Mannheim Steamroller

 Mannheim Steamroller...

For the past few years we've gone to a concert during the holiday season. We went to Kurt Bestor one year and then Trans Siberian Orchestra the next year. I think we also went to Kurt Bestor last year also. All of the concerts are so good but it's not like I want to go to the same artist year after year. I like the variety. We decided to check out Mannheim Steamroller this year. It was amazing! I've loved their music every since I was a kid. It was better in person.

 

Temple with Grace

Grace invited us to do baptisms with her. It was a stormy day so I'm glad she was able to make it down the canyon! I think James and Lynnlee were able to meet their goal of making it to the temple once a month for the whole year!

 

Christmas

 Christmas was on a Sunday this year. We let the kids vote if they would like to open their presents before sacrament meeting at 6:30am or after sacrament meeting at 10:00. The majority said after. We woke up and had a nice Christmas breakfast. I usually make french toast with yummy brioche or Kneaders bread. This year they wanted German pancakes. We also had bacon, hashbrown patties, orange juice, and chocolate milk.

Sacrament meeting was very nice and helped keep the focus for the day. I wouldn't mind if Christmas was always on a Sunday.

We enjoyed opening gifts after and then everyone had time to play for a couple of hours before heading to Heber.

It's always fun going to Grandma's and getting a second round of Christmas. Lynnlee got a couple of months of Kiwi crates. She got her first one which was making a purse or sketch book holder. She made it while we were there.

The smorgasbord was amazing as always!

Sienna and Kade loved playing with Ivy.

Matching sister outfits

We were so lucky to get a private tour of the Midway Ice Castles. Jack was doing some nightly maintenance so we all got to walk around and he told us all about the Ice Castles.

It was very cold but very worth it!

Ivy looked like Elsa in this cave with the black lights. Ivy is obsessed with Elsa so she thought it was pretty cool!

 

Christmas Eve

 I had the bowling trophy from winning in 2021. I gave it a makeover during the week before Christmas. The goal was to clean it up and make it look more like a bowling troph. This is the best before picture. I'm really terrible at remembering to take before pictures. This one already has part of the lower middle trophy part taken off.

I stripped the trophy down as much as possible, sanded the wood, and painted. Lynnlee and Marshall helped through the whole process.

It has a much cleaner look now and I love how the baseball bats look more like bowling pins.

Christmas Eve bowling...

Last year and this year have been stressful getting to the bowling alley early to get in line. I don't know why the bowling alley doesn't just take reservations. It would be so much easier for everyone.

Once were all there and bowling it was so fun! I enjoyed talking to family and catching up with cousins!

We missed having Katie's and Charlie's families there!

First game for the teens.

James won the teen prize, Kade won the kid prize, and Taylor won the adult prize and trophy.

Ali took this picture and I love it because the bowling alley looks the same as it did when I grew up. I remember spending many summer days here bowling and eating candy.

It's so fun that the Thatchers still bowl with us here! It's always fun to catch up with them.

Christmas Eve afternoon and evening...

Jenny, Jordan, Ben and new baby Taylor came to visit! It was so good to meet Taylor. She is just the cutest little baby. 

We had a chowder bash and sing along that night.

Christmas Even pajamas were a flop this year. I couldn't tell when I ordered them that they were skin tight. Everyone had the correct size but there were really tight like thermals. Some of the kids didn't mind them except Lynnlee strongly didn't like them. The ironic thing is that she gave Marshall a hard time all month because he doesn't want Christmas pjs every year. Totally fine and makes sense. He's not growing out of them so he doesn't need new every year. He also doesn't love not having pockets in his pjs. So the tables turned with Lynnlee now not liking the Christmas pjs.

First and last time Lynnlee wore them. :)

We went back home and spent some time getting ready, watching the nativity story, and watching a movie.

Chewie even got matching pjs

Everyone got tucked in around 10:30. The bean bags insured no one tried to peek.

Ski Day #1

We bought fewer passes this year since there is more going on. In the past it's hard to go all four days. It's hard to find that many free Saturdays or days the kids or Marshall can miss school/work. We were able to go skiing the Friday before Christmas. James got a pass to Brighton so he could go with his friends. Hopefully next year we can all have passes to the same place. I thought we would this year but we missed the pass sale at Brighton. Also we are torn because we like Park City better but James likes going with his friends.

The snow was really great! The weather wasn't too cold. Everyone whined in the car and getting stuff on but once we were skiing everyone did great. Taggart and Sienna have improved so much and could tackle the blues no problem. Marshall and I took turns going on some blacks. Overall it was a really fun day!

Gingerbread Houses

 Lynnlee helped keep up on track with our Christmas traditions. She made a list of the things we normally do and then we tried to check them off during the week before Christmas when there was no school. Drew came and stayed a few days so he got to participate in decorating gingerbread houses. 

James had a nicely decorated side and then a crazy side.

Drew followed suit.

Lynnlee's was all sorts unique.

Kade's game plan was getting everything on the room.

Taggart added a chimney and some other additions.

Sienna's was very unique and I think she enjoyed eating the royal icing more than decorating.

 Always a good time with this tradition. My favorite part is the left over candy.