Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was pretty quiet this year...which is exactly what we wanted.  Last year's Christmas Eve was beyond hectic and exhausting, with Luke coming home from the hospital after his first round of chemo...just hours before Santa was to arrive.  So this year, we cleared our social calendar and planned a wonderful day at home.  The biggest plan was our Christmas Eve dinner, and Danny had something special planned.  Our Christmas present for the family this year was a smoker!  Danny and I have been wanting one for years, and the price was right this holiday season.  So it only seemed appropriate that we smoke something wonderful for our Christmas Eve feast.  And what's more wonderful than prime rib?! :)

Danny loved and cared for that meat all morning.  He seasoned it himself, and lightly smoked it using cherry wood.  We didn't want an overwhelming smokey flavor to the meat, just a hint.  But we wanted to cooked low and slow...all day.  And it did.  And all I can say is my man is good at what he does!  Have you ever seen a more gorgeous piece of meat?!

It seemed like it took forever, but finally the time came for us to eat.  None of my siblings were traveling home for Christmas this year, so we invited Grandma Candy to come to our house for Christmas Eve dinner and to stay the night with us.  That way she could enjoy waking up with the kids on Christmas Day.  For Danny, this prime rib dinner was a throwback to when he was growing up.  His family used to have a candlelit prime rib dinner on Christmas Eve, so he broke out the candles and we enjoyed our feast by candlelight.  The kids thought it was so cool!

Candlelight or not, you couldn't possibly ask for a more amazing meal.  Danny's prime rib was the single most delicious piece of meat I had ever tasted.  And I'm not just saying that!  It was perfect!  Paired with baked potatoes and salad, it was a regular steakhouse special...for about half the price.  I taste a new tradition... ;)

It may have been so delicious that all decorum was forgotten, and Danny became a carnivorous wild man.  Can't blame him though...the meat against the ribs is the best part!

After dinner was done and cleaned up, it was time to get the kids to bed.  Santa was on his way!  Claire insisted that she was big enough to get Santa's milk and cookies ready on her own.  Believe it or not (which I didn't), she was!  It hurts my heart that she's growing up so fast.

Because of the floor plan of our home, we have to sleep the kids in our room on Christmas Eve if we're going to keep them from getting to the tree before us in the morning.  It's made for a fun tradition, though.  The Christmas Eve Family Sleepover, the girls call it.  Claire and Sophie were excited for Christmas and ready to get to sleep so Santa could come.

Johnny was, too!  And he wasn't messing around...Santa wasn't going to catch him with his eyes open.  Johnny wanted his presents!

Luke had absolutely no idea what all the fuss was about, but he thought it was pretty exciting that everyone was sleeping in his room!  I'm pretty sure he sees it as his room now.  Cute little stinker. :)  

Ok, Santa...we're ready!

Christmas Adam

Ah...Christmas Adam.  The beginning of our days worth of Christmas fun!  Christmas Adam is our time to celebrate the season with the Call side, and it's full of traditions we absolutely love.  First off this year, the kids decorated their Christmas Trees...or teepees...whichever suits you. :)  You can see from the expression on Johnny's face how much fun the Christmas Trees...or teepees...are!

Luke wasn't interesting in decorating, but he thoroughly enjoyed the banana.  We still love to see him eat whenever and whatever he's willing!

After the decorating was done, and the children's masterpieces were set out to harden so they could travel safely to their respective homes, we all got settled for the next tradition.  The Christmas Adam Movie!  Back when Danny was a kid, it started out as going to the theater to see that year's Christmas movie release.  But since the family has grown...by very many small and yet loud children...we've adapted.  Now we enjoy a movie together at Grandma and Papa's.  The feature film this year was "Despicable Me 2", and it was a hit!  We may or may not have purchased the digital bundle when we got home. :)

The final Christmas Adam tradition is the opening of the Christmas Pajamas.  Grandma did the jammies again this year, and she did a fantastic job!  We just wish Braxton, Tavin, Andi, and Liam could have been here, too!  These kids in their coordinating jammies are the cutest.  This year, all the girls got Hello Kitty jammies, and the boys got Spiderman.  I love that the boys and the girls got button-up pajama sets.  Nice change from the nightgowns my girls always want to wear. :)

I'm not sure when I no longer had a baby in Christmas jammies.  Somehow, my kids are growing up!!  But they're the cutest kids in Christmas jammies I've ever seen.

Merry Christmas Adam, Everyone!!

Rachel's Birthday

Every year on Rachel's birthday, we get together and have her favorite dinner and enjoy some time together as a family.  December 22nd is a nice juxtaposition from December 1st, and allows us to celebrate Rachel's life instead of remember her death.  Everyone loves this time together!

Rachel's favorite dinner was beans and chile, with fried chicken...and of course Mom's tortillas.  We love Rachel's birthday dinner!  Even Luke was diggin' it, and that means something.  He's still such a light eater, but he was all about Grandma Candy's torts!

After we had stuffed ourselves full, we started in on some family Christmas fun.  Gingerbread houses!  It was the Martin Family facing off against the Call Family.  Everyone was taking it very seriously. :)

The Call's house turned out beautifully!  Complete with icicles and Sophie's very debonair gingerbread man.  The mustache was in honor of Rachel. :)

The Martin's house was also beautiful, with a very deliciously snowy roof.  We all decided it was a tie.  It's the Christmas Season, after all... :)

Happy Birthday, Rachel!  Thank you for continuing to bring us together as a family.  We love you!

Snow Play

I am not a fan of the winter.  It's wet and cold and dirty and slushy.  But I do like it after a nice fresh snowfall, when I can watch the kids (big and little) enjoy the snow.  And I especially like how cute the kids look in their snow gear.  I don't so much enjoy the process of dressing them all, but it's worth it when we're done. :)

Nothing like a little father-son time...snowballs in hand.  My kids are so lucky that they have such a fun Dad!

Hopefully, by next winter, this cute little guy will get to play, too!  He sure enjoyed the antics from the window, though.

Aunt Rachel's Day

December is the beginning of the big holiday rush.  But for us, we start December out with a little more perspective than we used to.  The 1st of December is the day Rachel, my youngest sister, died.  It's been four years now, and it's true what they say.  Time heals.  But more than that, an understanding of the Plan of Salvation heals.  And Danny and I, and our children, have been focused very much on that Plan this year.  So while there is indeed a certain sadness to this day, and there always will be, it doesn't carry the grief that it used to.  Do I wish with all my heart that my sister was still here, and that I would have been able to watch her grow and achieve her dreams?  Of course!  But I understand that while those things will never be, it will be alright.  It's made all right in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and in the gift of the resurrection that he gave to each and every one of us.  I will be with my sister again, and what a joyous reunion that will be!

In the meantime, December 1st is a day we talk about Rachel.  I take the time to tell my kids what happened to her, where she is now, and the influence she had on my life.  And we visit her grave every year the weather will permit.  December's a rough month in Utah... :)  But whenever we can make i, the kids LOVE going to Rachel's Place!

We love you, Rachel!  Once year closer to being together again!