This year, we were able to celebrate Christmas with both sides of our family. None of this every other year stuff for us! (Which in my opinion is the best way to do it.) My whole family got together in Utah two weeks before Christmas to celebrate and then we were at the Moote's for actual Christmas Eve and Christmas.
Jones Family Christmas/Reunion
This was the first time since Lyndsey and Charlie's wedding that we were all together. Mom and Dad rented a condo at the base of Cottonwood Canyon, and we all spent a long weekend together. Brian was able to join in the fun once he finished his finals on Thursday.
We decorated cookies, made fudge and peanut brittle, and snacked on some family favorites like chips and onion dip.
Thursday, we celebrated girls day out by wearing ugly Christmas sweaters and getting our nails done. Later that afternoon, Brian and I found out we were having a baby BOY, but that is all in another post.
We added some new traditions to our Christmas Eve events: A White Elephant Gift Exchange and A Dice Rolling, Oven Mitt Wearing, Single Present Opening Mania a la Smartt Family.
But not all traditions were new...this year's Christmas Eve pajamas were a huge hit! Everybody got a shirt with a different quote from the movie "Elf." Thanks Mom and Dad!
And we still celebrated Christmas Eve dinner with English Christmas Crackers and Martinellis. (Another benefit of 2 Christmas' is 2 holiday hams!)
"Christmas Morning" we opened our stockings and santa gifts (Dre Beats Headphones) and then took turns opening our gifts from each other. Brian and I were extremely blessed!
We got a 20 cup rice cooker, tons of fun stocking stufferes, a stroller/car seat set from Travis and Mayra, and 2 Blendtec blenders! Mom and Dad/Brian know me so well that they both got me my #1 present. We returned one and got an ipad. (Thank you to Mayra and Whitney for taking every single one of the pictures above and then letting me steal them.)
Christmas with the Moote's
This year we had everybody together except for Lee, who is in Afghanistan. I didn't take any pictures at all of course (no Whitney and Mayra to steal from this time,) until after we opened our Christmas presents. Paul and Judy got us an amazing new camera (Nikon P510) that I am so excited about! Our old camera has had battery issues for almost a year now, so it has been on my wish list to get a new one for months. Now we can look forward to taking tons of pictures and video of baby Moote when he arrives! Here are some of the pics I took after we got the new camera up and running...
Brian playing Angry Birds on our ipad. I told him not to get too into it, but he did anyway. :)
Ellie got a teaset and LOVED it. It was cute to see her set it all up and play with her dolls. As you can see from the background, we were able to watch "A Christmas Story" and also "It's a Wonderful Life" this year. The only movie we are sad we missed out on was "The Muppet's Christmas Carol."
These two kept us busy during our visit. It's so fun to see how much they have changed since last Christmas. They loved opening their presents and playing with them, although they weren't as big on sharing. ;) They can walk, run, and get into all sorts of trouble now!
Our 2nd Christmas feast. With 17 people in attendance, an extra table is always needed!
What's the best way to end Christmas celebrations?!?! Having your mother-in-law take you to go see this...
Thanks for sticking with me through this crazy long post! This Christmas was definitely one to remember, and there will be some fond memories to look back on later. Last of all, I'm grateful for the true meaning of Christmas and that both of our families hold Christ at the center of their holiday traditions. Like the musical says, "To love another person is to see the face of God!" Christmas means love.
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