Christmas

This year we were able to spend Christmas with my family in Ohio. I love the fact that we switch off visiting our respective families every year! It was great spending time together chatting, cooking and playing with the kids and my siblings more. My dad does a great job with the lights at their house and I love driving up to their place and seeing them on. There is just something lighting up your home at night in the middle of the winter to add some cheer to the dreary season.

I was able to increase my running distance from 4 to 4.5 miles while out on a run with my brother Curtis a couple of days before Christmas. Then the same crazy brother completed an Insanity workout with Rob (and Asher) the very next day. Asher loved the Insanity workout and even now asks me if we are going to exercise again. Asher enjoyed watching Disney's Planes that Santa gave him several times over the visit. My family plays a lot of games so every night was game night and we chatted and snacked the nights away.

 Asher also enjoyed "learning" to tap dance from my sister Cayla. We taped her shoe to his foot so it wouldn't keep coming off!

Christmas Eve we read the story of Christ's birth from the bible and used the same hand puppets I used as a child to "act" out the story. Then it was off to bed for the kids and Christmas preparations for the adults. I actually was able to help with stockings this year... I've graduated!!!

The next morning, after getting dressed and breakfast cleaned up my dad took his usual gift handing location  next to the tree.

 Waiting for the loot after opening our stockings (L to R: brothers Curtis and Cory, Asher, me, Jacqueline.

   

We trade sibling names every year and my brother Cory (2nd to the left) had my name. He is always very creative and is the guy who would give you a ring that is within a box, within another box, which is within another box, so it may end up originally looking like he is going to give you a refrigerator. This year he gave me four boxes with a creative poem, implying that I had to guess which ones were real and which were fake. Ended up being three real presents and only one fake. I love his creativity.

 Two sets of missionaries came over to my parent's place to hang out Christmas Dad and call their families (the 2 times a year they are allowed to call) so there ended up being 17 people. A little crazy, but a lot of fun.

I'd have more pictures to share, but I forgot the camera charger at home and the battery was dead and my phone camera wasn't working, argh. So this is all you get this year. Fun memories regardless of pictures. Thanks Mom and Dad for letting us come visit! And thanks also for stocking us up on homemade goodies (dried fruit, homemade egg rolls) and other yummies!

Asher (age 3)

 Jacqueline (almost 1)

  

Oh, and here is our Christmas "card" this year!