Christmaspalozza 2012

• All our children and grandchildren coming home for Christmas for two weeks from three different states

• Mom coming for a week to spend the holiday with us from December 19-27

• Watching the BYU football bowl game against San Diego State with Mom, Dave and Courtney staring Kyle Van Noy

• Fresh cut Christmas tree from Dustin Smith and a visit from the Smith family giving us many special gifts

• I attended only two Christmas events – the BYU combined choirs and orchestra doing “A Celebration of Christmas” and the play at Pioneer Theater “A Christmas Carol” the musical. ” Rick, Andy and Chelsea attended a shortened version of Handel’s Messiah, which I missed because I didn’t feel well enough.  It’s the first Christmas in years that I haven’t attended a performance of Messiah.  Sad for me

• BYU basketball games

• Special homemade candy box that came in the mail from Aunt Lorna, including my favorite homemade licorice

• Visit from cousin Rom – went to see Les Mis with Andy, Chelsea, Kate, Romney, Rich, Claire with a thorough movie critique that followed

• Visit from Lindsey C.R.  She even babysat Lizzie and Will for an hour until Rick got home from work

• Sofia C. coming for Christmas Eve dinner (she is from Argentina and is the daughter of my companion Adriana G.)

• A visit from Santa Claus a few days before Christmas! Thanks T and A!

• Playing games, especially a wickedly cleaver round of the game of THINGS

• Sitting by the fire, both real and gas upstairs and downstairs (although it was never hot enough for a certain person)

• Sledding at MVHS stadium with all the grandkids

• Ski day at Sundance for Jord, Jake, Andy, Lauren and Ellie with teacher Chelsea showing them the ropes

• Girls night out to see the movie “The Life of Pi”

• Visit from Lee and Kylee followed by a lovely dinner of Stouffers lasagne

• Visit from Syd and Adam and little man Rafe

• The present game with a staring performance by little Miss Ada.  Notice our gifts in the picture above - dew rags and a toilet plunger...

• Chelsea staying with us through the break except for the four days she went home, Andy staying with us for three weeks

• Family party with the Philipps at their home including a lovely meal and Christmas crafts for the kids
• The Christmas elf doing the 12 days of Christmas for me again and leaving a spiritual message with each gift this year.  How inspiring & thoughtful of him!

• Mom’s raisin filled cookies and Heggie raisin pie

• Dinner with Courtney’s family before she and Charlie left to go home

• Christmas Eve program with Lizzie telling the Christmas story flannel board story with the “Rapunzel” angel playing a major role

• Dinner at the Hatch family home enjoying a great meal and good conversation

• Wonderful gifts given and received

• Headband craft making

• Homemade pizza night with the Aslett family followed by a rousing game of “so you think you can dance”  I won’t say who danced better…Rick or Ellie.

• $700 of food disappearing in less than two weeks - many great meals were prepared, shared and cleaned up by the entire crew
• Visit from Madi and Makayla with dinner at the Spaghetti Factory 
• Having an all time high of 17 people sleeping in our house for a few days in every nook and cranny possible!