Christmas 2011

We had a nice long Christmas vacation in Arizona this year. The boys and I left 2 weeks before Christmas so we could welcome Michael home from his mission. I felt like it was important for them to witness this special event and I am so grateful for the example Michael has been to my children by serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for two years.

 So the boys and I hopped on an airplane and got to be at the airport to wait for him.

 I can't imagine the emotions that returned missionaries go through. It was very apparent that Michael did not want to be home; he wanted to keep serving the Lord and sharing the gospel with the people in Long Beach, CA. He was a great missionary and it was such a happy reunion. This is a picture of everyone who was at the airport.

As Michael was slowly transitioning the Christmas festivities began. Josh drove down about a week later when he had finished up all his finals.

This was definitely a special Christmas because my sister Wendy and her family came down from Utah. Growing up, I don't remember her ever spending a Christmas with us so, although we had a full house it was so much fun...Never a dull moment.

 We did some shooting (of course). Between building a fire and shooting guns, Benson and Grant were in heaven.

Benson lost his first tooth. For a while, in the past, he would always say he had loose teeth and I would tell him that he probably would not loose any until first grade. But, while we were in AZ he said his tooth was really loose so I felt and sure enough! The next day I pulled it out. I love how excited he was. There are very few things as exciting as loosing your first tooth. Seriously he was more excited about it than he was Christmas day. And the adult tooth was already half way in behind the baby tooth. I felt like he had reached a completely new stage of childhood. It was kind of emotional for me.

Christmas Eve we did our traditional reenactment of the Nativity Story.

We also did a white elephant game Christmas Eve for the kids and the Adults, but it was different because they were cool gifts, not gifts that you want to get rid of. 

  

 Christmas Day was full of excitement. More family came over and we had an awesome prime rib dinner that still makes my mouth water just thinking about it.

Every time the boys were asked what they got for Christmas their response was gum and chocolate. That was what they were most excited about. I think it is really tacky, by the way, when people ask my kids what they got (I don't know why but it bugs me). So I love it that every time, every year, their answers never "reveal" their nice toys, but the simple things like gum, cereal, a new tooth brush. Hahaha. It makes me laugh.

Anyway, I love spending time with family. We came back home to Idaho the next day and I am so grateful for the time we were able to spend together. That is what makes the holidays so wonderful. All, but one, of my siblings were able to be there so we got family pictures taken which I will post pics of soon.

P.S. I used My Memories Suite Software to post the pictures. I didn't put a lot of time into it which is why I forgot to take out some of the captions. Still, pretty awesome for so little time spent on it. You should try it ;)