We tried to get some family pictures while we were in Casa Grande with all of the family.

Christmas in the Desert

Our Christmas vacation to Casa Grande, AZ consisted of:
*Last minute errand running
*Re-enacting the Nativity: We decided it would be fun to have all the little kids play the different parts in the Nativity (actually Ben has been wanting to do this all month). We were with all of Sean's family as well as his Grandma Dick and Uncle Garry and Aunt Jera. Jenny and I and Grandma Dick pulled together some costumes and the kids acted out our very BRIEF version of the Nativity....and loved it. Caelan played Mary, Ben and Logan played the Wisemen, Megan and Hailey were Angels, Corbin was a Shepherd, Brooklyn was the Star, and Nathy was supposed to be Joseph (but he pretty much wouldn't cooperate at all). It turned out really cute - I think we might start making this a regular Christmas Eve tradition.
*Sean reading the story of the Boy Who Laughed at Santa Claus
*Kids finding it hard to sleep on Christmas Eve (and therefore parents staying up LATE too)
*Wearing matching pajama pants on Christmas Eve night (finished in the knick of time)
*Waking up to an excited 6 year old on Christmas morning
*Balloons left by Santa Claus covering the floor
*Exploring the stockings (fruit and Peanut M&Ms)and opening presents all at the same time. Once again Nathan constantly found something sweet to put in his mouth. He pretty much went ballistic when we took the bag of M&Ms away (and it was Christmas morning, so we caved).
*Christmas breakfast casserole (DELISH)and homemade scones
*Playing with our spoils (riding trikes, making glasses with Bendaroos, playing with barbie dolls, transforming our Transformer figurines, etc)
*Playing outside in sunny December AZ weather
*Enjoying time with family (the whole Mike and Linda Dick clan, Grandma Dick, Uncle Garry, Aunt Jera, Uncle Doug, Aunt Bev)
*Eating and cooking and eating and cooking
*Singing Christmas carols around the piano
*Watching the Muppet Christmas Carol
*Going to the movies: The Princess and the Frog
*Going to church all together as a family
*Lots of pictures
*Celebrating the Savior, Jesus Christ.