The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

 Despite having a rocky start, the Christmas Calendar has been pretty successful thus far this year!  Please feel free to attend any activities you can!!

We started things off with our Eagar 2nd Ward Christmas Party. My mom hung out at home with Remi so the rest of us could go. Thanks mom!  Chase and Grant thought the most fun part was rolling around on the gym floor...awesome.

Apparently the flash was really bright because my dad couldn't seem to keep his eyes open. We got to listen to him recite a story he memorized for the occasion!  He did a great job!

 

 The next night was the First Presidency Christmas Devotional. Mike got sick so with some help from Sal, the kids and I were still able to go.  I LOVE the Christmas Devotional!  There's nothing better than starting off the Christmas Season with some inspiring words from our prophets and feeling the Christmas Spirit with Mo Tab's music!  If you didn't get to see it, check out the link above.  You won't be sorry!

The next night, my little brother Tanner hosted a bon fire. Mike was still a little sick so we each took a turn going out and visiting with Tan and his only guest, Chad Crosby.  I've known Chad through seeing him at Safeway and going to school and working with some of his siblings but I actually got a chance to visit with him the other night and I'm super impressed with what a great guy he is!  Tanner is lucky to have a loyal friend like him!  I doubt Chad will read this but it was good to get to know him and hang out with him! (Also, the fire got a little out of control, despite Tanner's confidence in it and I'm pretty sure Chad saved our house so we owe him that too! :))


The next several days were a blur with Mike trying to recover while trying to prevent the rest of us from getting sick so I don't have pictures of a few of these days in between.

Thursday, Mike went and played Raquetball with Whitney Wiltbank and Grant, Rems and I watched Arthur Christmas with the uncles.  As you can see, thanks to Uncle Ry and Uncle Tan, we occasionally get a break!


Saturday was a busy, fun-filled day!  In the morning, we woke up and attended Eagar 3rd Ward (Mike's parents' ward)'s Christmas party.  Grant met Santa for the first time and in spite of what we thought was decent preparation, this is what happened:

 Mrs. Claus was nice enough to let me borrow her chair so we could at least get A picture with Santa.

Remi handled her visit with Santa like a champ! Actually, she does look a little scared hu?

After the party, we went and got the Wiltbank Family Christmas Tree! Remi slept like a baby the whole time!

Grant stayed awake long enough to polish off a bag of Cheetos and then he was out too.

It's not the best tree, but we were kind of rushed and had to take what we could get. 

Grant's always wanting to be a helper!

 We got back into town just in time to see the light parade. Mike's family met us there just as it was about to start. Grant loved all the lights! Remi continued to sleep.

 

After the light parade, I got to go out to eat with my sister and our friends Tonna and Jean for Jean's birthday.  We had SO much fun!!  The only pic I got of that was of Tonna and Remi. SO sweet!

 

Meanwhile Mike took Grant on the Light Trail by Becker Lake with his parents and Tristan, which he said was a lot more impressive than he expected. 

I met up with Mike at his parent's house after dinner to watch National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, where Remi found a comfortable spot with Grandma Velda.

As with everything during the holidays, we usually come home from the Calendar activities exhausted and ready to turn in.  Grant was super tired after a long day on Saturday and just wanted to cuddle, which was just fine with me!