I am so lucky to have such a great family! I mean, how many almost 16 year old boys can you get to sit on Santa's lap just for the picture? Man, I must be the most special momma in the whole wide world!
We always have a fun time at the "Santa Symphony". I am so happy that my kids are learning to love music the way I do. They are always such good sports about going to things like this with me, it never hurts that they get to dress up in costumes (Halloween) or see Santa. Vincent is always great about sitting on Mr. C's lap. One more chance to relay the message about the skate board he wants so badly. Raeannen is a little shy about Santa still, but will always flash her smile at the camera. The last picture was after church on Christmas Sunday, just had to throw one more of them together in.

Raeannen and I have been all excited the whole year about the Nutcracker. She has been practicing her whispering and manners just so that she could go.

We were lucky enough to have Rae's best friend Bailey come with us. (One of my dearest friends, Michelle, is Bailey's mommy). The girls got dressed in their nice new Christmas dresses and got their hair done up and were ready to go! We had a delightful dinner at the Garden in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building before the show, and then we were off to the main event. The girls were so cute, they were acting as though they were princesses, holding the corners of their dresses as they walked and almost tiptoe-ing as they went along. The show was fantastic and the girls loved it. Rae especially liked the wind up bear and doll. I just loved the whole thing. I am excited to start this tradition in my own little family.

Christmas

This has been an interesting Christmas season for me... usually I am so happy and excited this time of year and this year I just haven't caught the Christmas bug. I don't know if is because our tree died, (huge bummer... it was beautiful), or because Jo and Justin are gone, (big bummer... but will be worth it) or what, but I in spite of my odd mood the kids had a wonderful Christmas. We all did some fun things, we did the 12 Days of Christmas for an older couple in our ward, we went Christmas caroling with Michelle, Bailey and Grandma Candy, Grandma Doris and Grandpa Brian and also Jessica Ercanbrack came along. Mom and Rae went to the Nutcracker and Jason and Vincent went to the Hale Centre Theatre's A Christmas Carol the Mom and Dad. And of course, we got to see Santa at Abravenel Hall when we went to the Utah Symphony's Here comes Santa Clause. Jason stole the show at the Grantsville High's music program. His solo in the Jazz band was really good and got him a lot of applause. Rae rode in the Tooele Christmas parade with her ballet group and had a little performance at the December craft fair. It really has been a fun month, even if I'm a little bit of a Grinch.

I knew the boys would be excited about the Wii, but I never thought they would be this excited. It was pretty funny... and then when they found out we were going to California in February, all they said, "Oh cool.... Disneyland." Hmmm...

Family Christmas party

We held the annual Christmas party at the Erkies again this year. It was a good time for all.... we enjoyed great visits, a freezing trip to the res for some iceskating and a very fun party with lots of good food and an awesome nativity complete with Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, 3 wise men, angels, shepherds and even a sheep. Baaaaaa. Thanks Cindy for a fantastic time. We are so blessed to have such a beautiful family.




My children experienced iceskating for the first time. Jason picked up on it immediately. He and Wes were all over the place. Vincent did really good too, he was just a little more timid at first. Rae was lucky to have beginner skates with 2 blades, so she did pretty good herself.... until she got to cold and had to go potty. That was that.