Christmas Dinner

My brother Ryan and his family were not able to be with us on Christmas day so they invited everyone over for dinner at their house a few nights before Christmas. My mom is a super grandma and brought plenty of things to keep the kids entertained. First she had these adorable hats and a coloring page for the kids

  

Then she had the kids line up and sing for us. I missed the beginning of the song but here is most of it.

(If you can’t view this video let me know. I’m still trying to figure out youtube)

 

Then my brother Brandon and his wife had a fun project for us. We each got to make our own snow globe. Ethan’s is superman and Madelyn’s is a ballerina.

 

Then my mom ended the night with a game of Christmas bingo and plenty of prizes.

We also exchanged a few presents with those who were not going to be around on Christmas and watch some good old family home videos. Some very old ones from my childhood. It’s fun too watch your kids watch you as a kid. It kind of blows their mind seeing you looking so different. It was a great night!

Letters to Santa and our elf

The kids wrote letters to Santa. Ethan wanted a bike and Madelyn wanted a treat.

 

Our little elf came to visit us this season too. He wasn’t as much fun as last year but he did a good job at watching the kids and encouraging them to be good.

Christmas Candy

Pictures from our traditional Withers Candy making day. This year we decided to mix things up in hopes to make it easier on ourselves. Not really sure that work though. We chose to make and decorate sugar cookies, dip pretzels & marshmallows in chocolate,  and do Rolo & Hug Pretzel Bites. Plus a few other things we did before had. The sugar cookies were a huge kit with the kids but a lot of work and time. Oh well…we are making memories and carrying on tradition.

 

Side note about my goofy brother…He’s wearing an apron that my grandma Withers use to where when she cooked. This year we each got to have one of her aprons. Something I will cherish because it brings back so many memories.

 

I love that the everyone was getting involved this year. That’s what was so great about doing the cookies. I think we will do these next year but perhaps on a smaller scale. My sister and I both made a huge batch of dough but we only used one of them and it still made oodles of cookies.

   

My mom wanted to show the kids how to make Carmel popcorn in a brown paper sack. It’s kind of like kettle corn but yummier. I think the kids favorite part was watching the popcorn pop in the old fashion air popper. Totally something from my childhood.

 

It was a great day full of memories!

Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with Jared’s family. Jared’s brother Ray and his with Amy have a cabin in Ogden canyon so we all spent the weekend there.

The kids had fun make marshmallow poppers…

Playing games…

   

And of course cooking and eating delicious food…

Jared and I did some black Friday shopping Thursday night. Some may think we are crazy but we enjoy it and love getting a good deal. Helps Christmas go a long way.

Friday we took the kids to see Wreck it Ralph. Excellent movie!

       

Grandma Vidoni brought a really fun activity for the kids. She pre-made ginger bread men for the kids to decorate. They loved it!

 

The rest of the weekend was pretty relaxed and just soaking up each others company. Thanks to Ray and Amy for sharing their beautiful cabin with us.

She’s here!

Remember how excited I was about my sister having her first baby? Well she’s here! They named her Claralee LaDawn Graves. She’s a cutie and my kids LOVE her!

 

Halloween

On Halloween we visited my parents and my grandma. Here are a few pictures of the kids in their costumes and one with my mom. She works at an elementary school with the kindergartners so she gets to dress up too :)

This girl has got sass! But we love her just the same!

 

Ethan is trying to make the same face as this pumpkin my dad carved.

What’s funny about these pictures is Ethan looks so happy and like he’s cooperating but he totally wasn’t. He was whining and crying the entire time I wanted to take his picture. Maybe that’s because I have a fancy new camera that can take quick pictures for the few moments I get a smile :)

 

I sure love these two!