Merry Christmas 2018

This Christmas season was wonderful.  I was very grateful for my health and strength.  We were able to do many fun things as a family and carried on with traditions we have done over the years.

On Christmas Eve, Matt's parents treated us to Rodizio Grill and then we joined them and Heather/Amelia in seeing the new Mary Poppins Returns movie.  It was a nice evening - one to be remembered.

This year, we had a family secretly place a piece of the nativity on our doorstep each night.  The kids would race to the door, Laynie would squeal with delight, and Gavin would yell out, "Thank you!" It was fun to watch the Christmas story come together each night.  The pieces were homemade out of clay and were very cute.

Matt and I stayed up til 1:30 am wrapping presents.  I love to arrange the gifts for excited eyes to see.

Matt and I gave the kids gently used gifts - Laynie, a Frozen Jeep and Gavin, a motorized scooter and beginning snowboard.

Matt and I kept it simple on gifts for each other.  Matt needed a new suit for his new job and we spent thousands in medical bills this past year on me.

Our beautiful tree.

Running in to see what Santa brought.

Amongst all the presents, Laynie was mostly obsessed over the giant candy bar.

Santa gave Gavin remote controlled bumper cars, a Minecraft figurine, a stikbot chicken, and a little Lego pack.

Santa gave Laynie a mermaid tail blanket, princess dollies that she can mix and match their clothing, Shopkins, and a watercolor pallet.

Grandma Sorensen gave Gavin Bayblades - which he LOVED.

I gave Matt a tie and jigsaw.

Matt gave me a book and an essential oils case.

Santa gave our family a new Roku box because our other one was biting the dust.

No snow on Christmas day this year which made it possible for the kids to try out their motorized toys.

To end the day, we went to Matt's parents' home around 4pm, ate a nice meal, visited and exchanged gifts.  Then we came home and watched "The Star" on Netflix.

!Familia de Sorensen Fiesta Navidad!

Our Sorensen family Christmas party was buy divertido!  We gathered at Amber and Tyler's home to eat a nice meal - a soup bar.  Amber had her home all decorated for Christmas right down to the beautiful table arrangements of evergreen boughs with holly.  We watched a spiritual movie of Christ and the significance of His birth then showed off our talents.  Braden started us off with a piano solo of Jingle Bells.  It was after that that I remembered to get out my camera:

Sadie showed us some ballet moves.

Landon played Pachelbel's Cannon.

Grandma/Tanner played "Nowell" (spelled the Old English way).

Carly also showed us some dance moves.  This picture doesn't do her performance justice.

Rae showed us her artwork.

We talked about Bailey's concern for and love notes to others.

Gavin performed some magic tricks.

Brett/Karen did a duet - "Jolly Old St. Nicholas."

Laynie told a Christmas joke.

Then Matt and I performed a comedic act - Feliz Navidad.

Ayayayayay!

Both Brian and Carl had to show off their elk and duck calls and Bridger surprised us all by pulling down his pants and proclaiming he was potty training!

The kids had a gift exchange.  Gavin was super excited for the remote control 4 wheeler he got from Landon.

Then the kids went off to play while the adults played a rip-roaring game of Tenzi.

It was a lovely evening spent with family.

The Holiday Spirit

I love Christmastime - the fun traditions, making and giving gifts, spending time with family, and reflecting on Heavenly Father's and the Savior's love for all mankind.  It doesn't take much to feel the "Holiday Spirit."  Here are a few things we did this year:

Made and delivered 40 bags of Christmas popcorn to our neighbors/friends.

Saw Gavin's school's tree at the city hall.  Every child at his school made an ornament for the tree.

As a family, we visited a creche that was in a church house in Eagle Mountain.

We wanted to go to the festival of lights in Spanish Fork, but once we got there, the line to get in was waaaaaay too long.  So we traveled 10 minutes to Salem and saw "Pond Town Christmas."  It was beautiful.

Just around the corner from Pond Town Christmas is "Bible Street."  We were able to read the Christmas story as we drove down the block and a half.

Our neighbors put on a little nativity.

Laynie danced to Feliz Navidad.

Gavin performed in his school's Christmas Sing.  He sang "Santa's Using Zebras Now" and "Santa Claus is Coming to Town."

Cousin Amelia's birthday was December 19th.  Heather invited everyone to Kangaroo Zoo for a fun little party.

We had our neighbors over for a play date and made Christmas tree gifts.

Marty the elf came to our house 6 days before Christmas.

We went to Grandma Anderson's for pizza and ornament making.