Christmas celebrations

Here we are December 26th, another Christmas has come and gone.  And now Christmas 2026 will be here in a few short blinks.  Christmas has sure changed over the years, and we are looking at another year of changes this year with Gator graduating and moving.  Time just keeps moving along, faster and faster.  But we had a really fun Christmas Eve party with the Stewarts.  I am grateful for such an amazing family, who still includes me in all the holidays.  We ate, played games, and visited with each other.  We are a loud, crazy family, but that is just how we do things with the Stewarts.  After the party, Gator and I went to spend the night at Krissy & PJ's like we have the last few years.  This one was tough for me.  Next Christmas is going to be so different, growing up is fun and all, but at times I just don't want my kids to grow up anymore.  Owen & Kylee went back to my place to spend the night before going to her mom's for the morning, and Davis & Kin usually spend the night at her dad's in preparation for Christmas morning.  It was another wonderful Christmas and I love being with family and making so many fun memories.  

One cheater, one not, but Owen & Kylee made $20 at the party one way or another.  

The dang Cactus Cooler, I'd never even tried the stuff before the party, and now I am the Cactus Cooler provider for the Super Bowl party.  

The only picture of Christmas Day.  

"Christmas Eve" dinner and movie

Owen & Kylee came into town with lots of people to see and places to go for the holiday.  Davis & Kin also have a lot of people to see the next couple of days, but they saved Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning for us to do our Christmas Eve together and Christmas morning.  We went to Farmington Station and had dinner and saw the movie David.  There are so few good movies anymore, but this one was really good.  It was a David and Goliath movie.  Poor Davis worked his regular long hours though and he was exhausted, so he slept most of the movie, but he tried.  We were all actually pretty tired because I bought such late tickets so Davis could make it, and the movie didn't start until 10:00 pm.  Dinner was good, we went to Johnny Rockets.  Owen & Kylee spent the night, but Davis & Kin went home because of the dogs.  They came back this morning and we had Christmas morning before we go celebrate Christmas Eve with the family.  I made breakfast this morning, and then we laid around, played games, watched a Christmas movie, napped, and hung out.  Now off to Kaysville for our Stewart Christmas Eve party.  

We must look really silly or awkward trying to take a selfie of all of us, because a stranger always volunteers to take a picture for us.  I am not complaining though, my kids hate it, but I am grateful to have the pictures.  

Temple Square

 Temple Square hasn't had Christmas lights for a few years since the temple has been under construction, but this year they lit up some of temple square.  Kin wanted to go, so we got on the train with Davis & Kin last night to go to temple square.  Only problem is that along with the lights being back so were the mobs and mobs of people.  Oh my word, so many people.  It was pretty, but it sure would've been prettier with snow, but I think we are going to have a dry dead winter.  Still, it was a fun evening, Christmas lights and my people win win.  

Christmas with Brady & Zoie

 Brady is going to Hawaii again this year for Christmas, so we took him and Zoie to Christmas lights and dinner before they leave.  After dinner, we went to Brady's house for hot chocolate and to hang out for a bit.  We love these two so much, they are so fun to be around.  

Dating advice from Santa

 Gator asked Santa for a boyfriend and that led to about 30 minutes of conversation with Santa filled with dating advice and boys.  

Idaho doesn't do Christmas

 Every year Owen & Kylee come down to one of the many places that do Christmas lights so this year, I thought we could go up there thinking there would be lots of places to go see lights.  Well, I was wrong.  There are not Christmas lights in Idaho.  At least in Pocatello.  We ended up going to Idaho Falls and there was a "festival" that had a few lights.  I really just wanted to hang out with my kids so I still had fun.  We walked around the lights and then went back to Pocatello to have dinner.  next year, we will go to one of the many light displays in Utah again though.  Before we left for Idaho, Gator and I got the adult happy meal from McDonalds.  Now I would've never joined this craze on my own, but Gator is a lover of all things Grinch, so it was fun to do with her.  

Thanksgiving weekend

It was a good long weekend.  Eden came home from her mission, Davis and Kin were in Disneyland, Gator & I took a Christmas flower to my moms grave, family dinners, Owen & Kylee visited, and we went to the temple a couple of times. 

 

Disneyland

 Josh and Rachelle invited Gator to go to Disneyland with them.  They've been planning the trip for over a year now, and Gator loved it.  It poured pretty much the whole time they were there, but they survived.  Gator got home and her feet are covered in blisters, but she still said she'd do it again.  She is happy to sleep in her own bed.  It was all worth it, even with the 4 days of homework she has to make up.  I wish I could've gone, but I am so happy she got the chance to go on such a fun trip with her cousins.