Christmas Eve 2012

This Christmas Eve we turned the night over to the kids...the evening's activities, program, and entertainment. It went pretty well. Except for one brief moment when I threatened to cancel Christmas and had to take a personal quiet time in our bedroom for awhile. By Christmas Eve I was done with cooking, baking, wrapping, and the whole lot. After a little personal time and some Chex Mix I reemerged for a night of fun. This year has been so incredibly busy with so much STUFF and not all of that STUFF is a whole lot of fun if you are the mom and the one who has to make the all magic happen. It's a lot of work!!

We had a delicious and festive dinner, even if it got off to a late start, and then it was time for the fun to begin. Kameron and Ailey had been working on our Christmas program for over a week. They made programs, planned songs, musical performances, readings, activities, and made personal programs for each of us. They did a great job!!

Here they are running the show

 

Reilly was the narrator and Kameron, Ailey and Bryn acted out the Nativity

Ailey the angel (We've gotten so much mileage out of that Baptism dress!!), Kameron as Joseph, and Bryn as the cutest and most serious Mary that you have ever seen. It was darling.

Then it was PAJAMA TIME!!

Reilly got a luscious pink vintage 60's nightgown

Ever since last year when my mom made all the little girls their "princess jammies" with matching peignoirs all the rest of the girls...old and young...wanted one too. I found this little gem at a thrift store. It is awesome. Someone sewed that little number...it was homemade. There was also a yellow one made by the same person but I left it behind. Big mistake. When I went back for it another day it was gone!! Tragic.

Ailey requested footy jammies this year. She is crazy. I absolutely hated those as a kid. For whatever reason our family called pajamas like that "Wooly Bears". No idea why.

After searching high and low I finally found myself some vintage princess jammies circa the 70's...with sleeves!! SCORE!! (Tyler opted out of Christmas jammies this year. Party pooper.)

Then the music portion of the night began...

Reilly played multiple songs for us while we sang Christmas carols and her recital piece I'll Be Home For Christmas.

Ailey played her recital piece We Three Kings

 

 Kameron treated us to Jingle Bells on the trumpet

 Ailey and Bryn sang a duet God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman

 These two did an AWESOME job!!

We did a bunch of our family traditions, read the scriptures, and the book The Night Before Christmas. Then it was time to set out the cookies and eggnog and hang up the stockings.

Oh yes. The night would not be complete without a family photo and a little self-timer fun. We are easily amused. This is Tyler's FAVORITE part of the night. Not.

Then the kids were all snuggled and tucked in their beds while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads...

 

 And we waited for Santa to come and do his thing. :)

Merry Christmas

Christmas Break Has Begun

The kids are out of school and we have been busy with all kinds of fun things. Reilly had a wonderful concert downtown for her high school's music department. We are lucky to have great choir, band, and orchestra teachers. The kids did an exceptional job!!

We've also been doing a lot of Christmas shopping and baking...fun with friends, lunches out, book club, parties, playing in the snow, watching Christmas movies, and caroling. Reilly and Kameron, along with the youth of our ward, had a really neat experience caroling at an assisted living facility the other night that they will not soon forget. Christmas provides so many wonderful opportunities to think of those around us and to do special things for them. I love it.

The item in the picture above is a Christmas decoration that my mom made when I was just a baby. I have always loved its simple beauty. When we were up at her house over Thanksgiving she gave it to me. It is sitting on our piano and it has been reminding me all season that it is the small things that truly matter.

We got enjoy listening to the girls play in their Christmas piano recital. They both did an outstanding job!! I am so pleased that Reilly reconsidered taking piano lessons. She quit last year...yet I found her playing the piano more than ever. She decided to start up again this fall. Jodi (her piano and my friend) has done a good job of helping her find music that she enjoys playing and that has been a huge boost to her practicing. Ailey is really coming along well too. It's fun to see them progressing.

Reilly played a beautiful version of I'll Be Home For Christmas.

 Ailey played We Three Kings and did an outstanding job.

We celebrated my Mom's birthday with a big family sushi party. It was a lot of fun, a little crazy, and a great way to celebrate an amazing woman. I am lucky to have such an incredible mother.

 The Birthday Girl and her husband Ken

 John and Stacey

 Kelley and Elle

 Elle and Bryn

 Mom and 7 of her 10 Grandchildren

Mom and 3 of her 5 children. Kirk and Jordin live too far away. But not for long...Jordin and Ramon are supposed to be moving out here by summertime. Woohoo!! Can't wait.

Then we headed over to Justin and Hannah's house to do a little more celebrating and to spend some time with this sweet baby. Paige is absolutely adorable and I have been over to their house once again since then to hold this little sweetie pie. Nothing is more calming than holding a darling baby. Thanks Justin and Hannah for sharing her with all of us. She has truly been the best Christmas gift to the whole family this year.

Bryn thinks Paige is just about the best thing EVER!!

School is out, the kids are home, there is some snow on the ground, presents are nearly all purchased and we are just enjoying one another and doing a little of this...

Snowman/Snowlady Building Contest

AND... a WHOLE LOT of this...

 Merry Christmas!!

 

Better Late Than Never

 
For you poor suckers who have been waiting since August to see more pictures from Jordin's wedding...here you go. Don't blame me. I just got them from Jordi. (Pictures courtesy of Faculty Photography in Kansas City.)

Here are my favorites:

Jordin waiting for the wedding to begin and being kept away from Ramon. She is looking a little nervous. :)

The bridesmaids

The sisters...and niece. Not sure what Stacey is looking at? :)

The groomsmen

 

Clearly Tyler, Kirk, House and Kameron didn't get the memo that you aren't supposed to grin...you are supposed to look tough!! Ha ha.

The cutest flower girls ever!!

Groomsmen with Groom and cute RJ

Bridesmaid with Flower Girls and the Bride

Us

Kelley and Elle with Stacey and River. (John and Dane weren't able to come)

Tyler getting ready to walk Jordi down the aisle. So cute!!

Ramon and Uncle Ronny (the preacher) walking down the aisle

 Ken and Mom

 

 Kirk and Me

 Khalil and cute little RJ

Kameron carrying the broom for them to jump over and ushering all the flower girls down the aisle. Cute Jaylah as the #1 flower girl.

Here come Jordin and Tyler

Ramon looking at his bride-to-be in all her glory!! Love this picture.

The bridesmaids watching Jordin walk down the aisle. The water works begin!!

Not a dry eye in this group

The Hill Family

The Hills and their wedding party

Our family minus a couple of people

Now...LET THE PARTY BEGIN!!

The wedding party dancing into the reception. My favorite part!!

Unfortunately for you there isn't a close-up of me and Kirk. We had some SWEET moves!!

Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Hill!!

Dancing into the reception

 

Bryn couldn't help herself. She had to jump in there and dance too. :)

The mothers doing the Unity Sand ceremony

 Jordin and Ramon doing their part of the ceremony

The other Uncle Ronnie (Love him!!) making a toast to the happy couple. 

 

Love that sister of mine

Jordin making her speech

Ramon looks pretty darn happy!!

And so does she!!

Such a great day for Jaylah

The First Dance

Jaylah and Kameron on the dance floor

Flower girl gettin' down. GO AILEY!! GO AILEY!!

 Bryn making a run for the dance floor with her Daddy

 

Jordi and Kelley

 The party was over but these three girls: Jaylah, Bryn and Elle were still dancing!!

Love these guys and absolutely cannot wait until they move to Spokane this summer. Woohoo!!