Nativity

What would Christmas be without the kids reenacting the Christmas story out of the bible? This year Mary and Joesph were played by the little kids.
C was excited to be Joesph.

D was the donkey but only for a minute.

A was the angel and B played a wise man.

The whole group.

We are so lucky to have such great family and traditions. We know that we are very blessed in all areas of our lives and we are very thankful for that. But most importantly we are thankful for our Savior and his great example and sacrifice for us.

Christmas

Picture taking was not priority this Christmas. I wish I would have taken more. D is always wanting her picture taken so I did manage to get a few of her. This is what Santa brought her. All the kids loved it.
She also got baby accessories. A big hit! She LOVES babies and can't get enough of them.

B was happy camper with this remote control car. A got a bike and C was very difficult this year. He wanted candy from Santa and really didn't need anything. (Do they ever need anything?) He got a design and drill and some Toy Story things.

The gang in their Christmas pajamas.

This is our attempt to calm down the kids. Grandpa is always willing to read them a story.

Everyone spent the night at me parents house, except my sister who stayed in Utah. We did a pioneer Christmas Eve. The dutch oven was yummy. All the kids spent the night with grandpa in his room, which made it easy for Santa to visit and the adults to hang out together. The morning was of course crazy but then we made it to the park to let the kids run around. Then it was back to playing with the new toys. It was a great day of family!

Random Cuteness

I can never get enough of this cute smile!
On day I thought her hair was getting long enough to do something with and so I tried this. She sat pretty still to get it in but it didn't stay in long. At least I got some pictures. I should use better rubber bands but I hate how they rip out her hair when one of us tries to take them out. We need to keep the little hair she has!

Ever since we stopped napping C I can tell he is a little more grouchy. He is such a good boy and always has been but lately he has been a little more challenging. (nothing compared to D) I think it's due to no nap. His thumb has been a great thing and makes him be able to fall asleep anywhere as long as he is tired enough.

I keep telling him when he turns 4 he has to stop sucking his thumb but am I sure I want that?

Discovery Museum

The museum did a big thing on gingerbread and we went to check it out. The kids made their own mix to make cookies, decorated cookies, made a paper gingerbread man that would climb, and got to look at some amazing gingerbread houses.
Here is D decorating her cookie.

The boys coloring their gingerbread man.

A making a pretzel treat.

A and B posing for me. C and D didn't want anything to do with this guy. (not surprising after Santa)

A Performs Again!

Here is the star after her big friends and family show. She did great. I can see lots of improvement from last year. She got way more into it.
This is here pouring hot chocolate for the other girls.

This was at a different show but she had a solo at this show.

Santa Came to Town

Santa came to our neck of the woods and we got to go see him.
B asked Santa for not only his two front teeth but several others as well.

C was a little hesitant at first but quickly warmed up.

D never warmed up to Santa! Now she says, "HO, HO, HO" every time she sees a Santa on t.v.

Merry Christmas to all!!

Thanksgiving in Panaca, part 4

As always one of the very last things we do before we leave Panaca is find our Christmas tree.
This has been our family tradition even before we had kids.

The more kids we have the more effort it seems to take but it is always worth it.

If you saw this driving down the I15 it was us.

Other things that happened in Panaca that never got a picture was of course Thanksgiving dinner and then the Wright Family Reunion. Dinner was delicious and small for the Mathews. Grandma was busy with the bakery but dinner went smooth and she had plenty of rolls left for us. (my favorite part!) On our way home we stopped in Alamo for the reunion. We got to see lots of family we never knew we had and learn lots of fun things. We also got to hear fun stories. I love the great history on the Mathews side. It was a great trip, just like it always is when we go back to Panaca!