We got to spend Christmas in Arizona this year. We loaded everything up and drove down on the 22nd, and got there that night. The roads were all clear, and once again the kids did great on the drive.
Here is the family ready for Church on the 23rd. Jared has a tendency to forget something on every trip. This time, he managed to forget all his church clothes. Luckily, he was able to find an old suit in one of the closets, and throw together something presentable.
After church, we went to see Grandma Jones. The kids loved looking at all her Christmas village pieces.
Eating Apples!
Caitlin busy exploring
We had a nice dinner that night...
Then quickly headed off to the Cox family fireside.As Jared thought about it, it had been probably 14 years since he had made it to the last one. It was fun to see everyone!
Looking good on Christmas Eve.
Daddy and Santa
The kids hadn't gotten much sleep for a couple nights so they were all a little tired, but Jacob kept having a bunch of melt downs. It really wasn't like him, but we just figured he was just so tired. On Christmas Eve evening, we finally figured out he must not feel good, even though he denied that. We gave him medicine, and he got into a much better mood. Poor little guy. We wish he would have realized he felt sick and told us, so we could have helped him feel better sooner. Bradley had had a little sore throat and didn't feel good the week before, so he must have caught that.
This was a picture of dinner on Christmas Eve. Jacob was still struggling at that point, which is why he's eating dinner on my lap.
Christmas Eve Party! We had some fudge (that we make earlier that day), cheeseball and crackers, cream puffs, and some egg nog. :)
Jacob eating some crackers.
The kids all wanted to sing a song for the Christmas Eve musical program. Bradley sang Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. I don't have a picture of Jacob, but he sang Hark the Herald.
Mackayla did a duet with her Dad of Away in a Manger.
Caitlin just crawled around being cute.
Uncle Jason and Caitlin
Reading a book about the Christmas story.
Getting ready to each open a present on Christmas Eve
Jason helping Grandma to open a present.
Bradley playing with the YoYo that Caitlin gave him.
Daddy opening one.
With all the excitement, and one cranky kid, this is the best picture I was able to get of everyone with their sack ready to open pajamas.
Not everyone wanted to be in this picture, so I'm very grateful we got one that turned out at all. Here are our Christmas pajamas!
Matching!
Bradley made some magic reindeer food to sprinkle on the front lawn at preschool. Unfortunatly, I forgot to bring it with us on the trip. Luckily, Bradley remembered the recipe exactly, and with the help of Nini and Daddy he was able to make a new batch. That night before bed, he went out and sprinkled the oatmeal and glitter mixture outside. That made it so that when Santa got to Mesa, he went to Papa and Nini's house first! :)
He came! The kids were so good all year, but it's always still such a relief when you know Santa has come!
Waiting to go in and see what Santa brought them! Jacob choose not to be in this picture (he really did have a rough couple of days.)
Bradley was so excited to see that he got a cuddle-uppet. A blanket that's a puppet. He and Mackayla really wanted one for Christmas, but I told them no way - those things were over-priced for just being a blanket. So, they asked Santa instead and had no doubt he would bring them one. They lucked out, and Santa did bring them each one. Jacob didn't want one, but got a similar spiderman blanket instead.
Mackayla got her first LaLa Loopsy doll.
Caitlin and Mommy. I wanted to be in at least some Christmas pictures, so I handed the camera to Jared and asked him to take a picture. He asked "why?!" He later claimed he was joking, but I'll tell you, its hard to get into any pictures when you're the mom!
You can only barely see Jacob's face, but oh how I love the excitement of Christmas morning! He's so happy, looking at all his stuff.
Mackayla with her cuddle-uppet.
The boys got this castle from Santa and were loving it.
Caitlin checking out her goods too.
She got her first baby doll.
The kids were so excited to give each other gifts. Bradley told us early in the Christmas season that he wanted us to start checking the prices on all the transformers because he wanted us to help him get one to give to Jacob for Christmas. He thought Jacob probably felt bad because he had two transformers and Jacob didn't have any. Jacob loved it!
Mackayla gave Jacob a little dog that moves when you pat his back.
Mackayla trying on the pajamas and necklace form Nini and Papa.
Daddy with his baby girl.
She couldn't make it clear to the end of the gifts without a little nap.
As soon as we finished up presents, we hurried on over to the Pulvers for the Richins family brunch. We always look forward to the crepes on Christmas morning.
Jared and Mackayla with his cousin Shalyce and Rylus.
Jacob really wanted his picture taken with the dog Nixon. It took us a long time to get the dog to hold still long enough, but we finally go the picture!
That afternoon we went to Grandma Jones' house for a Christmas dinner with that side of the family. Grandma always has a gift under the tree for every member of the family. We love this picture of Grandma, her beautiful tree, and ALL of those presents!!
The next day we went over to Grandpa and Grandma Richins' house to visit. Here are Bradley and Caitlin playing on a turtle that they've had forever. Jared use to play on it when he was little. Why oh why didn't I get a picture of Grandma and Grandpa though?!?!
This picture somehow got out of order, and it would be way too much trouble to fix it! This is Jacob on Christmas Eve night. The gift he opened, from Caitlin, was a little harmonica, and he LOVED it. He was still playing it as he was laying in bed.
This is one of the following nights. Jared went to check on the kids an hour or two after they had gone to bed, and this is how he found them. They had been sleeping on their pillows, the correct way, a short time earlier. They took turns sleeping on the regular bed and the floor bed. Bradley was on the floor bed that night.
Nini, Mackayla, and Caitlin all wearing their new necklaces from Christmas.
The kids all wearing the pajamas from Nini. She made all the pajama bottoms for them.
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*more pictures to come of the rest of the week in Arizona.
