Christmas 2010 Highlights

I was glad that in some measure we were able to squeeze in our tradition of making a candy house when our friends pulled out their gingerbread house kit.  Didi and Jasmin did the honors, and did a great job.

We can't go to our best friends' house without enjoying music!  Kendall and Jazz collaborated for some beautiful clarinet & piano duets (Jazz later went to piano and left the clarinet to Kendall), and I loved it when Lainie sang for me one of my favorite songs, "Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most", despite her cold. 

Cousins in spirit!  (Except for Goldie and Alyse, who are twin sisters in spirit.)

Our tree was probably a fire hazard as it blocked our back door, but oh well. Tootie had something against our garland and tried to remove it every chance he could; not sure what what up with that, but at least the ornaments stayed on the tree a lot better this year than last year.  The candy canes were just a Christmas Eve addition--thanks, Santa!

Stockings.

Essentials.

Goldie's favorites included her pillow pet and her new bedding (comforter and sheets), and a pretty fabric-covered glass plate.

Tootie had a Superman Toy Story Thomas the Tank Engine Christmas.

I got what I asked for!  A long-sleeved BYU shirt, and a brown purse (which Jazz did an awesome job of picking out himself!).  Jazz topped me off with some other thoughtful gifts, and also shown are the wonderful gifts from my mom & dad.  So nice!

Didi received the biggest gift in size--a new bike.  She was also really excited about the watch set, and the Woodstock stuffed animal from Goldie (which we had a hard time buying while she was in the store with us).

Jazz had a BYU shirt Christmas, and his favorite was the Beethoven records, nearly completing the big set he already enjoys.

Shark had a Ducks Christmas--including an autographed poster from Mikey the Duck himself!  (the football team's mascot is one of Jazz's students). 

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

No doubt about it, Shark's most exciting toy of all wasn't a gift he had received, but the iPod he bought off of Craigslist on Christmas Eve.  He had saved his money for months and months for this.  I'm proud of him for saving and earning something he really wanted. 

Inside the tent box--the surprise Christmas gift which came in the mail from Grandma and Grandpa Lovell. 

Look how big our kids are!  Next year will Shark be taller than Mom???!

We couldn't wait.  We wanted very much to spend Christmas in our own home as our own little family unit, but once all the presents were opened and we got the clutter cleared away, we hit the road and made it to Sacramento  by dinnertime.  On the road on Christmas Day wasn't what I had in mind, but in the end, I realized it was super fun to be in both places on that special day. 

Didi and Goldie love their new matching jammies with their cousin!

I loved my outing with one of my best friends.  We got to go to the Crocker Art Museum.  She's so great to treat me to such cultural enrichment!  I had never been to a museum like that before--it was amazing.  Thanks, Jazz, for letting me slip away for the 3+ hours to enjoy it!

"It's the eye of the tiger, it's the thrill of the fight..."  I think they rehearsed this song together about 50 bajillion times. 

Christmas cookies!  Because we all got the flu the week after we made about 5 batches of cookies (the week before Christmas), unfortunately we didn't get them all passed out to our friends.  But we enjoyed the baking time anyway, and eventually they mostly got all eaten.  Better luck next year : ).   Overall, we had a fabulous Christmas season!

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Ada wins the award for cutest of the cute this year.  I can't get enough of her happy shiny personality.