (Khyl's mom) had set up a buffet table full of Christmas goodies and hot chocolate. All evening, the neighbors walk around the neighborhood, stop to chat, have a treat, wish eachother a Merry Christmas, and warm up infront of the toasty fire. Isn't that an awesome tradition?! After putting out the fire and taking down the buffet, we headed inside for some more holiday fun. Linda had gathered a bunch of dress-up clothes in the family room and we reenacted the nativity scene while Doug (Khyl's Dad) read the Christmas story from the Bible. The casting was as follows:

Tamara as The Angel
Candice and Khyl as The Wise Men
Mark and Brandon as Shepherds
Shaun as The Sheep
Jared as The Donkey
Shawn as The Cow/Photographer
Doug as Narrator
Linda as Joseph
Danielle as Mary
Basketball as unborn Jesus
Babydoll as born Jesus

Luke 2 vs. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

Luke 2 vs. 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

Luke 2 vs. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

Luke 2 vs. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Luke 2 vs. 8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

Luke 2 vs. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

Luke 2 vs. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

Luke 2 vs. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2 vs. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

Matthew 2 vs. 1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,


Matthew 2 vs. 11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.


Luke 2 vs. 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

After we enacted the Nativity scene, Linda had even more fun tuced up her sleeve for us. We played two games, one where we sat in a circle and passed presents back and forth, right or left, according to the story that Linda read to us. At the end of the story, we opened whichever present we had and each got a pair of socks!

From left to right, Linda, Brandon, Shaun, Khyl, and Me in our Christmas socks!

Next, we played the "Wear Oven Mitts and Try to Unwrap the Present Before the Person on Your Left Rolls Doubles With the Dice" game. Linda was very tricky though and wrapped the present inside about thirteen different boxes one inside of the other. It took us forever to unwrap them. Finally, Khyl just punched the box in an effort to get it open and eventually won the game. The present inside was a ten dollar bill! Hooray for my Manly Man! Thanks, Linda for such a fun evening!

Christmas with the Breithaupts

Since Khyl and I weren't going to be spending Christmas with my family this year, we celebrated in two stages before Christmas. Khyl and I went to Dayton to attend my family's ward Christmas party. We played our traditional instrumental Christmas Carols there rather than going door to door this year because of scheduling conflicts. (I will post pictures as soon as I get them from my Dad) The next day, my family came to our house to exchange christmas gifts.

Khyl was this years Santa. That means he gets to wear the famous hat and pass out the presents. Here he is being so cute in the rocker by the tree.

Here is Timber opening her Christmas present from my mom. We decided it would be best if Timber opened her present first so she would be occupied and not try to eat everyone else's presents.

And here is Timber hiding under the coffee table with her stash trying to chew the leg off of her new toy.

Mom and Dad opening their presents. I thought I was being so clever, I had two types of wrapping paper; one with male snowmen on it and one with female snowmen (snowwomen?) on it. I cooridinated it so my Dad's present was the one with the snowmen on it and my Mom's was the one with the Snowwomen on it. Well, it turns out that I miswrapped them so my Dad opened up my Mom's present and my Mom opened my Dad's present. Whoops!

And here I am opening a present from one of my sisters. How many people can you pile onto a loveseat meant for two?