Christmasing with family...

Christmas Eve

We joined Rochelle & family for Christmas Eve dinner.

Of course, the first order of business was wrestling with G'pa. I think Rochelle & I have both given up trying to discourage this...G'pa loves it so much & he realizes that da boyz (along with the rest of the g'kids) are going to out grow this all too soon! So "let them be little."

Trevor & Ethan both got Kindle Fires for their birthdays & they were eager to show us the cool games they have on them...

We enjoyed a Christmas Concert...Carson sang some songs & Ethan played his trombone for us...

G'ma Judy had given everyone Nativity costumes & she directed them in acting it out...there were a couple of quick costume changes, but it was cute...Carson was very serious about his parts.

Gotta have a quick photoshoot! Even da boyz let me capture them in their Christmas PJs - Carson & Cade loved their new "cool" football PJs.

We ate a lot & played tons of games...

We left early enough so the kids could get in bed so Santa could come. Paul & I spent our first Christmas Eve night alone at the Riverhouse...it was pretty quiet without any kids home. We thought a lot about our own parents & wondered how they made that transition? Christmas is so much more fun with kids! But we were content knowing that our children were in their own homes building cherished memories & establishing their own Christmas traditions for our grandchildren...


Christmas Day

Amy & Kyle invited us over for breakfast Christmas morning with their family. Kaden was excited to show us his new toy & Kenyon was excited to show us a few tricks, too...

Amy & Kyle wanted to try something new this year to help their family feel the spirit of giving, so Amy purchased some simple personal items & snacks & had the kids sort them & bag them so they could give them to someone in need...

The kids wrote notes of encouragement to put in each one, then we loaded up in their van & headed to downtown Sacramento to pass them out to various homeless people we came across.
It was cold & wet & did not take long to find people to give them to...a man under an overpass, a couple of guys taking shelter in a parking garage, a man in a park, a couple trying to stay dry in a doorway of an abandoned school & several others...

It was a great reminder of the simple blessings we enjoy...a nice warm car to travel around in - food & shelter - being surrounded by the love of family. They all seemed appreciative & expressed gratitude for the kindness in these simple gifts. It brought a smile to each person as the kids said, "Merry Christmas! This is for you. I hope you have a nice day."

Later Christmas Day we took Nicole to see Les Mis - a family favorite! It was a great Christmas Day!

Post Christmas...

We headed into San Jose to work the day after Christmas. The end of year is a crazy busy time for Paul at the office.

We did meet Benara (Ben + Dara) for dinner to stretch out our Christmasing a little longer...

I was excited that the Oakland Temple still had their lights up the next day - great place to celebrate at Christmastime, remembering the greatest gift of all, our Savior Jesus Christ.

The weekend after Christmas, we drove down to Bakersfield to celebrate with family there. We got in late, but made a quick stop to Auntie Sylvia's. Soch & I have been friends since junior high & I love her dearly...

The next day we gathered at my niece, Kristi's, for food & more family fun! We ate way too much - Luigi's is a family favorite!

My SIL, Denise, put together a great hot chocolate bar! I'm pretty sure the littles put just about everything possible in their hot chocolates...even the big kids got in on the fun!

Carrie & I modeling our Christmas pants...red & green!

Can't have a gathering without the photoshoot! I put the camera on the timer for these gems...the first one is "all about me" - overwhelmingly front & center! Then I tried again & ran around the couch for the second shot getting there just in time & knocking over Kristi's drink, making a huge mess as the shutter clicks! Merry Harwell Christmas!