Christmas Fun

Josh and Kelsie sledding at the cabin
Laura and Kelsie in matching pj's
Emma and Aaron, what a pair
Natllie built a snowman with the kids
Johanna, Laura and Steven eating lunch in the sheep camp

December has been full of wonderful family times. Natalie and kids (Laura, Steven and Aaron) came for 2 weeks at the beginning of December. Chris was busy with work and Natalie got some great air fares thanks to her family checking internet in the middle of the night. We loved having them here and spent some wonderful time with them all. Chris missed his family, but they did make it home the week before Christmas. It was not a fun trip home, Natalie spent about 24 or more hours with 3 kids in airplanes and in air ports thanks to the weather closing some of the airports they were headed to. Steven was a great hit as Superman, flying through the airports and planes, saving people as a super hero does. He loves wearing his Superman costume and when he received a small Superman action figure from his cousin JJ for Christmas he exclaimed "It's a toy of me!!"
While Natalie and the kids were here we got together as a family many times. The house was filled with young voices, toys spread everywhere and lots of laughter. Amy came down to spend time with us, Eph and Mandy came up as did Josh and Tiffany and JJ and Kelise. We held our annual family Christmas dinner with each member of the family providing part of the dinner. Amy's delicious artichoke bottoms with cheese filling were a new treat. Eph and Mandy made home-made bagels and Natalie provided a wonderful green salad and dressing. Johanna and Dad cooked skewers with chicken, shrimp, mushooms, peppers and pineapple on the grill. Steve braved the cold weather to provide us all with a treat. Emma and Kathryn whipped up a wonderful strawberry/lemonaide drink and we ate rice krispy treats with ice cream as well as Bruce's famous cheesecake for dessert. Grandma Mahoney provided potato salad and we had a feast. Grandma and Grandpa Mahoney, as well as Bruce, Tim, Zac and Sarah joined us in the dinner and reinacting of the nativity story. It was a little caotic ( Mary(Laura) rode on the donkey(Josh), but Joseph (Steven) and a shepher (JJ) also insisted on riding!!
The few days before Christmas Amy, Emma, Johanna, Kathryn, Josh, Tiffany, JJ, Kelsie, Steve and Jean went to the cabin. (We tried to convince Eph and Mandy to come, Bruce offered to take her on a snowmobile ride in hopes of starting her labor, but she refused). The cabin was great, lots of food, games, snow, sledding, skiing and snowmobile riding. Bruce and kids also came. It was very relaxing. We played a new game, Cruses, and there were times that we were all laughing so hard that my sides hurt. Bruce with arms that could not bend at the elbows and having to scratch like a monkey was a sight to see!
Christmas morning was early, Johanna was up about 4:30 waking the others up. After present opening we got ready for Breakfast. Eph and Mandy came up, but Josh and Tiffany never made it because they got stuck in the driveway!! They made it in the next day and we had Christmas all over again!
We have had lots of snow, enough that we had to shovel the driveway before getting the car out the day after Christmas. It has been a wonderful month of having family around and remembering what Christmas is all abaout, family, fun, food and of course remembering our Savior, His birth and life.