Christmas Eve 2013

Christmas Eve was a big party this year.  Lots and lots of people.  We had dinner at Mike and Nicole's, read the Christmas Story where the kiddos acted out the parts, had the fish pond...all the normal things.  It was out last year at that house and Mike and Nicole sold it this summer.

Kennedee, Whitney, Hannah, Marissa (the 7 year olds)

Kennedee, Maria, Whit, Hannah, Kalli, Marissa, Kaydree

The kid's table.

Hannah, one of our shepherds.

Weston, our resident homeless man (drinking while pushing his shopping cart).

Pre-Christmas Activities-2013

One of the perks of being a student is the long Christmas break.  I'm usually able to watch the niblings in a few of their Christmas activities.  Whitney, Sariah, and Bekah were in a dance recital, which I got to help out with.  I was behind the curtain helping the girls get ready to dance.  "Remember to smile, have fun, ...."  It was actually a lot of fun.  Here are a few pics of the event.

Whitney with her friend Marissa Parks

The 3 girlies

Whitney's class

Sariah's class

Whitney started taking piano lessons last year.  She had her first recital while I was home.  She played 2 numbers and did a really good job.

Grandma (mom) decided to have a sleepover the week before Christmas where she could give all the kiddos their pajamas.  Here they are lining up waiting to get their PJs.

I love this picture of Wilson and Weston.  

Weston loves his big brother and is always 'looking up' to him.

Here they are with their PJs on.  They loved them.

Kaydree

Grandma and Weston

Watching a movie before sleeping.

Christmas 2012

I always enjoy being with my family.  Christmas was a great time.  Christmas Eve we always get together for dinner and then have a fish pond.  Mike and Nicole have graciously hosted the past few years.  The Parks have become regulars.  Here are a few highlights of the time I spent at home.

 Silly Wilson being Santa

 Santa came to visit us on Christmas eve and brought some stuffed animals for all the kiddos.

We got another visit from Santa (Uncle Lloyd) one night before Christmas.  

 I think he's one of my favorite Santas.

 Bekah helping to cook breakfast on Sariah's birthday, which is Christmas Eve.  We usually get together in the morning for her birthday so it's separate from our traditions that night.

 Sariah making breakfast on her 11th birthday.

Sariah wearing Kletey's hat on Christmas morning.

 Ethan enjoying his new truck.

 Kirk being happy watching the chaos.

Whit on her pogo stick.

Whit spent the night between Christmas and New Year's.  She decided to play dress up from Grandma's closet.  Such a cute girl.

Christmas on Temple Square

Last December, my mom got some tickets for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir concert.  It's an amazing thing with how many people enter for the opportunity.  She flew down during final's week to spend a day with me before the concert.  We got a hotel that night in Salt Lake so we could leave directly from there for home since I was done with school.  I was pretty sick (walking pneumonia) and so I didn't have as much fun as I possibly could have.  I tried not to be a party pooper so my mom would have the wonderful time she deserved.  It was a rainy night, but not too cold, so we walked around Temple Square for a bit between dinner and the concert.  We went to the visitor centers to warm up on the way.  The concert, of course, was amazing.  Alfie Boe is a tenor and has an amazing voice.  My favorite piece was I Wonder as I Wander.  So tender.  Tom Brokaw was the narrator for the evening.  He told a story of a man who during WWII would fly over crowds and drop candy from the planes.  It was a very touching story.  It was an amazing evening.  Glad my mommy asked me to be her date for the night.