Happy 2008!

Well, we had a very busy Christmas season! I felt like this year I was way less prepared than I usually am. Usually I am so prepared, I have my Christmas cards and family pictures all in envelopes, addressed, and sitting waiting to be sent out on December 10th (ya know, so as not to look too anxious). But this year - I'll admit it - really kicked my butt. Luckily, I have Jared around to convince me that stuff like that isn't worth stressing about and I stopped to enjoy the season while I still could. We spent Christmas with my family in Sherwood Park. My sister, her husband and their two boys came up from Calgary, so we had everyone there except my two brothers. My mom bought all four of the grandkids matching Christmas sweaters and we took them to the mall to have their pictures taken with Santa. It was so funny. My nephew Josh was really not into the whole Santa thing. I will post them as soon as I can get my scanner working.

On Christmas Eve, we had our traditional dinner (clam chowder, cheese ball and crackers, and appetizers) and then acted out the Nativity. It was so much fun this year to have enough little kids to be in it. Carter was Joseph, Hayley was Mary, and little Taylor was baby Jesus. Josh was originally supposed to be Joseph, but decided he didn't want to at the last minute. Carter (the Innkeeper) gladly stepped in and took his place. How cute are they?



Then we opened our Christmas Eve pajamas, put them on, and drove around looking at Christmas lights. Carter (aka Michaelangelo) loves his new pj's.


Christmas day was great. The kids had so much fun. And got spoiled. Hayley got a stroller to push her babies around in, but preferred to sit in it herself.


Hayley giving cousin Taylor kisses.


On boxing day, Jared and my Dad went ice fishing. We met them at the lake (where Carter caught a fish!), picked up Jared and started our trip out to Vanderhoof to visit Jared's family. The roads were a little crazy (adding to my aforementioned stress) but we got there safely; only nearly missing 4 moose and 3 deer. The next day, Jared got to play in his NVSS Alumni basketball tournament. They had games going on all day, and Jared's team (the oldest group of alumni) won the tournament. The next day, we went to the church and had our pictures taken by photographer. Everyone in Jared's family was there, including his brother Tim who had just returned from his mission to France a week earlier. 26 people in all. It was such a gong show trying to get all 12 grandkids to stay in one place and look at the camera all at the same time. I'm sure they turned out hilarious so I will try later to post those pictures as well.


The kids got more presents...


We got to ride the new snowmobiles...


and make gingerbread houses...



It was alot of fun and so good to see everyone. The car ride home on Monday wasn't too fun, mostly because I got the flu (again) on Sunday night and wasn't feeling the greatest. I am really hoping my kids don't get it, cuz I don't want to go through another puke-fest again. The first time was bad enough.

Merry (belated) Christmas and Happy New Year everybody! I'm thinkin it's gonna be a good year.