Catch-Up

That's what I'll be doing for the next few days....but here's a sampling to start with.

Snowball fights with the cousins at G-ma and G-pa M's place.

Anna must be 'protecting' her snowball? Lillian holding on to Quinn. Bryant was a good sport and drove the kiddos around for a LONG time. Quinn especially loved being pulled in the sled behind a 4-wheeler.

Tanner, Garrett and Quinn - little buddy joined in every chance he got!

Breanna, Alison and Brinley hiding out in the 'Girls' Fort'.

Brinley and Elsie take a spin...wild ridin'!

G-pa M try taking down Tanner and Jameson behind the 'Boys' Fort'.

Most of Bob and Janene's children gathered on December 23rd for Bob's 65 birthday. The adults enjoyed a yummy dinner (thanks to Chris and Julia) and played a few games.

The White Elephant gifts were hilarious. My personal favorite....Aaron's old wisdom teeth (in the small black box) along with an Arbor Senior Care shirt and half-eaten pack of gum. Janene was the lucky recipient. Hmm, and where are the teeth now? (Hint-check your purse, Steph).

Meanwhile, the cousins were enjoying themselves back at our place.

Christmas Eve day was full of activities including the traditional decorating of gingerbread houses/trains. Later that evening, the extended M crew delivered gifts for a Sub-for-Santa family. I nearly lost the Christmas spirit after driving around snowy country roads for an hour (um, where is this address?) with cranky little ones. Fortunately, there was yummy food awaiting us back at G-ma and G-pa M's.

The Nativity. We had many volunteers and ended up drawing names for the casting of characters. Tanner - Joseph. Anna - Mary. Grant - donkey.

FYI--I have always been amazed by this sculpture of Christ on the small table. Brandon created this during his senior year of high school and it was featured in the religion department at BYU-I for a period of time.

Julia with Elsie - angel.

Alison, Jantzen and Brinley bringing gifts to the baby Jesus.

Quinn--toddler Jesus (by the time the wisemen arrived, eh?). He most enjoyed climbing in and out of the manger.

Once back home, the children opened a Christmas Eve gift. Theme and Variations on the pj thing -- fleece blankets to snuggle up in.

Christmas morning.

Classic Jantzen.

The boys in their new jackets.