Holidays
I am so grateful that we could celebrate the birth of our Savior once again. Through all the excitement of lights, decorations, goodies, and presents, Mike and I try our best to make sure our children understand the real reason we celebrate Christmas. I am so grateful for Jesus Christ and for all He has done for me.
We were very blessed to have had such a wonderful holiday week! Christmas Eve we spent the afternoon and evening at Mike's parents' house, ate yummy snacks and a delicious dinner, opened presents, and then went home to wait for Santa to come. Christmas day we opened all our presents and then Mike's parents and his brother, Jeff, came over for brunch and then we hung out all day. It was two relaxing days. We are all so grateful for the generosity of all who gave/sent gifts (and money)! The day after Christmas, Jessie and I spent the day together shopping at the mall (which we never get to do, so was very fun and nice spending some one-on-one time with Jessie!). Monday, Mike and I celebrated our 15th Wedding Anniversary! We went to the Maltby Cafe for brunch and stuffed ourselves. They are very well-known for breakfast and serve it all day long over the holidays. Wednesday, Mike and I, and the three oldest kids took the tour of the Boeing plant in Everett. It was exciting to see the 747, 777, and 787 on the production line. It's amazing how big those planes really are and so interesting to learn about how they are actually put together. I can't wait to someday ride in the 787 Dreamliner! Thursday was New Years Eve and Jessie had a youth fireside and Scottish Hogmanay Party to attend at her Young Woman's President's home. After the fireside, Ben and I joined her to ring in the New Year. Jessie and I tried the traditional Scottish Haggas as well as some other traditional Scottish food. It was a lot of fun! Friday night, the kids got to have a sleep over at Nana and Gramp's house and Mike and I went out for a nice dinner for our Anniversary and spent a VERY quiet evening at home. We really enjoyed being able to carry on a conversation without being interupted and going to bed without any trouble from little ones, but by the time 10 a.m. rolled around and we were headed to pick up the kids, we were ready to have them home. Our lives are just not complete without our four wonderful children!
Christmas Eve at Mike's parents' house
ALL the boys playing Legos
Abby and Nana playing bears
Jessie being cute as ever (I love her new shorter hair cut!)
Christmas Day
Abby and her new doll
Tony Hawk Ride, which Ben was MOST hoping for (thanks Grandma and Grampy for helping him get it...)!
Josh and his Ben10 Lego - Humongosaurus
I think this one is self explainatory...
Helping MIke gear up for his fairly new hobby of shooting guns with his dad and brothers (a 12-gauge pump action shot gun).
Our new family 6-in-1 game table (thanks Grandma Betty!)
While Jessie and I were at the mall the day after Christmas, Jessie decided to get her ears pierced with her Claires gift card (thanks Grandma and Grampy). They look great. She is so excited at all the earring possibilities once she can take her studs out!
Hard to believe it's been 15 years!
