Neighborhood Nativity

We were invited to a family neighborhood nativity this year.  The kids between ages 2 and 8 got all dressed up in the traditional outfits and acted out the nativity.

I really appreciated this opportunity to help Grant grasp the true meaning of Christmas.  This year I got a little book about the nativity to read during bedtime.  I had a few Christ centered books, but not very many.  The book I got was basically Luke 2, but with pictures and simpler text.  Grant picks it almost every night.  If you ask him who was Jesus's mother he will tell you Mary a girl from Galilee.  I think it is pretty cute!  I was glad we had read the book a few times before we went to the neighborhood nativity.

Grant insisted he be a shepherd. I was glad he didn't want to be Joseph because he was already taken.  I think Grant makes a pretty cute shepherd!  I took a ton of pictures of the whole group, but with that many kids and all the parents taking pictures from different angles I didn't get the best shot. 

I remember acting out the nativity when I was younger.  My cousins and siblings took turns being different characters.  Eventually we got a little old and we stopped doing it.  

Gingerbread House

We love making gingerbread houses for Christmas.  In years past Grant hasn't been so willing to participate in the decorating part.  When he was younger he hated sticky things on his fingers.  Now he still doesn't care for sticky things like frosting on his fingers, but he will tolerate it for a few minutes.  I was informed that blue is a real Christmas color and it was very necessary for part of the house to be blue.  He wanted me to take pictures of each side of the house so we never forget how cool his house was.  I am mostly impressed by the fact he did the whole thing by himself.  I helped spread the frosting a little bit, but other than that he made this all by himself. 

Ward Party

Our ward has a Christmas breakfast every year!  This year the kids got to wear their pajamas.  Grant thought that was the best part!  We have some amazing cooks in our ward and the food was delicious!  

Buddy the Elf even came and gave all the kids a bag of candy!  There was a fun program for the adults and the kids got to play games and make a gingerbread cookie.  

Our bishop, Bishop Ahlquist, got up at the end and wished the ward a Merry Christmas.  He is such a wonderful bishop.  He is one of the big reasons Kyle has come back to church.  Bishop Ahlquist is very sincere and truly cares about the members.  I am very grateful to have such a wonderful bishop. 

Elf on the Shelf

 I love holiday traditions.  Especially having a child of my own.  This past year Grant has really been into the holidays and it is fun to do things with him.  My mom helped us start the tradition of the Elf on the Shelf this year.  I know some people who think this is the dumbest thing on the planet, but we have found it to be fun.  I really enjoy using it for discipline, by saying, "the elf is watching and he will tell Santa."

Grant named our elf Cookie.  The Elf on the Shelf the rules are you first have to name your elf and then  he starts hiding around your house and every night he flies back to the North Pole to tell Santa if you have been naughty or nice.   You can't touch him because then he will lose his magic and on Christmas Eve when Santa comes the Elf will go back home with Santa.

Some people have naughty elves who do naughty or silly things.  Our elf is nice and he just sits on the fan blade, the cupboards, or the curtain rod and watches.  Cookie is a magic elf and when we came down to Utah for Christmas the next morning he was here at Grandma's house.  Grant was excited to find him at his Grandma's house.  We will all miss Cookie after Christmas.

This is one of my favorite pictures!  Grant loves his cousin Preston and tries to get Preston to do big boy things.  Preston is only 17 months old and can't quite do all the things a 4 year old can do.  Grant is so sweet though and is very kind to his cousin.  They are reading a book together in this picture.

Christmas Tree

My family has the tradition of going up to a Christmas tree farm in Morgan to cut down a real Christmas tree.  Kyle and I used to go with my family and get our tree, but we haven't since we moved.  Grant was 3 when we moved and so he doesn't remember getting a real tree.  My parents took him with them to get their Christmas tree.  He thought it was a riot!  He found a little branch while they were walking around and decided it would be his little Christmas tree.  

Here is Grant with his little branch slash Christmas tree.

Grant his helping his Uncle Blair saw down the tree.  When Blair slowed down Grant said, "Blair, saw that tree like a man!"  Blair got to laughing so hard he could hardly saw at all.

Grant helped the boys carry the tree down the mountain.

Grant and Granny with his little Christmas tree all decorated.

I love Christmas traditions!  It is one thing I don't like about living so far away from family.  We don't get to be a part of some of our family's traditions.  On the other hand it has giving us the chance to start some of our own.

Thanksgiving

We were blessed to be able to get some time off work and go to Utah this year for Thanksgiving.  Kyle's brother Lee recently moved to Arizona and wasn't able to go to Utah for actual Thanksgiving.  Instead, we celebrated Thanksgiving the weekend before.  It worked out perfectly!  We had so much fun I completely forgot to take pictures.  It was nice to spend a few days with Kyle's family.

One of my favorite traditions Kyle's family does is go around the table and everyone says what they are thankful for.  Kyle's dad started it the year he passed away.  I am grateful for the tradition.  It is nice to hear how much we all have to be grateful for.  Family, the gospel, friends, good health, our children, and so much more.

After celebrating with Kyle's family we spent the rest of Thanksgiving weekend with my side of the family.  The holiday was wonderful!  For the first time in a long time all of my siblings were together for dinner!

The only side part is the week went way too fast!  Grant wanted to stay for 100 more days.

Working on This

I appreciate your comments about the problem with blogger not letting you load pictures.  I have noticed other fellow bloggers also having some issues.  I am currently working on publishing my blog, but I have been so busy the blog has been put on the back burner.  I have so many cute pictures I can't wait to post, but it is just taking a long time.  Please be patient with me.  I am working on this annoying picture problem.