Memories From the Month of December

This blog will be mixed up as far as pictures go, but they are all pictures from the month of December.  This is a picture of Rachel, Macie, and Jamie on Christmas Eve.  Jamie models this year's pajama present.

Macie really liked the gifts we gave her.  That was one of the best things about Christmas this year, just watching Macie open presents and play with them.  John taught her how to say "ho, ho, ho"

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This year we had a family gift exchange.  I drew Jamie's name.  I found this fabric at Oak Trunk that had bears, bison, and maps of Montana and Utah on it.  It reminded me of the vacation Jamie and I took to Yellowstone, so I made it into a quilt for her.  She loved it.

Happy kids and happy husband = happy mom.

It was a Coach Christmas this year.  Christian worked at Coach and gave the older girls and I gifts from there.

My first (and probably last) Coach purse.

The stockings were laid out on the table with care and it looks like St. Nick was able to find them there.

Our 2010 Christmas Tree.

Below is a picture of Mandie and Jamie on New Year's Eve ready to go to the Smithson's Party.  They won't be home till after 1:30 a.m.   Last night Mandie and Rachel went to the annual Church Youth Scandia Night.  Rachel went with Ashley Schellhous and met up with cousin Jeni Baker.  They went home with her and are going to go to a New Years eve dance in the OC.  Mandie had a great time hanging out with many, many friends.

Waiting on the stairs on Christmas morning.There was not a lot to open this year because the kids all voted to get Disneyland passes for Christmas. We had a fun time going to Disneyland and showing Macie the sights.  

One of the service projects the girls did during Christmas vacation was dressing up like elves and helping Santa feed the Primary children.(The picture to the left is of Mandie, Jamie Robbins  and Hannah Avarell.)  Most of us  also went to the Bishop Storehouse and worked to give service during the holidays.  We did our annual caroling to friends and delivering cinnamon rolls early in the month.  

On Christian's birthday I took he and Emily to El Torito for lunch.  We gave him Versace Homme Cologne.

I was so thankful that Lauren was able to come home for the holidays from BYU-Provo.  It was a joy and a pleasure to have her at home with us.  She was always asking, "What can I do to help you mom?"

Another of our family traditions is to go out to a restaurant as a family and have dinner.  We had planned to go to Cheesecake factory in Riverside and see the fantastic Christmas lights display at the Mission Inn, but the rain was so heavy, we changed our minds and went to Claim Jumper.  They say that this month of December had more rain than any other December since the 1800's.  We were thankful to be safe, but our friend Sara Leifer was not so lucky.  She was in a terrible car accident due to the rain  when her truck hydroplaned and rolled over.  She broke her neck, had to have surgery and wear a halo.  Emily and I went to see her in the hospital and arranged for Elders to give her a priesthood blessing.  She is walking and at home already.  Emily stayed with her at the hospital all day.  We fed Jared and Tompey lunch and dinner to help out.

Oh, yeah, back to my story.  We went to Claim Jumper in the pouring rain.

Meagan is holding one of the birthday presents we gave her.  She turned 26 this month.  We all have better hair because of Meagan, our family cosmetologist! (In the picture she had just done Mandie's and Jamie's.)  She is a wonderful oldest sister and daughter.

Andrew has been involved with coaching basketball tournaments each Christmas vacation for as long as I can remember.  Last night his  team beat the #3 team in the nation--Edison High School from Huntington Beach. That was a feat!  The had only been ranked 150th  in the nation.  (A few years ago they were ranked 6th in the nation.)  

What shall I order?????????  Or is Lauren thinking about Kansas.......

Another tradition we have is to go to Palm Springs during the Christmas holidays.    We arrived there in pouring rain, but it was bright and sunny the next day.  This is our condo's pool at night.

Oh yeah, back to Claim Jumper.  Our food is here.  Bring on the motherload cake...

The happy couple. Andrew also had a birthday this month and enjoyed breakfast in bed and German Chocolate cake.  His favorite Christmas gift was a "Kindle."

Claim Jumper Turkey dinner.

John started a new job this month at almost twice the pay of his last job plus better benefits.  Yeah!

There it is.....the motherload cake....Em, will you please share?

Christian, the model uncle and brother.