Our Christmas Weekend

Our Christmas Celebrations started on Sunday because Pete's sister Jenny had to work on Christmas Day. So, the whole family went to Jenny's house. We ate a delicious lunch. And, then we busted open the presents. Everyone got lots of cool things. The top two favorite things we got were:

this awesome bike trailor. Now, we can go for a bike ride!

Bryson loved this train track. It's remote control so he can control were the train goes.

After we opened presents we hung out for a little bit and then we went home and layed around and played with our new stuff. Then, Bryson and I went to my parents house for dinner. My brother and sister and their families came down from Utah. So, I wanted to hang out with them. It was fun. Then, we went back home to be with daddy.


Then, on Monday we hung out all morning and relaxed. Then, we made mashed potatoes for the dinner that night. Pete helped me peel and bake them. It was so nice of him. It took us s few hours because we had to make enough for 30 people. When that was all completed we got ready and headed out the door.

At my parents we ate an awesome dinner. We had all of my family there, my Grandma Nash, and 5 missionaries {it's tradition to have the Elders over for Christmas Eve}. So, it was a packed house.

After dinner we read the Christmas Story from the scriptures.

Then, we started our traditional Christmas Pajama Party. My mom started this the first year her and my dad were married. They started out as more of jammies....now, they look more like costumes. This year my little family was Snowmen. We chose that so we could incorporate my belly into it. It was perfect. Everyone loved it.


Here's us as Snowmen

Me and Pete

Adorable litle Bryson. He was so cute.

Here's everyone's "costumes".

Then, after my parents house we came home and did our own traditions. First, we made santa some cookies. It was pre-made dough. We just put frosting and candy on them after we baked them.

Here's Dad and Bryson making them.

Here's the cookies we set out for santa.

Then, we started a new tradition. Every Christmas Eve we're going to give our kids their own ordament to hang on the tree. And when they get married, they'll take all of their ordaments with them. This year we gave Bryson an ordament with 3 penguins on it. He loves penguins right now. And, there were just three of us in the family this year. I thought it was kind of perfect.

Here's Bryson hanging it up.

Here's a close up of it.

Then, we started another new tradition. Every Christmas Eve we're going to watch Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer {the classic}. So, we did that. It was really fun. Bryson loved it.

Then, we put Bryson to bed. After he was asleep. "Santa" ate the cookies Bryson left for him.

I love how he left pieces of each one. This picture cracks me up.

Then, we layed out the presents from "Santa". We didn't get him a lot. But, it's all stuff he loves.

Then, we headed to bed ourselves.

Tuesday morning we woke up and told Bryson we heard Santa's bells last night. We told him we thought he came to our house. So, we all ran out to check. Bryson noticed the cookies first. He said, "Hey, Santa ate my cookies. I guess he was hungry." Then, he turned around and saw his presents and said, "WHAT THE HECK?!" It was SO funny. He ran for the train tracks first. He dropped his jaw and said, "Oh my gosh, this is just what I wanted for my whole life!"

It was so cute.

Then, we opened presents.

It's tradition to draw little pictures on the tags for the presents. Sometimes they are pretty funny. This year I wasn't very creative.

I bought Pete a bike.

And, he bought me a bike.

We hung out at home until like noon. Then, we went to my families house. We talked to my brother Keith on his mission, then opened presents, then just hung out. My brother Rusty restored this blue cart for my dad as a present. This cart has been in our family for 3 generations. My dad's grandpa made it, gave it to his son when he was gone, then he gave it to my dad. My dad used to take us for walks in it like every night when we were little. Can you imagine 9 kids in there? It was fun. We'd all squish together to keep warm. It's been sitting and rotting away for a while now. So, my brother bought new wood and re-did it. Plus, he added carpet to the inside to make it more comfy. My dad was excited to get all the older grandkids in it and go for a ride. Of course my little sister Larissa had to squeeze in to.

Here they are all bundled up.

Here's my dad pulling them in Grandpa's Wagon. He was so happy and so were all the kids.

After that, we all hung out and talked. A few people took naps. Then, we all went over to my grandma's house to open a few presents and hang out. Then, we went home.

It was a fun Holiday weekend! I hope everyone else had a great weekend too!