Christmas 2010

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS!!!

 These were the neighbor gifts we made this year. I ate way too much of the popcorn while making it. Yummy!!!

This Christmas we spent time with both families. This year Jason got off the whole week of Christmas and it was so nice to spend time together. Christmas Eve we spent with my family in Cardston. The night started with Christmas turkey dinner. Lisa made some yummy cranberry dressing and drink with the help of Epicure spices. Once again dinner was amazing and my mother out did herself. Following dinner my dad had set up a sleigh (truck pulling a trailer with hay bails on it) ride for the family. We drove around Cardston looking at the Christmas lights and singing Christmas carols. When we got back we rein-acted the nativity. Alexi wanted to be Mary, Kash was Joseph, Keston was the Star. Ty, Lesha and Mason were both Shepperds and Wismen. They all wanted to hold a treasure and a shepperd stick. My dad read the story of the birth of Christ in Luke 2. It was so cute to see the kids sit quietly and listen to the music of silent night and hear the story of baby Jesus. After the nativity we opened pj's and got comfortable for the rest of the night.

Lisa and Ron then had many "minute to win it" games to play. It was so fun and different then just playing board games.
Once all the kids were settled downstairs watching a movie we gave our gifts to our parents. Every other year our gift to our parents is a gift of service. We are to do an act of Service instead of buying a gift for our parents. This year Jason and I were apart of Big Brothers Big Sisters "Santa Store"

This was an event for less fortunate kids come to the store where people had donated gifts and the children got to go shopping. The gifts would range from $0.25- $2.00. We would help the children shop, purchase their gifts and then wrap their presents to take home. It was a fun night and the children were so happy to be able to buy gifts for their loved ones.

CHRISTMAS MORNING:

We woke up and found that Santa had visited Grandma and Grandpa's house. We opened presents, had breakfast and were off to Calgary to spend some time with Jason's mom and family. We got there for dinner and then opened more presents, watched a movie and were off to bed. We made our own pizzas and they were delicious. This year for Christmas Jason's mom gave him his first tool chest. He was so excited and we are now getting our garage organized. Jason doesn't vocalize his excitement for gifts too often but with the gift he thrilled and said, “Now this is what I am talking about.” I love this guy ;)

BOXING DAY:

In the morning we had the famous “Christmas Morning Wifesaver” for breakfast. This is Jason's favorite part of Christmas. The meal includes bread, ham, cheese, egg mixture and topped with corn flakes and then baked in the oven for an hour. After breakfast we went to Church and then in the afternoon we went to his Aunt Sarah's for the day. We had a delicious dinner and we had our first turducken and it was fabulous. It was fun to hang out with his family that we haven't seen for awhile.

The next day we went to a matinee movie with Jason's mom and then to the Flames vrs Buffalo game (thanks to my friend Stef French) and the Flames even won. The next morning we were on our way back to Lethbridge to relax for a little bit.

DECEMBER 29TH, 2010 – a day with the LEAVITT'S

This year my parents gave us gifts of time. The whole day was filled with activities with the family and it was such a blast. Here is how the day went

-night of the 28^th younger Grand-kids and Grandpa and Grandma stayed at the Holiday Inn Express

10:00 girls went for pedicures and boys practiced archery with Dad

12:00 Lunch at the hotel

1:00 Kids, moms and Grandma went to the movie “Tangeled”

1:00 Dad, Ryan, Troy, Lisa, Ron, Blaze, Riley, Ryan, Jason and I went to Parklake Paintball and had a blast

3:50 Adults went to the move Secretariat

6:00 pizza at the Gourlie's

after dinner we gave Dad an early birthday present. We (mostly MOM) gave Dad Kentucky Derby tickets in May. He was so overwhelmed and this is definitely a childhood dream of his. We love you DAD! THANK YOU MOM/GRANDMA for the fun day - you're the BEST!

WOW – what a fun Christmas. I am excited for the new year and for more fun memories.