We had a wonderful Christmas season this year.  It was very low key and laid back:)  We enjoyed hanging out together as a family and watched LOTS of movies!  There was NO SNOW this year at Christmas, so the usual sledding fun was not to be had.  We hung out at home, went to the rec center, and were just plain lazy!!  Usually we have family visiting us during the break, but no one came this year.  My mom was here earlier in the month and my dad and db were here before thanksgiving.  This year we were able to adopt a local family and contribute to their Christmas...it was a wonderful lesson and opportunity for our kids, they even put in some of their own money for the family.  We enjoyed shopping together with this family in mind and learning more about the real reason for Christmas.  Christmas eve was quiet with just our family doing our tradition of a nice dinner and Christmas stories and movies.  

Christmas morning the boys were up at 7...ready to go!   We went down and opened stockings and Santa gifts then went and got the babes out of bed so they could do the same.  We then proceeded to make and have breakfast...which the kids hated, but we like to spread the day out a bit!  After breakfast it is open presents time.  We had a wonderful morning together.  In the afternoon we headed to the Farrs for our usual afternoon get together.  Fun was had by all....so much so we didn't take any pics:)  We did our traditional acting out of the Christmas story, talent show, and exchanged gifts with cousins.  We are very blessed and happy to have such a wonderful reason to celebrate.  

What a wonderful weekend we had.  Thank you to Grandma and Pa Farr for all their prep and effort.  They went up to OR about a week early to get the house ready and came home a week late cleaning up after all of us.  We had a few mishaps with no water for a while and a clogged kitchen drain, but with our handy boys around...all was fine when we left.

This year we were able to travel to Nyssa, OR for Thanksgiving weekend with the Farr family.  All of Jaron's siblings came, except Jeff, who we missed.  Nyssa is a very small town right by the OR/ID border.  It is where Jaron's mom grew up and we were even able to stay in the house she grew up in.  Jaron's dad grew up in another small town, Adrian, OR, about 20 miles from Nyssa.  We had lots of fun and made many family memories.  We enjoyed spending time with each other, playing games, watching the kids put on "shows" for us, and being able to look through some old picture slides.  

This year Halloween was lots of fun with the twins.  It was beautiful weather, which isn't always the case in UT and the twins got out and knocked some doors.  Grandma and Grandpa Farr came with us and I thought they would only last a few doors, but they made it all the way down the street and back (the twins that is, although I did worry once or twice if grandpa would make it home:).  They loved it!!!

This year we have done family pictures in two sittings...Here are some pics from both, thanks to Uncle Jeff and Aunt Brooke and Amber and Abigail for the entertainment and button pushing!! By the end of the second session we were all pretty frustrated and upset - family bonding right??  

Good luck to all you out there having to tackle family pics.  Now to gear up for next year:)