Christmas 2013

 CHRISTMAS 2013

For 2013 John and Katie traveled to Bountiful to stay with Jeff, Kendra and the girls!  It was impossible for Jeff and Kendra to bring everything to our home this year.

Emily had already seen Santa (photo by Stacia)

         At dawn on Christmas Eve, John and Katie began loading their car for the 5 hour trip to Bountiful, UT

Most of what we had to load is shown here (except Katie's suitcases)

We had a Christmas Eve feast at Jeff and Kendra's.  Jeff prepared steaks while John and Kendra provided three different styles of shrimp, twice baked potatoes and much more.  The girls made cookies for Santa and left a plate of them for Santa along with a carrot for the reindeer.

Christmas Morning

Emily's Christmas morning (photo by Stacia)

Santa brought Emily a princess outfit! (photo by Stacia)

Meanwhile, in Bountiful......

Santa had brought Alayna and Becca a Doc McStuffin's clinic.  In the background is the kitchen that Jeff made for the girls.

Becca shows off her "Y" T-shirt while Alayna models her BYU cheerleader outfit!

Everyone had a great time opening their gifts from Santa!


Lindsay's First Christmas! (photo by Stacia)

After opening Santa's gifts we had a big breakfast and then took a break.  Keith, Stacia and Emily would be arriving at 3pm for dinner and to exchange family gifts.

This was my first "White Christmas"!

Merry Christmas!

Work soon began on our Christmas Dinner!   John prepared a spiral ham, a turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy while Katie prepared her famous sweet potato casserole.  Kendra prepared everything else.

We had brought up our gifts to distribute and stacked them in one corner.

When Keith, Stacia and Emily arrived, Alayna showed Emily her new kitchen.

John had made a bread bowl spinach dip that was VERY popular....even Alayna loved it!

Santa had brought Katie a new Kindle and Keith showed her how to register and use it!

After dinner it was time to open family presents!

Baby Lindsay seemed to be enjoying herself......(photo by Stacia)

as was Becca!  (photo by Stacia)

We bought the three oldest girls Flip Eze hats!

Alayna demonstrates hers by squeezing the bulb!

We gave Emily her own camera so she could take pictures like her mommy!

Alayna loved the Sing-A-Long book we gave her!

But Alayna had worked hard to make a gift for us!

she had made a hand painted snow globe for us!

Emily, Alayna and Becca in the Dora The Explorer tent. 

Emily tries out the Minnie Mouse Vacuum.........

 

........while everyone relaxes afterwards!

On The 26th the girls tried out their new snow sled things (I don't know what they are called) 

even Kendra tried them out!

Becca enjoyed herself walking in the snow.......

 

but was a little frightened about sliding....at least at first!

but Alayna showed Becca what to do.......

and how to get started!

Alayna also enjoyed herself!



but the girls had fun!