Christmas #2 - Mom with Marshel and Kellee

Marshel and Kellee spent Christmas Day with their dad, so when they got home they couldn't wait to start our Christmas.  They were so excited to see what was in their stockings and open their gifts.

 

Kellee - dumping the stocking

 

Marshel - opening his gift from Santa - a Nintendo DS (blue)

 

Kellee - opening her gift from Santa - a Nintendo DS (red)

 

More gift opening

 

The pile of paper

 

Still opening gifts

 

And more gifts

This was fun - Tissue boxes full of money

Christmas #1 - Rachel and Mom

Rachel and Mom spent Christmas Day at Grandma Jackie's house, with Bill, Aaron and Shanee.  Christmas Eve we had a BBQ with neighbors, roasted marshmallows and sat around the fire.  On Christmas morning, we opened gifts and had a good time with each other.

 

Shanee brought Grandma Jackie tons of fabric from Bahrain.

 

The tree before everyone woke up

 

Rachel's stocking

 

Shanee and Aaron

 

Rachel got her letterman jacket, complete with patches.

 

Rachel opening gifts

 

Rachel's wreath of money from Mom

 

Rachel got this skirt from Shanee from Bahrain

 

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This is just a mix of pictures from the end of 2012. 

They didn't really fit anywhere else, so I'm just sticking them in here on their own.

Michael's first group on USS Essex

 

Michael's current group on USS Richard Bonhomme

 

Marshel getting ready for his piano recital

 

Marshel's Piano Recital

 

I found Kellee in bed asleep like this, ready for school the next day - complete with hat, gloves, shoes and scarf.

 

Rachel and Mom getting ready for Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot

 

We need our banana and water for our 5K.

 

Rachel and little brother Marshel

 

Playing pool on Christmas Day with Aaron Draude

 

Marshel giving a talk in Primary

 

Rachel and Shanee playing pool - Christmas Day

Rachel cheering at basketball game

Dog Sitting

We've been Dog Sitting lately, so the kids have really enjoyed playing with them.  The kids wanted pictures of the dogs before they are gone, so here they are.

Getting ready for Christmas

Time to get the house Christmas-ready!  So, we decorated the tree, made cookies, dipped chocolate pretzels, sang Christmas carols and hung the stockings!  Bring on Santa! 

Kellee, Rachel and Marshel hard at work

Our tree looks so good

We're a bit goofy though

Rachel sorting all of her ornaments out

Cutting out our Sugar Cookies

Kellee's cookies

Marshel's cookies

Putting the star on top of the tree

All done!

Oh, my goofy kids!

 

 

Kellee's Activity Days

We hosted Kellee's Activity Days this week.  The girls came over and we spent some time doing one of our favorite Christmas activities - dipping chocolates.  The girls dipped pretzels and cookies in the chocolate.  They had a little too much fun with the sprinkles, but they all had a good time.  We sent them each home with a plate full of the goodies they had made to share with their families.

Temple Lights

We headed to the Mesa Temple to see the Christmas lights, the nativity and the Temple.  Rachel invited her friend Jennifer to go with us.  We had a good time.  It was nice and warm outside and the lights were beautiful. We looked at the setups of the story of the birth of Christ and listened to the narration.  The nativity was so beautiful with the Star bright above the barn.  We made new friends there and went in the Visitors Center also to show Jennifer the movie about Families are Forever.

Kellee with the Shepherds and Lambs

Rachel, Kellee, Marshel, Jen in front of the temple

Our Christmas Family Picture (missing the 2 boys)

Marshel and Kellee wanted a picture with the temple

Silly people we met there

Raingutter Regatta

Our Cub Scouts decided to have a Raingutter Regatta with boats instead of the normal Pinewood Derby with cars.  The boats were much easier to make and allowed for much more imagination.  The kids all had fun seeing the others boats and trying to make theirs sail the best.  They had to blow them down the raingutter with straws.  They had several heats to see who won overall.  Marshel received an award for the Most Shimmery - he had decked it out in silver paint.

This is Marshel's Webelos den.  Marshel is the one hiding his face with the boat.

Marshel and Darien

Marshel and Jaden

Marshel and Brian

Marshel's boat

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