Merry and Bright

We created a bucket list of all the fun and spiritual activities we wanted to accomplish this Christmas season. And we may have checked them all of this list!

The day Angeluis left we met my family at the park by Jon's house for a fun birthday party for Ben. He is 8! When the sun went down we headed to RSM for the Live Nativity. We were the first ones there and were able to really enjoy all of the hundreds of creches displayed. Parker has been particularly aware of nativity scenes this year and it warmed my heart to see him so reverent and enthralled with all of them. There were so many and they were from all over the world!

This one, from Africa, is made out of mud and dung!

Rayleigh loved all of the red birds in the Christmas tree.

These 2 love to snuggle up together.

Our Elf, Happy, finally made his appearance! He couldn't find us all month long because we've moved so many time! Parker was sweet and wrote him a note to give to Santa and left a few legos out for him. He asked Happy to tell Santa that he wants 3 things: A Lego Train, a giant stuffed Shamu, and Skylanders Trap Team, Unfortunately since he was asking for these things so late in the season Santa sent $5 for Parker to win a giant stuffed Shamu from Seaworld the next time we go. Thanks Santa!

Making sugar cookie dough in preparation for Christmas Eve!

This is a fruit nativity that Parker put together. One night when we went into his room for prayers and reading he had a nativity all set up on his bed with pillows and stuffed animals. I wish I snapped a picture of it. He's just the best.

Santa was also concerned about the Lego train so he said Parker could play with his Dad's Christmas tree train! Score!

This little sinker got into the toilet and made her clothes all wet. So while they were washing and drying she cruised around in her skivies. I just love her rolls!

On night we met my parents at the temple after their shift and we went to dinner together at Fashion Island and walked around Roger's Gardens. It was a wonderful night! The kids loved running around the beautiful temple grounds! And of course I enjoyed taking way too many pictures of the sunset.

She doesn't want her bow or her shoes... or her clothes for that matter!

She was too busy for pictures. And did NOT want brother to hold her!

Little baby footprints. I hope she always has her steps going towards the temple.

"I guess she's going to take all the straw off the nativity, Mom."

Ever since Parker was just a wee lad, he's LOVED the Christmas train at Roger's Gardens. He was thrilled to see it again and wanted to take a bunch of pictures. It really is a magical place. So beautiful...

I love these 2 and feel so lucky and incredibly blessed to live so close to them. It really is a priceless gift to be able to spend these special times with them and make memories with them and my children. They celebrated 48 years of marriage on the 16th! I love my mom and dad more than words can express!!!!

Parker lost another tooth! Now, all he wants for Christmas are his 2 front teeth!

Before

After

The Saturday before Christmas Tanner took Parker out shopping and to run errands in the morning when the baby was napping. When they got home we all went to South Coast Plaza for an early dinner, shopping, and to ride the carousel. Rayleigh LOVES the Merry Go Round and it is such a joy to see her light up when she is riding on it!

My princess. I took her into the Disney Store for a few minutes while the boys waited in line. South Coast was CRAZY the Saturday evening before Christmas. But so worth it and so fun.

Waiting for the fun to begin....

Christmas Sunday was such a wonderful day. We all went to church together and enjoyed feeling the spirit and remember what this season is all about. We then had dinner and visited Tanner's work! We'd never been before and it is a really nice facility. They were having a special dinner and program for all the patients and their family's. Even Santa was there! Santa gave Parker a toy which he quickly looked at and decided it was the perfect gift for a friend at school. Such a generous little boy. We then went to Riverside to check out the lights at Mission Inn. It was awesome! Live entertainment and streets filled with holiday cheer and delicious smells. We decided to come home and make hot chocoalte and popcorn and watch a movie all curled up together. A perfect Christmasy day, indeed.

23 weeks!

We may have gone a little overboard with 3 Christmas trees this year but the kids love it. And so do I!

This was back at Tanner's office. I told Tanner to "be the boss and fire Parker!" Don't worry, Parker was innocent.

Monday started Parker's 2 week "Winter Break" so of course our first stop was Seaworld! It was a mad house but we still had a blast. Our first stop was the arcade to try and win a giant stuffed Shamu. Well, there were no giant stuffed Shamu's but there was a giant stuffed dolphin. Parker was able to practice and practice until he was sore and sweating to try and win a dolphin and in the end a Christmas miracle happened! The worker saw he was so determined to win that she said he was a "winner for trying!" He won the stuffed dolphin! I think we owe a big thanks to Happy the Elf and Santa for making his Christmas wish come true! (and a desperate, tearful mother....)

"I can't believe I won!!!" He carried that thing around for the whole rest of the day! Everyone commented on how cool it was and he felt pretty darn special.

The Polar bear was finally out to play!!!

And we saw something we'd never seen before- a turtle going for a walk! Parker was even able to pet it!

He had a blast playing in the snow again and sledding down the hill. Rayleigh loved the snow too!

And of course we couldn't leave without saying goodbye to Shamu. Unfortunately, Parker's pass expires at the end of the year. We sure loved going to Seaworld so often and I can't thank the staff, especially the dolphin trainers, for inspiring my little boy. He is a better person all around because of their influence and example. He wants to study hard at school to be a marine biologist, swim hard to become an expert swimmer, and he even picks up trash he knows will eventually flow down to the ocean and cause harm to innocent animals. We look forward to going back to Seaworld some day!

After our fun and evenful day at Seaworld we were invited to visit the Cotton's new Ranch in San Juan for a Christmas Party! It was beatiful and the ranch is amazing. The food was catered by a delicious BBQ place and we ALL loved it. It was fun being around so many good friends, espeically my parents. And even Santa came! He gave each child a book. But Rayleigh was still not a fan....

"I lost my tooth!"

I'll tell you what, though. Rayleigh loved the horses in the stables! She was all about it! She's my little animal lover!

We spent the night at my parents house that night and Parker wanted his dolphin right there in bed with him. He started out sleeping completely on top of it but clearly that plan didn't pan out.... I love that my kids sleep so well at my parents house.

The next day all the cousins came over for dinner and a little nativity presentation. I love that my mom wanted to reiterate the true meaning of Christmas to her sweet grandchildren. They loved getting dressed up and playing a special part. Earlier that day we met my cousin Christa at the park, too! Such a fun family day!

We all brought something to share for dinner and we had the best feast ever! You certainly can't beat an outdoor dinner on Christmas Eve Eve!

We had a little gift exchange too. I love how these cute older girl cousins dote on their baby girl cousin. Jessie is especially fond of Rayleigh and he's actually quite a huge help for me. Warms my heart. Cousins really truly are a person's first best friends.

I can honestly say that our bucket list was completed. We had such an amazing Christmas season filled with love, friends, family, food, parties, Santa and of course, Jesus. We got all our shopping done early so we could focus on the Savior and his divine birth and we all felt the Christmas spirit more fully this year. I love my family and I love Christmas!