Family Pictures

Over Christmas/New Year's break while all my family was together, we got some family pictures taken from a friend in my parent's ward. I think she did a great job at capturing this crazy group!









While she was shooting photos of the individual families, we took a few fun shots of our own.












I love my family!!!

Christmas and New Year's

Christmas this year was so much fun! All my siblings and their families gathered at my parents house for the week and it was crazy, chaotic, and tons of fun! Christmas is always so much more magical too when there are lots of kids. Eden followed right along with the other kids and really got into the spirit of ripping those gifts open. It was so fun to see her excitement.

On Christmas Eve, we read the Christmas story in the scriptures and the kids acted it out. Eden was really into the dressing up part, but as soon as we tried to get her into the acting, she got serious stage fright and ended up on daddy's lap while the others carried on with the play. Just one more way Eden is like her mommy, I'm definitely not one for acting either!





After the Christmas story and "play" was over, all the kids (and some adults too!) got new PJs. Based on the group shot, I'd say the kids all looked ready for bed, except Lincoln who looked ready to beat someone up. :) That boy is so hilarious.





On Christmas morning, Eden slept in a little so Brad and I were able to get ready for 9am church before the fun began. Once she was up, along with the other kids, she discovered that Santa had left her a full stocking and big pile of presents. She was absolutely thrilled, especially about the princess figurines.




After we got back from church, the craziness began! We were hoping to get the kids to open presents one at a time so we could all see what everyone got, but they just couldn't control themselves and before we knew it there was wrapping paper flying all over the place! It was so much fun!















And if Christmas morning wasn't enough, a couple days later Tiffany and her family arrived from CO and we had another present exchange. The kids exchanged the gifts they chose for each other, and grandpa and grandma surprised all the kids with stockings full of goodies. So much fun!





Aside from all the presents and delicious meals, there were so many other fun activities going on. The kids were always thoroughly entertained by all the fun projects that grandma had in store for them.







Brad headed up the gingerbread house making project and did a fabulous job.




Not too far from my parents house is an alpaca farm and the kids had so much fun feeding them. I thought for sure Eden would be too nervous to let them eat out of her hand, but she surprised everybody and jumped right in and loved every second of it.









Overall it was such a great week, and we loved being able to hang out with everyone.

















On New Year's Eve we continued the tradition of a fabulously delicious fondue dinner. We did a cheese fondue with bread, crackers, and veggies, and then we had the oil to cook our meat: pork, steak, chicken, and shrimp. We rounded it out with caramel fondue with lots of fruit and sweets. It was so delicious! A big shout out to Brad here who took on the work for this dinner, including making the fondues all the delicious different sauces that we dipped all our meat in. He is amazing in so many ways. :)



Then unfortunately, the fun had to end and everyone had to disperse back to their homes. We ended up only being in our home for a day (more details on that to come in a future post) but while there Eden was spoiled once again and had her 3rd Christmas, opening presents from grandma and grandpa Justice.




Thank you to all our family, on both sides for making this holiday season absolutely amazing! We feel so blessed!