Saturday, December 31, 2011

Christmas 2011

We had a wonderful Christmas holiday this year.  To head off the season,  I was in charge of the program for the ward party on December 9th.  I put together a musical program with characters dressed up from the nativity who sang musical numbers, including two songs from the Forgotten Carols.  We also had a nativity scene and a narrator dressed as a Roman Centurion who spoke in-between the musical numbers. It was a lot of work for me to put it together but rewarding, too.    I learned a lot from the experience.  I was also glad to have it over.  (I wish I had a few pictures to show from the program).   After the program, we had dinner and then a surprise visitor came to the church.   The kids lined up to sit on his lap and get a candy cane.  

As you can see, not everyone was thrilled
to sit on Santa Claus's lap.


A few days later, when I was tucking Heidi in bed, I asked her, "So, what do you want Santa to bring you for Christmas?"  She said, "A candy cane."   "Oh, really?  Anything else?"  and all she would say was "a candy cane".   I thought,  "Wow!  I guess I shouldn't push that one!   Give it a few years and she'll have a list a mile long."  How fun that they are thrilled with the simple pleasures of life!  




We enjoyed a nice Christmas at home with our family.  We have had fun the last few years establishing our own traditions.  We took a trip down to Salt Lake on Dec 22nd to visit extended family.   We went to my grandma Schulz's Christmas party and then also visited my Oma and Opa Michel.  It was great to see all of them.  We also stopped in to visit Aaron's grandpa Christensen.  His wife just passed away in September and she is greatly missed.    We met up with Aaron's brothers and parents at Temple Square where we enjoyed the Christmas lights.  

On Christmas Eve we had a nice dinner and a program with our kids and with Aaron's parents and brother Ryan.  Erika and Kyle played songs on the piano, we sang some Christmas songs and then acted out the nativity while Aaron did the narration.  

Jared loves to climb into things and if he's lucky,
his siblings will push him around.
Jared was figuring out the whole "opening presents" thing
and just happy with a few small gifts.






Heidi was loving opening presents.  
They all got new pajamas for Christmas.  

Erika and Kyle were the most excited about the Wii and couldn't wait to play it.  
Erika, Kyle, and Heidi each also got a scooter from Santa Claus (the rest was from mom and dad and grandma and grandpa).

After church we took some pictures in front of the Christmas tree while everyone was still dressed up.




We had a nice turkey dinner and then just enjoyed playing with our new toys and spending time together.  It was such a great break!   We enjoyed relaxing and being with family.   One thing that was different this year was the lack of snow outside, but we found other things to do to have fun.  

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