Christmas

 We enjoyed a wonderful, white Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at the Little Bear River Retreat in Paradise, Utah.

The traditional Christmas Eve dinner of Chinese food.

Grandma and Stacie did a great job planning some Christmas Eve activities.

Nate decorated like a Christmas tree.

Douglas decorated like a Christmas tree.

The kids had a lot of fun playing in the large living room.

Penny and Schofield

Diana eating popcorn.

Getting ready to act out the Nativity

Left to right: Valerie (Nate's girlfriend - Angel), Clayton (Angel, holding baby Ivy, who played the role of baby Jesus), Harrison (Samuel the Lamanite - wearing the sombrero), Taylor (Angel), Douglas (Star in the sky), Penny (Wiseman), Kate (person trying to kill Samuel the Lamanite), Diana (Mary), Spencer (Wiseman), Sam (Shepherd), Stacie (Inn Keeper), Daniel (Joseph), Nate (Sheep), Margaret (Narrator), Doug (Wiseman), Jori (person trying to kill Samuel the Lamanite), Schofield (King Herod)

We started with Samuel the Lamanite prophesying the birth of Jesus.

Clayton holding baby Ivy before he loaned her to us to play the role of baby Jesus.

Mary and Joseph

Here comes the shepherd with her sheep.

Angels talking to the shepherd.

The wisemen visit baby Jesus.

Hanging out and playing games.

This is the Christmas present Sam gave to me. I love it!

Breakfast on Christmas morning.

Opening presents

Douglas likes his new roller blades.

Sam got sick on the 23rd. She threw up multiple times that night, but still managed to have a good time with the family. Diana got sick on the 24th. She threw up multiple times that night and Christmas Day, but she was the easiest sick child a parent could ask for. She threw up and immediately continued playing and being funny. Sam and Diana are both feeling fine now.

The Nerf bow and arrow was definitely one of the favorite toys this weekend.

Back home enjoying the Christmas presents.

 

 Each year I make a temple calendar for our family members, using temple photos I've taken around the world. I didn't know until a few months ago that my five-year-old nephew, Jarren, is a big fan of my calendars. He often checks the calendar multiple times each day and he knows the dates well. Some time ago McCall, Jarren's mother, asked if I could make a custom calendar for Jarren. She provided ideas for the monthly images, along with specific birthdays and other events (i.e. - no school, last day of school, etc.) to add to the calendar. The video above is Jarren's reaction when he received the calendar for Christmas. It warms the heart!