Tis the Season

Summer is almost! The sun is shining. The snow is gone. So naturally it's time for a Christmas post! 

Don't judge.

Our December began on a VERY exciting note. My brother returned from a two year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and we were able to meet him on his layover in Calgary. We were very excited to catch up with him after two years.

 Jasper had never met Tanner and was not too sure about him.

 But don't worry they are the best of friends now.

Our visit may have been brief, but it was awesome!

Pre Christmas fun
I love pretty much everything about Christmas. I love decorating, shopping, baking, eating, wrapping, serving, and teaching my kids about the Saviour's birth and mission.  And I love the way Christmas lights sparkle!

Sophie had a Christmas party/concert at preschool. 

 We made little reindeer cookies for all the kids. 

She was very excited to share them.

 She had a blast singing all the christmas songs she learned at school.

 It was a really cute, fun little concert. 

 Every year our ward puts on a very fun Christmas party with yummy food, a fun program, a dance and a visit from Santa. This year was the theme was Christmas Sweaters.

 Our kids look pretty sweet in their Christmas sweaters!

Matt and I had fun ones too.

 And it turns out only two out of three of the kids were excited to meet Santa!

 Christmas means baking!!! I love eating baking!! Like a lot! So I tried not to make too much this year. We made homemade oreos (with peanut butter filling), Sugar cookies, cinnamon buns, orange rolls, dinner rolls and dipped peanut butter chocolates.

 It was all good. So good!

Rory's school had a 'winter' concert as well. 

She did a great job singing all her songs!

Beazer Christmas- "Owl be Home for Christmas"
After school ended for Christmas break we drove down to southern Alberta to celebrate Christmas with the Beazers.
We began with the Hall family Christmas reunion which takes place every five years or so. We all stayed at a big cabin together and enjoyed a wonderfully planned weekend.
The first night the kids got to fish for presents.

Me chillin' in the traditional Christmas apron. 

Then came the piñata!

It was a hit!

The second day we had some very special visitors, owls!

Before the big Christmas dinner and program, we took a group shot:

And the traditional cousins on the stairs picture:

And then after dinner and the program, Santa came!

 Yay!

 Nope!

Presents were exchanged and fun was had by all!

The next day we drove to Grandma and Grandpa Beazer's house.

After church, the kids continued the owl theme by making these fun masks.

Then dinner and more presents!

By the end, Jasper had the unwrapping thing figured out!

Christmas in Calgary

We drove back to Calgary before Christmas arrived and got busy with preparations. 

The girls had fun dipping chocolates. 

We also had the awesome opportunity to participate in our wards secret santa which included shopping for and wrapping gifts and dropping them off in the dark at a secret someone's house. It was so fun and a really great Christmas activity to do as a family.

Christmas Eve we always get together with friends for raclette. Then we have a spiritual family home evening where we sing, read and act out the nativity story. Then we put out the cookies, milk and reindeer food, get on our Christmas jammies,  and go to bed!

 Christmas Eve selfies!

 What do you think, will Santa come?

He did! 

Christmas with the Hudsons

On Boxing Day, we drove up to Edmonton to hang with the Hudsons. The kids got to open more presents!

 And enjoy time with family, including my grandma and grandpa McMullin from Arizona.

 We also have to finish the Boxing day crossword puzzle in the Journal. Its a tradition.

Even Jasper helped out.

 Success!

We had a great time playing with our family and our new toys.

While in Edmonton, Matt and I celebrated our nine year wedding anniversary with a trip to the escape room with Lisha and Matt. It was a so fun, and made all the more exciting by the fact that we made it out with 2 seconds to spare! (They were literally counting it down!)

After that it was home for the annual YM moving marathon in our basement. This year they watched all 7 Star Wars movies!