Christmas 2011

 This Christmas started when Chieko taught Tanners kindergarten class about what children do for the Christmas and New Year holidays in Japan. She also taught them how to fold an origami cup. I was surprised by two things: Twenty-five students were in this class, and they were very well behaved and were eager to answer and ask questions (even if they couldn't remember what question they wanted to ask when they were called on). I admire Ms. Guest for doing such a great job with them. 

Next was our ward Christmas party. We had soup bowls, salads and desserts. Then the Primary reenacted the Nativity. Stanton was a shepherd. 

On Christmas eve eve we went to Paul and Cindy's for Tiffany's Christmas Eve Party. We had appetizers and desserts. Then we reenacted the Nativity with Dad narrating and everyone sort of singing. Annie was the angel that appeared to the shepherds. 

On Christmas morning we attended Sara and Jared's one-hour sacrament meeting (because Christmas was on Sunday, sacrament meeting was the only meeting held churchwide). Then Sara and Jared cooked gingerbread waffles, scrambled eggs, and sausage. They also had real maple syrup and a homemade syrup that was really good on waffles, but I forgot what they made it out of. 

Then we went downstairs to see if Santa came last night. 

 Jared is assembling a water bottle holder for a bike. 

Jackson got this cool Frank Sinatra hat that he loves. 

 He also got a bicycle. 

In the living room. 

 On the road. 

 If you could see the backs of Tanner's bicycle gloves, you'd see that they have a glow-in-the-dark skeleton design. 

Oh, yeah, like this. 

 Tanner got a three wheeler with free-turning rear roller-blade-like wheels for spinning 360s. 

 Here he is on the street. Still pictures don't do the 360s justice, but he does them really well. 

 Annabelle. 

 She needed a minute to figure out this whole Christmas morning thing, but she quickly realized the kitchen was hers and started cooking stuff in the sparkling frying pan. 

 Chieko is helping Annie with a backpack we gave her. 

Next we went to Dad's for his annual Christmas buffet that is his present to all his family. I'm going to try to remember who all were there. If you were there and your name is missing, let me know. Spelling corrections also accepted. (Sorry, but this is the only picture I took all afternoon): 

Dad, Nancy, Cecil, Andrea, Jordan, Maddison, Kaitlin, Hailey, Lindsay, Ryan, Thomas, Emma, Nathan, Kelley, Janet, Jennifer, Stanton, Michael, Chieko, Sara, Jared, Jackson, Tanner, Annabelle, Paul, Cindy, Marcus, Megan, and Amanda. 

Merry Christmas