Christmas!

Steven and I had an amazing Christmas! There were a lot of awesome surprises.  Steven had to work Christmas Eve, but got off a little early and we made it up to Salt Lake in time for his family's Christmas Dinner.  The food was amazing! I didn't have a camera to take pictures, but I know the rest of the family got some great ones.  We had dinner and then Steven's mom told the grandkids all about the gifts that Jesus has given us, they paid pretty good attention.  Then they got to open presents from the grandparents.  The girls got American girl dolls and their reactions were priceless! There was a lot of screaming and jumping for joy.  They also got pj's for themselves, and matching ones for their dolls.  Steven's sister Sarah was quite pregnant and hoping to postpone having the baby until after Christmas, but Christmas Eve seemed a bit difficult for that, and sure enough Korver John Donaldson came early Christmas morning! We got to visit them the next day.

He was sleeping the whole time we were holding him, then mommy woke him up to eat and he didn't seem too happy! He is so cute! We're happy he came while we were in town and got to meet him.

We spent Christmas Eve night at my parents and slept in the basement while watching a Charlie Brown Christmas with Wesley. Christmas Morning! 

Parker, Beth, and Debbie in her footie pajamas :) We enjoyed opening presents with my family! Steven and I were both surprised by our gifts.  I went in with my mom to get Steven a new Ipod, and he went in with my mom to get me a new Camera! So now I will have real pictures to post instead of just ones from my phone :) I also got a sewing machine which I am excited to start using!

This is the Ireland hat I made for Steven, which he really seemed to like :) not too bad for the first hat I've ever made.

Steven put together some pictures of Christ with a new-found scripture that I love in a nice frame.  I love it and it's now hanging in our front room.

Debbie and Cloie playing with her new dollhouse

We had a great breakfast, my mom made my favorite quiche, and after getting spoiled at my parents, we went to Steven's parents for more surprises! Annie had made some very yummy cinnamon and orange rolls so we enjoyed more food and waited until it was time for Danny to call from Finland!  He sounded really great and seems like he is really loving his mission.

 Adorable Miles

 Caroline making the call

Excited family crowded around talking to Danny :)
After the call to Danny everyone opened their gifts from each other and from Steven's parents.  

 Ryan, Laura, and Hadley

The fam

Hadley and Piper with their dolls

Annie and Miles (Annie really liked the perfect strangers t-shirt:)

Hadley and Poppa

DeAnne framed a bunch of Steven's photos in really nice frames and gave them as gifts, I love that picture in the green frame.  

Steven got a remote control helicopter from Chip and Haegen could not wait for the "Hopcopper" to fly. He was mesmerized, it was so cute.  Then the biggest surprise of all came.  We've slowly been trying to save up for Steven to get a decent camera, but we knew it would take a while. So he opens up a nice camera bag from his parents who say it's for the future, well we didn't realize they meant the very near future...

You can't quite tell, but that is pure overwhelmed joy.  He seriously couldn't process it for a while, I think he is still in shock.  It's a very nice compact SLR.  The circumstances of his parents getting it were complete luck and generosity and we both can't express how grateful we are for it.  I'm so glad he finally has his own camera to be as creative as possible with.  
 For Christmas dinner we went over to my Aunt Dee's house; my mom's family always gets together so the house was packed.

 Poppa and Larry in the kitchen

A quarter of the gang

 My mom and dad

Wes and Bree

Auntie ReNae and Dad

Cousin Dallen and Anna

Cloie showing us her dress

  Poppa as usual
We had a blast seeing everyone.  Aunty ReNae surprised us with a video she made of a few of Steven's photos, plus she made wedding videos and printed out pictures of all the cousin's wedding in the last two years, plus a family calendar and family book; she was very busy and they all turned out awesome! The rest of the night was pretty relaxing.  We really had a great Christmas and loved getting to see everyone.  We got some amazing things from the people we love and hope we are able to give back even half of all they give and do for us.  
The rest of the break was spent visiting people, shopping the after Christmas clearance sales, :) getting curry, and enjoying family and friends.  Oh and we finally saw Inception, great movie.

 Nanny and Poppa

I got to meet my Cousin's new baby Riley for the first time! (he was born in October)   

Friends...

And of course you have to unwind from the vacation :)