A Wonderful Christmas

It really was a wonderful Christmas. I think it was extra special for several reasons, the biggest thing was it being on Sunday this year. I honestly don't remember the last Sunday Christmas which I think was when Jared and Kamryn were 6 months old. I can see the pictures in my mind but don't remember a lot of that actual day.

On Christmas morning I woke up at 8:00 (after being up until 2, and why we were up so late, we didn't have anything to put together. We just don't do enough in advance) and was surprised it was that late and we hadn't heard anything from Jared and Kamryn. Paul and I both showered and got ready and at 9:00 we still hadn't heard from anyone. We were getting to the point that we didn't know if we'd get to do any Christmas before church.

At 9:30 I went down to Taylor's room to check on the kids again and they were all awake and just laying there in their beds. So they came upstairs and we all got ready for church and had some quick bowls of cereal. Then we finally got to go in the living room to see what Santa brought. Santa really spoiled us this year. Our family gifts were our trip to San Diego but there were still a lot of presents to open.

Jared by all of his Santa presents

its fun watching the kids go through their stockings

check out that big Santa present for Brooke

Kamryn with her new baby doll that Santa brought

Brooke, wearing her new gloves, intently reading the info

on the movie she got - Pride and Prejudice

what a cute little mommy

Jared checking out the Batcave Santa brought him

Taylor was very patient and waited until after church

to open most of his Santa presents

Baby Bella, Wulfy the Husky Webkinz, and Kamryn

Jared with his new bullfrog webkinz

he named him Super J

Paul opening some of his Santa presents

he didn't do too well guessing this year

Brooke with her new luggage

for her summer trip to Europe

Taylor with his iHome that Santa brought

Paul, so BadAwesome

WOW!!!

Big surprise from Santa

an iPad for the family

cheers

Brooke at the Shingleton family gathering Christmas night

Jared and Jaxon having a boxing match

with the socker boppers they both got

I got a great surprise too - a new iPhone! Now maybe I can be more organized and remember things better :)

The best present of all was a letter from Justin. It came as quite a surpise. We didn't expect anything but I just happened to be checking my email and there was an email from Justin. It was such a great letter and really long and full of info about his Christmas Eve and Christmas activities to that point. I read it out loud to everyone and teared up several times. Such a great gift and perfect end to our Christmas gift opening.

Merry Christmas Eve

Kamryn modeling her new pjs

Jared in his new jammies

They each got 2 new pair of jammies

(mostly cuz they really need them)

very typical picture of Paul

on Christmas eve

my mom at our house

on christmas eve

all the kids in their new christmas jammies

Hanging out in Taylor's newly cleaned room

pretending to be asleep

Jared and Kamryn decided they wanted to sleep in Taylor's room tonight.

Hope that works out ok

Merry Christmas everyone :)

Happy Festivus

We've been having lots of fun this holiday season (shh, don't tell Justin).

Here are some photos of what we've been doing:

Brooke and her kindergarten friend

Taylor with his kindergarten friend, and buddy Matt

For our Christmas service project the youth in our ward use their own money to shop at the dollar store for gifts for these kindergarten kids. They wrap them and then this past Monday we all went to deliver them and spend the morning with the kindergarten class. Our youth did a few centers with the kids: making an ornament, frosting cookies, and reading books. Then they opened their presents and even had a special visit from Santa.

Kamryn at the quilting activity

Jared tossing in some tortillas

Kamryn driving the delivery truck

Kamryn taking a turn to do spanish dancing

Jared and Kamryn helped to build Nephi's boat

and then did some fishing

Taylor and Brooke trying to beat each other at the computer games

On Tuesday we went downtown to go to the Church's History Museum. We got the great idea from my friend Jenny. After looking at her pictures I thought it would be fun for us to go too. I was glad Brooke and Taylor were willing to come with us. We all enjoyed the fun activities they have on the children's floor.

Our friend, Barry Wallace

at the live nativity

Kathryn Ramirez at her market in Bethlehem

the luminaries lighting the way to the stable

three wise men

the nativity

the shepherds and the wise men visiting

the baby Jesus

the shepherds

(Taylor and his fellow young men)

My good friend, Desiree, is our stake's cultural arts specialist. She has had this vision to do a live nativity and she pulled it off this year. With lots of help and support the evening turned out so amazing. It was really neat to take our family back in time to visit Bethlehem.

Brooke, Kamryn and Jared frosting cookies

We always make sugar cookies for Christmas. This year we made them a few days early so we could fix up a package to take down to Justin and his district in the MTC. Everyone in our family helped to frost and decorate the cookies. I actually drove down to Provo yesterday so I could take advantage of the BYU same day delivery to the MTC that is so much cheaper than sending it from up here.

Taylor

Kamryn and Brooke playing tag

Kamryn playing at Bouncing Off the Walls

Group sing along with Santa

lots of the Jones cousins having fun with Santa

Taylor and Jadon

Jared and Kamryn waiting patiently to talk to Santa

Jared talking to santa

he told him he wanted some transformers

Kamryn talking to Santa

first she told him she wanted a real puppy

but mom said no way

so then she told Santa to surprise her

We even got Taylor to chat with Santa

he also requested a surprise

Jared going down the giant slide

Every year the extended Jones family party is at Bouncing Off the Walls. Its a lot of fun for everyone to play on the inflatables and then we have food and a visit from Santa.

Today we made an impromptu visit to Gardner Village (so I didn't have my camera with me). It was me and all 4 kids. We did the elf scavenger hunt and found all of the elves. Then we went to get the prize at Sweet Afton's. I highly recommend this activity, lots of fun for us.