With all the family we have, it takes us a month to do all the Christmas celebrations we want to do!
For our first Family Fun Friday of the month we opened Christmas jammies, a Christmas book, and a Christmas movie.
Abby and I had a slumber party that night - so fun!
We attended Heather's (Ryan's sister) ward Christmas party so Abby could say Hi to Santa
She wasn't interested
She was willing to say hi to Jesus though, which is better
We went with Michael and Cathy to Six Flags for Holiday in the Park
We went sledding first thing
Hey Santa
Driving the vintage cars was one of our favorites
Shows are always fun
The lights were great
Riding the train - they had them all lit up as well
Abby always loves carousels
Decorating
This ornament was so pretty. My friend Steve gave it to us several years ago. Unfortunately Abby was given it to hang on the tree. She did that, but the branch she chose wasn't strong enough :(. We learned.
Just because
Abby's preferred way to display a nativity - line em up
A friend sent us boxes of goodies - thanks Hannah
We did a progressive breakfast with some friends so we could see their houses all decorated for Christmas. I got the idea from visiting my sister last year and she did it with her friends. Loved it!
From row: Emma, Mac, Brynn, Damon, and Levi
Back row: Megan, Abby, Me, Janice, Karilynn (with Mason), Nora, Anja
We took Abby to Bethlehem Revisited in Waxahachie. We've been 3 times now. It is pretty awesome. They recreate the whole city of Bethlehem and have tons of performers acting as if they really lived at the time of Christ's birth. Every half hour or so the Holy Family enters the city in search for a room in an inn. Love it.
We make hand print ornaments every year. These are some of the ones from this year.
Since we weren't going to be in town on Christmas Day we asked Santa to visit us early, and he did.
Abby humored me by letting me take some pics of her in front of our Christmas tree
I just can't get enough of her smile - my little princess!
We celebrated Christmas with our Cox family first. Cheyenne, Cathy, and Michael came for dinner and gifts, and just to celebrate together.
Cathy brought these cute popper things - you pull the two ends and the thing pops open revealing some little toy or something. Here Abby and Cheyenne are doing a puzzle from a popper.
Opening a present from Cathy - a little dog with a book that you read and the dog responds to.
This was a fun present from Michael and Cathy. But also notice the stacks of VHS tapes. They brought us all Cheyenne's old kids movies.
They got it all put together - it was a team effort. Such a fun barn with tons of awesome animals.
These paper crowns were in several of the poppers. Abby wouldn't put hers on while they were still over, but as soon as they left she put her crown on. Silly girl.
Two days later we had another Christmas celebration with our Colby family. They are so good to us.
We spent Christmas in Las Vegas.
All my life my family has set out wooden Dutch shoes for Christmas, in addition to stockings. Santa always fills them with chocolate coins. When I was little I would always try them on and walk around in them. It was fun to see Abby doing the same thing.
This year we were the only ones at my parent's house (well my parents too) on Christmas morning, so we went to visit my sister Molly and her family when we got up.
Abby made such a cute Santa
Oh, you're not supposed to sit on presents? Why not?
After we had opened presents at Molly's house we went back to my parent's house to open some more!
Abby gave Grandma some bubble bath
And Grandpa got a dinosaur
Dad got a ball that lights up when it bounces
We spent almost 2 weeks visiting with my parents. While we were there Abby found fun ways to entertain herself.
Like hiding in this hutch.
Flying on the hammock and crashing on the couch was a fun game.
Helping Grandma make some hamburgers for dinner
Hanging out with cousins - this is Luke (and Olaf)
Abby is ready to be a big sister. She loved to get to feed her cousin Isaac.
Crowding on the bench to eat breakfast with the cousins.
Eating breakfast and reading the paper with Grandpa
We like to go on adventures while we were there.
One thing we did for the first time was visit Floyd Lamb Park. It was awesome. It used to be a divorce ranch - didn't even know they had those! There are several ponds, the old buildings, and TONS of peacocks!
We go to the cactus garden at the Ethel M factory pretty much every time we're there for Christmas.
Another first was a visit to Hemenway park to play, but more so in hopes of seeing Big Horn sheep.
We were not disappointed :)
We visited Sunset park several times to play and to geed the ducks and geese.
We also went hiking at Red Rock.
Seriously! They don't come any cuter!
Family temple trip to do baptisms and intiatories
Since before I was born my family has acted out the nativity every year at Christmas. I love getting to watch Abby participate in it now.
Have you ever seen a cuter donkey? I didn't think so. (With her cousin Jesse, the wise man)
We attended two New Years Eve parties - the first at my sister Missy's house, and the second at my other sister, Molly's house
Abby's uncle Christopher is always trying to win the title of favorite uncle - he does this by feeding her yummy food
Here she is playing games with cousins and friends at Molly's
We had such a fun Christmas! But lucky for us, our fun wasn't over yet!
