Christmas Break Fun with Braithwaite Cousins

Alan and Pam and their family stayed with us for Christmas break again this year.  We always have so much fun with them.  This year we went sledding, ice skating, swimming, stayed up really late, ate lots of food and played lots of games.  We made some colored water for the kids to play with out back while they were bored one day.

Andrew is one amazing cousin pulling my lazy bones kids up the hill.  Poor Ella only made it down once or twice before 3 boys on a sled wiped her out.  Knocked her flat on her back and the wind right out of her.  Poor kid!  She crawled in the car where Lincoln and Dustin were sleeping and joined their sleeping party.

I enjoyed sledding with the kids and having some hot chocolate afterward.  Most years it's me in the car with the babies cause Dustin's pulling the kids up on the four wheeler but we didn't take it this year and it was A-ok!  We had a blast.  It was about -6 degrees that day when we left the hill.

I was pleasantly surprised how amazingly well my girls could ice skate.  A tiny bit of help getting them going and they were off!  They loved this probably more than any other activity we did through the holiday.

On our last day we all drove to Lava Hot Springs for some swimming.  On our way home we stopped at Chuck a Rama for a last dinner before we all went our different ways and got back to reality.  My kids obviously enjoyed the dessert bar!

Lincoln made friends with Andrew.  ha!

What awesome memories! So thankful for great family!

Yay

Dustin and Lincoln were in the kitchen doing the dishes.  Doesn't get much cuter than that!

Sledding

Saturday morning we talked Dustin into taking us on the four wheeler around the neighborhood for a little ride.  We had such a great time!  I love my little family.  It makes my heart so full to hear them laughing and smiling.  I am so very blessed.

Bateman Family Party

I had an idea this year to organize a Bateman Family Christmas party.  I was thrilled when I found out everyone except for the missionary and the cousin living in Canada could be there.  Ella and I made assignments to everybody and showed up and it was fantastic!

This is my mom with her parents and brothers.

Grandma & Grandpa (they really were happy)

We had a photo booth and had everybody's family get a picture taken.  Dad and I tested it out first.

Everyone was kind enough to participate.

Jeremy didn't make it into the photo booth I guess..

Our cute 1 year olds.

And our cute 5 year olds. 

We had some food and a small program.  Grandpa read everybody a few stories that he had prepared.

Then we sang some carols and had a few musical numbers.  Two of which the girls sang and did so beautifully!

Then grandma and grandpa gave gifts to all the great grandkids.  They were thrilled!

We got them to sit still for about 2 seconds while we took a picture with their great, great grandma Bitton and their great grandma and grandpa Bateman. 

Pretty lucky kids!

We played a few minute to win it games and had a few laughs.   Even grandpa played!!

 

We are pretty blessed to live close to family.  We used to get together with this group of family so much and since our families have grown so much it's hard to get together.  I'm grateful we took this opportunity to celebrate the birth of our Savior.  The real foundation upon which this family has been built and the glue that has held us all together.  The grace that we are counting on to help us enjoy eternal families.  Merry Christmas!

Gingerbread Houses

This year we invited Kailey, Kaitlynn and Kourtney over to make gingerbread houses and to practice a song they were going to sing at the upcoming Bateman family party.  I decided to venture out an make real gingerbread and even though it wasn't perfect I think they turned out pretty nice.

The girls had fun none the less which is all I really cared.

Sure love Christmas time!