Fillmore Christmas Party

Every year my parents go to so much trouble to get everyone together for a Christmas party.  We have a little picnic like dinner, all the families get to share their talents, and we get to re-enact the Christmas nativity. 

 

 Cute Brian carving up some Christmas Ham.

 Sweet Angel Clara

 I love that these BIG boys will still have fun and participate.  I can't say that about Justin...

 Everyone is glued to Grandpa and his storytelling.  I took some of him but the microphone was in the way, darnit.

 Eliza did a little dance with her favorite Joshua.  Unfortunately she was sporting a fever this night and spent most of the night on my lap.

 Look at these sweet angels and cousins.

Susanna and Annie

Christmas Dance Performance

Every year I put on a little dance show for my combo kids.  Santa came this year and brought little presents.  If you look closely you might recognize the sorry sucker I convinced to play Santa.  Amelia obviously couldn't figure out who he was behind the beard.

 

 

 This is Eliza's class...such cute girls...Jordan, Bliss, Tess, Eliza, Halle, Julia, Sophie, and Jill.

 My 2 year olds are so fun.  It is always surprising what they can do.

 

 Eliza isn't quite sure about this Santa.

The Underwear Gang

Fifth Grade Girls can be really silly.  One night Susanna and her friends were trying to think of something to do and they came up with this???  Don't ask me why and yes the underwear was all clean.  They will use any opportunity to goof around and get their pictures taken.  I love that Susanna has such good friends.

 

 Chloe Week, Susanna, Brynlee Tingey, Madison Grover...crazy girls.

Little sisters had to get in on the action.

Christmas cookies...yes Christmas

I am almost a full year behind in blogging.  If I don't start somewhere it will never happen so here I go.  For the 2 people that probably see this blog, sorry it is so outdated but since this is my only form of family documentation, my kids will still like it.

 

 Every Christmas we try to sit down and decorate Christmas cookies.  They aren't pretty and half the family doesn't even like them but we always have lots of laughs (from almost everyone) and we see how artistically challenged we truly are.

I should have taken some close-ups of the finished products.  Justin probably had the most creative.  It is always a fun memory.   Don't worry, we wouldn't dare deliver them to anyone...I'm sure the knives are licked multip

Miss Eliza is growing up

Eliza has hit the make-up stage.  She loves make-up and more importantly putting it on by herself.  We were racing to church one morning and she came waltzing down the stairs all ready to go.  I wiped off as much as I could get away with.  She was crushed that I wouldn't let her keep it all on.  She makes me laugh all the time.

Thanksgiving

My sister Lisa is the family photographer and offered to take a few family shots at our Thanksgiving celebration.  Parker and Lark took a quick snapshot since their kids were done with pictures.

 Emily and Kyle's cute family.  I had to take quick snapshots so I didn't mess up the real shots.

 Lisa had us take a few of her family but none of us did a very good job but with such a beautiful family, it is hard to mess up too bad.

 Benjamin and April and their four boys, what a family.

 This was my favorite "OUTTAKE"  Everyone kept trying to get Amelia to look at the camera.  My little brother was so proud of himself cuz he got her to look at him...just not the same direction as everyone else.  It makes me laugh every time I see it because he did get the best shot of her.  I didn't get any of his family since I was taking them with his camera for him. 

 My sweet Nathan

Cousins and buddies Clara and Annie

 Amelia is quite smitten with her Grandpa...and pretty much anyone that will shower her with attention.

 What a great brother.

Thanksgiving dinner anyone...

I just had to document what my very difficult eater had for Thanksgiving dinner.  Cookie crisp anyone?  At least it was a food product.