December 27, 2007 - Gingerbread Houses

Meg, Mary Lou, Miles and Lauren getting started on the gingerbread houses.

Meg, Camille, Mary Lou, Jennie, Miles, Katie, Lauren, Me, Marianne.

Lauren & Marianne.

Jennie and Miles.

Camille.
Sean & Camille.

Eliza.
Curtis, Alyssa and Ben.
Meg & Alyssa.
Rich.... working.

December 26, 2007 - Christmas with the Kenningtons

Baby Miles, Me, Mom, Deryk and Jordyn. I was so excited to see Baby Miles, he has gotten so big!

Dave with Miles.

Here's the story behind this picture: I was helping my mom cook dinner and she asked me to help with the potatoes. I had just finished topping it with cheese and turned my back to grab the potato chips when I heard everyone laughing. I turned around and saw this. Apparently Shane threw an orange up in the air and it landed right in the middle of the potatoes. When confronted with this all Shane had to say was "I didn't do it."

Shane playing with a camera.

Grandpa Cal and Braxton. I was also so excited to see Braxton because he was born after Dave and I had moved to San Diego. He is such a cute baby!

Shane & Dave.This is how Cal wraps presents.
Brook & Braxton.
Me and Jarid putting together Shane's tricycle.
Grandma Angie and Shane in their monkey pj's.

December 25, 2007 - Christmas Day!

Christmas morning and Dad shoveling snow. Burrrrrr!

Me & Dave.

Me with my Grandpa Hartwell.

Grandma Hartwell and her presents from my Grandpa.

Berkeley Street. I really think that the neighborhood that Dave grew up in looks like it's from the movies.
Little Miles and his light saber.
Eliza and her princess treasure chest.
Sean in his policeman outfit.

December 24, 2007 - Pajama/Sock party at the Draper's

Me & Dave in front of the Christmas tree.

Jessi & Charlie. (This picture took forever because I couldn't get Charlie to look at the camera.)

Santa needed a little help wrapping presents at the last minute. This is Trish helping...

along with Pat and Jessi.

Shawn and Codi being cute together.
Fun socks!
Pat wearing the fun Christmas lights.
Tricia's foot is on the left and Sean's feet are on the right.
Dave, Me and my dad. Every year when they put the Christmas tree up they put this couch in the kitchen to make room. It is so comfortable. I think that they should leave the couch there all year long.
Jessi and Me.
All of the girls. From left to right - Jessi, Me, Codi, Pat, Alicia and Tricia.
All of the guys. From left to right - Cam, Dad, Shawn, Gaige, Clint, Dave, Sean and Kelly.
Dave's Santa socks and my polka dot socks.
Alicia & Clint.

December 23, 2007 - Christmas Dinner at the Bekker's

Alyssa walking behind people's chairs. In this one she is poking Uncle Dave with his keys.

Jonathan and Little James playing with a basketball.

Meg was trying to get a picture of Alyssa, JR and Nathan so I snuck up and took one too.

Jonathan, Marianne, Rebecca and William sitting at the table after finishing dinner.

Me, Dave, Marianne, William and Rebecca.

Miles and Dave.

Happy Holidays!

Wow! What a wonderful Christmas! Dave and I had such a great time in Utah. I only wish that we could have stayed longer.
We flew in late on Saturday night and my dad and Pat were there waiting for us as we got off of the plane. My dad greeted me with a great big hug! We spent that evening at my dad's house in the "blue room".
On the 23rd we spent the day at the Holman's house where we finally got to see Dave's younger sister Marianne. It had been almost 2 years since we've seen her because she had been serving a mission in Ohio. It was so nice to finally be able to talk to her and give her a welcome home hug, except for Dave who gave her a welcome home "tackle" I guess you could call it. What else are big brothers for?
Christmas Eve was spent back at my dad's house for the annual pajama party. This year we exchanged socks which was a lot of fun. We played bingo and ate a lot of Christmas favorites.
Christmas morning was spent at my dad's then at my Grandma and Grandpa Hartwell's homes. We spent the rest of the day with the Holmans and at the home of the Manning's where we did the annual family gift exchange.
We spent the day after Christmas at my mom's house where we had a late Christmas celebration. We were able to meet our newest nephew Braxton (Ren and Kallie's baby).
On the 27th we spent the day with the Holmans and we went to see The Nutcracker. It's a tradition that Dave's family has been doing for years and I really enjoy being a part of it now.
Needless to say we spent a lot of time with family and we really feel so blessed to have so many wonderful people in our life! I just wish that we could have spent another more time with everyone.

This is on the plane right before we took off for Salt Lake City.

Alyssa and Marianne. This is a great photo!

Miles and Alyssa. Can you tell what a proud Grandpa he is?

Dave & James at the annual Christmas Dinner. This year it was spent at the Bekker's.

Nathan and Meg. Doesn't Nathan look nice with his braces off?

Please keep checking back, I have SO many more pictures to post of our wonderful trip.