The Pages

Holmes Christmas Party

My grandparents came to town, and we had a Holmes Family Christmas Party, with everyone who lives in Utah. We met at a church, ate some dinner, and played games. We had a great time! I always love seeing my grandparents, and really wish they still lived here. We've been lucky to be able to see them fairly often since they moved.

There were campfires around the gym of the church, and the kids ate their dinner next to the campfire. It was so fun, and was probably my favorite part.

We decorated gingerbread cookies...

We had a race, where the dads had to sit on a sled, and the kids had to pull them across the gym... Our kids didn't get very far!

So Allie and Michael stepped in and helped them out...

Then we played musical chairs...

And had a potato sack race...

Last, we got to meet Santa Claus, or one of his helpers... since we had just met the real Santa last week. He was a great helper for Santa and gave each of the kids a little toy.

We loved visiting and playing with family! It is always good to get together with loved ones, and is my favorite thing about the holiday season.

Meeting Santa

Santa contacted Grandma Holmes this year and told her that if she wanted, he had time to come over to her house and meet the kids. So we arranged a time. Sydney was so excited she could hardly stand it...

We could hear Santa's jingle bells as he walked in the door. He had our letters that we had already mailed him in his bag, and a little toy, a pez dispenser, for each of the kids. They all got to sit on his lap and tell them what they'd like for Christmas.

He was so sweet with little Ruby. She liked playing with his fingers.

After everyone took their turn talking to Santa, Cooper decided he would sing "Up on the Housetop" for Santa. It was one of the cutest things I've ever seen. I wish we'd have been able to catch more on video... we weren't prepared since it was so impromptu.

Such a fun memory for us... we feel so lucky to have been able to meet the REAL Santa Claus.

December

December was a very busy month for us this year. We managed to fit in most of all we wanted to, or needed to, and really enjoyed the holidays. As usual, we took lots of pictures, of both activities and every day moments...

In early December, it snowed a ton! Sydney and Cooper loved going out and playing in it... but it wasn't great snowman snow, because it was too fluffy.

It was so fun to have them come in and enjoy some hot cocoa together...

We had our preschool program, and Cooper was so stinkin cute with his Rudolph hat and nose...

Attempted a timed family picture by the tree, which I think turned out pretty well if I do say so myself.

Cooper has really been taking care of all his little buddies... he likes to swaddle them, just like he sees Ruby being swaddled.

Our ward Christmas Party was a lot of fun this year. The theme was Whoville, and the Grinch came! The Grinch came right up to Cooper during the narration, and Cooper was terrified. He went running through the gym crying and looking for us. It just added to the dramatics of the story!

Sydney's teacher got married. It was so exciting for Sydney to go to a shower for her teacher, and to even go to her reception. The class made a recipe book for her and Sydney loved picking which recipes to put in the book. It was fun to see Sydney so excited for her teacher.