Our Christmas Holiday

This year it seems that the Holidays were a little more hectic than usual, I waited to do my shopping until the last minute, Mike went out of town for work and got stuck in California because of the storm and got home a day later than he was suppose to, we had quite a few Christmas parties some of which I took pictures and some I didn’t (as usual I didn’t take many pictures and the ones I did aren’t that great). But I would say that the best part of the Holidays for me was on Friday, December 26th when we went with Mike’s family to the temple so that Matthew Mike’s youngest brother could do Nathan’s (Mike’s brother, that was killed in Iraq on July 17, 2007) temple work. It is always a spiritual experience to do temple work for those who have passed on before us, but this time Matthew was doing it for someone who was so very close to us, who we knew and loved so much. Even though Nathan has been gone for a year and a half, it is still weird to think that he won’t be coming home to us. He was such a great brother, brother-in-law and uncle and I am so sad that my boys do not have their Uncle Nathan in their life, because he was such an amazing man, he could always make you smile no matter what and he is definitely a true HERO in my eyes and the eyes of those who knew him.

The boys at our ward Christmas party. Of course there is no picture of Patrick with Santa because he refused to sit on his lap.

Marshall & Patrick playing in the snow with their Dad. They built a fort in the front yard and just had a fun time.

We have started a Christmas tradition by going on Christmas Eve to buy a real Christmas tree and decorate it. Then when Santa comes he puts the presents under that tree.

We spent Christmas Eve at my Parents house with my siblings and their families, my Grandma Smith and Grandpa & Grandma Ezell. We have a steak and shrimp dinner, play some games and open the presents from my parents. This year the kids put on the Nativity for us and of course since they wanted Patrick to participate he wouldn't.

Christmas Day Marshall got up around 7:45 but was very patient to wait for Patrick who didn't get up until 9:00 so we opened presents (yes these are the only pictures I took) and then headed over to Mike's parents where we spent the rest of Christmas day with his siblings and their families, his Grandma Eaton, Uncle Grant, Grandpa Barnes and Uncle Kelly. We had a delicious lunch and played games and just had a lot of fun together.