Spencer looks like a candy cane ninja. Putting the candy canes on the tree is their favorite part and he is ready.
We go through a LOT of hot chocolate during Christmas. Ho Ho Ho!
For FHE, we had the Kesler's (our neighbors) over to make gingerbread nativities. We usually do just a traditional gingerbread house, but this was fun and a better reminder of what we are celebrating.
Milford holds a bazaar every year where Santa visits so the kids can sit on his lap. Ty spotted Santa from a distance and ran straight to the front of the line to give him a hug. Luckily, Jodi was taking pictures and was able to snap this..so thankful! After we left, Spencer told me that it wasn't the real Santa, but that it WAS the REAL Mrs. Claus. Funny thing though...she looks a lot like his primary teacher Sister Carter. Strange...
Spencer's Christmas program at school. I didn't get to many pictures because the lighting was terrible. I did video though and Spencer was awesome doing his song and dance:)
Temple Square
This year we all went to Salt Lake to stay at the Little America hotel. I have so many fun memories of going there as a kid. Ben picked up pizza for everyone and we filled our bellies before we hopped on trax to go see the lights at Temple Square.
The kids were bundled up pretty good and didn't complain or cry one time.
The next day was my birthday and I felt so lucky to be with my mom and sisters. The boys all went to the BYU game and the girls stayed in Salt Lake. One of the reasons I love my birthday is because Joel treats me like a queen. He felt bad leaving me with Ty and Jack to go to lunch and shopping (not the most relaxing), and kept trying to get out of going to the game even though I know he really wanted to go. We went to the Grand America to the toy shop, ate at the Cheesecake Factory and shopped at H&M. When the boys got back, we went to a movie (Arthur Christmas) at the Gateway with my mom and dad & Ben and Becca. After we got back to the hotel, Spencer got sick and threw up. Too much popcorn or the stomach flu? Who knows. I felt so bad for him. We were going to take him to the broadcast at Temple Square the next morning to listen to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, but didn't dare go since he was sick. He was bummed.
Jack kept watching the spinning balls above his head at the toy store. He was watching so closely that he kept losing his balance and would fall over. It was entertaining.
My dad and Megan also have birthdays in December.
Slade Family Christmas Party
I love that Joel has big family. It's so much fun when everyone gets together. This year we had the Christmas party at the church (you know that your family is getting big when you have to move it to the church!)
Morgan and Micah came up with the idea to do a t-shirt exchange. We drew name a few months before Christmas so everyone had plenty of time to think of a funny t-shirt to buy or have made. It was a big hit and I hope it becomes a tradition.
Morgan and I thought it would be fun to do some "minute to win it" games. They did not disappoint. My stomach hurt from laughing!
December birthdays. We were missing Alex and Jacob.
Debbie put together a book of all of Jared's poems and gave one to each of us. It is a treasure.
Watching the annual Christmas video. Everyone gives Stephanie pictures and she puts together a video. She does such a good job and we look forward seeing it every year.
Josh and Chelsea came to visit for an entire week this Christmas. We don't get to see them very much since they are going to school back in Washington D.C. We loved being able to spend so much time with them!!
Anjali is holding a laundry basket that held her gift to all of her sisters and sister-in-laws. She crocheted each one of us a pot holder and spent MANY hours making them. I love mine!
We also got to meet baby Brock for the first time. Micah and Morgan have been in California and we have missed them!
Spencer's letter to Santa. Quite a long list he had to narrow down.
It may be strange to take pictures of presents under the tree, but I never claimed to be normal. One of the reasons I started doing it was because of the this gift that Spencer made for us in kindergarten. I thought it was cute and he was so excited to give it to us. Inside was a tile with his handprint. We hang it on the tree as if it were an ornament.
The next year he didn't make anything in school so he decided that he had better come up with his own gifts. He gathered and wrapped them all himself. The first one was to me. Inside was a quart-size canning jar wrapped with paper that he drew a picture on. He told me it was to hold my pens.
The next ones were for Jack and Ty. He found a couple of his old toys to hand down.
I love how Ty's is wrapped in a graham cracker box.
And the last one was for Joel. This one was my favorite. Inside was a tupperware container with 3 quarters in it.
This is becoming one of my favorite things about Christmas. I keep thinking that I'm going to let him do some jobs so that he can earn some money for presents, but I can't bring myself to do it. I love to see what he comes up with.
This year for Christmas, he gave me a recipe holder that he made in scouts. I love it and I love even more how excited he was about giving it to me. For Joel's present, he gave him an ornament that he made in school. My favorite present he gave this year though, was the one he gave to Ty. One day in December, he came home from school with a big cheesy grin and rushed to office to wrap the present he had for Ty. He had traded a kid at school one of his toys for this notebook with a car on it. He didn't mind the fact that several pages had been used....he just ripped those ones out. He wrapped it and hid it so Ty wouldn't open it until Christmas. Ty gave him a big hug when he opened it on Christmas morning and Spencer was so happy.
We went to Moroni for a few days after Christmas. Joel wasn't able to come because he was shipping in pigs. I have so many memories of spending time with my cousins at Christmas and I'm glad my kids will have the same.
Spencer's own idea. Creepy.
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