Christmas 2011

Christmas was wonderful this year!  

The Wagenman family party was hosted by Ryan and Lucinda and it was so fun, as always!  We ate amazingly good food, made gingerbread houses, the kids acted out the nativity, we did the present passing game, and visited.  

JoLynn and cutie pie Maximus

 Setting the stage for the Nativity

 Crazy cousins

 Uncle Ryan

The Merrell family party was a few days later on Christmas Eve.  

We ate more amazingly good food, acted out the Nativity, Hailey and JoLynn played their piano Christmas songs, we exchanged gifts, and laughed a lot.

Mom and Dad

 

Me and Benney Bob                                    JoLynn and "Baby Jesus"

This is my older brother Erin.  He is awesome. 

 Cindy gifted him with a nutcracker look-a-like.  

It was hilarious!

Tyler, Savannah, and Shae

We all draw names every year and make home-made gifts for that person.  My dad made this pick-nic bench for Cindy's family and it was definitely the highlight of the night.  I am a little jealous.

Christmas day was perfect.  We woke up, took our time opening presents and eating breakfast, played with all the new toys, got ready and went to church,  skyped with my little brother Blake who is serving a mission in N. Carolina, visited cousins and family at Grandma Anne's house, and went to see the Temple lights.

New Christmas jammies

I saw this shirt at the store and busted up laughing.  It's a man's shirt, but was too funny too pass up.  It went perfect with my huge "bowl full of jelly" belly.

JoLynn with her new Razor

Shae got Princess Celestia the pony.  I have no idea what this is from, but she fell in love with it at the store and was convinced that Santa was going to bring it to her.  The Big Man delivered.

Hailey got legos and a pillow pet.
This girl is a gem!  Every Christmas morning she is the first to wake up and go peek under the tree.  I couldn't sleep so I got up around 5:30am and when I got to the stair case Hailey was coming up stairs with a load of presents in her arms.  I asked her what she was doing and she said she was bringing them to JoLynn to see what she got.  I told her to wait until she woke up, and we both went downstairs together.  While we were waiting for the others to wake up we had some hot chocolate and sat and looked at the tree bursting with presents and talked.  It was so sweet to sit with her in the light of a quiet Christmas morning.  I love me some Hailey!

When Joel put on this new jacket, Hailey and JoLynn said, 

"Oh Dad, you look just like Justin Beiber!"

I have not stopped laughing at that! ha,ha,ha,ha,ha!

Joel finally joined the 21st century and got a phone.

I got a dock for my ipod and a ton of other things (Santa spoiled me this year) including the lovely broach and ear rings from Hailey and JoLynn :).  Sweet girls.

ps. please disregard my pregnant nose.  I was 3 days away from giving birth and my face was SO swollen!

Mesa Temple lights