Christmas Eve

I know this is old news, hopefully I will be caught up soon. For Christmas Eve, at Aaron's parents house, we always have a lovely prime rib dinner that Aunt Sherry Cooks for us. After an early dinner we play some games with the kids. The grandchildren will never let Grandma Jackie end the tradition of the "Right and Left game!" We do a little talent show (this year Aunt Camille even talked the 3 big Lowry boys into singing Jingle Bells while they sucked on helium balloons!) My camera batteries had died or I would have had a very very funny video to post.

Then the little kids act out the nativity. This year, Grandma Jackie asked if Carson wanted to play Joseph, I was a little worried. He seems more like an unruly cow or sheep to me, but she had bribery. For a few peanut butter cups, he was a darling little Joseph. Almost as cute as his little cousin who played "Mary."

We had a great evening, I only wish I would have been able to take more pictures.

Gingerbread Houses

When we all gathered at my parents house, we decided it would be fun to make gingerbread houses with the kids. It had been a few years since we had made them. We bought 3 kits thinking that each family could work on one. The children had a better idea. The big girls decided to break the grandchildren into the 3 generations they fall into. We have the 3 big girls, the 3 medium girls, and the 2 little boys (and Brinley!)

After we thought about it, we decided it was genius. The little boys could be as messy and wild, and it would not drive the older sisters (who actually wanted it to look nice) crazy. We let all 3 groups decorate how they wanted, the only help was from Aaron and Shae, on the little boys house.

We did have a bit of sampling going on.

I could not get pictures of the faces of these ladies. They were quite into the project.

The dad's step into help Carson and Zach. They (the big boys) had some serious talent. Grandpa Rich suggested they decorate with hot dogs as well, so we did have some lovely hot dog people living at the gingerbread house. We had to toss them out after a day or two, they were not looking well. Thanks for the AWESOME idea MGpa!

Here is my son actually sampling the hot dogs before they were people. I swear my dad gives them to my son, just because he know I hate it when he eats them. He will grab them raw out of the fridge and chow down. I do not have them at my house precisely for this reason!

My son who won't eat chicken, ham, or roast, will got to town on cold hot dogs! So Gross.

The finished projects. On the left the boys house (be sure to check out the hot dog people!) The medium girls in the middle, and the big girls on the right.

Sledding

Before it got too cold to be outside, the cousins LOVED going sledding. Carson and Zach spent most of the time on the 4-wheelers with the dad's, but the girls loved being pulled around in the sleds.

Aaron found a rather large, and very stout, sled at the CAL store. It fit quite a few grandkids at a time.

Just wanted to tell Uncle Shae that we love the bright orange Detroit lions hat!

I am so glad we went sledding when we did, since a few days later it was 0 degrees outside, and now we have almost no snow left. If it is going to be this cold outside, we should at least deserve big fluffy snowflakes falling, (not blowing) to the ground.

Poor neglected Blog...

So, I realize it has been forever. My sisters came, and when that happens, we play, and not much on the computer.

So, now that they are gone, (we are a little bit sad!) and my parents house is quiet again, I will try to remember all the fun we had. I can't start yet, because I lost my camera in my parents house, and so I am waiting to mooch pictures of my mom and sister.

Until then, back to reality, I go.....

Happy Birthday MGpa!!

For anyone who does not understand who MGpa is, it is my father, who Paige started calling the moustache Grandpa years ago!! It has just been shortened over time to MGpa!

We are so sorry that you had to spend your birthday all alone and thousands of miles away!! Can't wait to celebrate when you return home! (Paige is hoping you are wanting your belated birthday dinner to be at Chuck-A-Rama!!!)

Oh, and thanks for being such a fabulous grandpa to all those little people dog-piling you!

Happy Birthday Zach-O!!

A Very Happy Birthday to one of our favorite little boys!

Happy Birthday Zach!

Can't wait for you to come see us soon!!!

Oh, Christmas Tree..

For as long as I can remember, my family has gone up to the Pine Basin area to cut down a Christmas Tree. We started going just as the 6 of us, and then a few years later we started inviting my parents good friends the Parker's. Now, years later I bring my husband and children, and some of the Parker's children bring theirs as well. It is so fun to spend the day with family and good friends. As soon as we arrive, we dress all the kids in the snow clothes, and this year, the boys started a lengthy snowball fight. From the pictures you can tell, we didn't have much snow, but they were still able to find some. I can remember going years ago, when the snow was so deep we could barely walk. Here's hoping we get a little bit of that this year sometime.

All the little kiddo's were loving throwing snowballs at the Daddy's!

Carson and I tried to walk up the hill and help, but he could not walk because it was so slippery. So we started down the hill and waited in the truck for everyone to return.

Stephanie was so sweet to help the little ones sled down the hill. She almost had to push with her hands the whole way down the hill to keep them moving. (Morgan says Thanks- Steph!)

My children look forward to this tradition every year, even though we bought an artificial tree 3 years ago. They love to help Grandma and Grandpa pick one out, and go out to eat at the Black Angus afterwords. We have so much fun playing in the snow and seeing good friends again!