The Nativity

The Sunday before Christmas we had a big family get-together with all the Reids. We played games, had a nice dinner, and ended with reading and acting out the nativity. There are so many little cousins now it was fun to have them all there to be in it! And they had some of their awesome Aunts & Uncles to help them out!

I love reading the nativity each Christmas and reminding us and our kids what the true meaning of Christmas is.... Jesus Christ! We are so grateful for him and that we have his gospel on the earth today! I know my Savior lives! And I am grateful for this time of year to be extra thankful for his birth & his life! Merry Christmas!

Pre-Christmas Playtime!

We had a lot of fun playing during the week before Christmas! We had a girl's pedicure day with Emily (me), Lesa, Marianela & Jenna! It was super fun!!

We took the kids with Emily's family to see the lights at Temple Square! So beautiful! It was cold & crowded, but we loved seeing all the lights, the nativity, and watching "Mr. Kreugars Christmas" at the visitors center! 

The kids had fun making gingerbread houses with Grandma McDougal and their McDougal cousins!

And they also had fun playing Christmas games (Bingo, Don't Eat Pete, etc) with Grandma Lesa and their Reid cousins!

Shawn had fun holding/playing with his newest little cousins - Conrad (Joshua & Michelle's)...

And Sara (Steven & Marianela's)...

I love seeing how much he loves the little ones - goes to show he'll be a big helper when our baby comes along in just a few short months!!

Snow!!!

At Granma & Grandpa's house the boys were so excited to see the snow!!

And when it started snowing they couldn't wait to go out and play in it!!!

I love the snow too - especially a fresh snowfall! It is so beautiful with the fresh white powder covering everything from all the trees & rooftops to the ground. Absolutely breathtaking at times!

(Just super cold so I'm glad we don't live in it all winter, but fun to have it when we visit at Christmastime!!)

Christmas Vacation!

We're on our way!! We went to UT for Christmas....it's getting harder to do so - difficult to fit all of us and all our gifts in the van! Here's the kids loaded in the car with everything else! (Honestly looks worse in the picture than what it was!)

First stop..... Las Vegas!!!

We stopped half way and spent the night in Vegas. Spent a little touristy time at the M&M factory...

And the Coca-Cola factory...

Next stop.... Grandma & Grandpa's house in Utah!!