Christmas 2012 Part 1

I am not going to lie, this Christmas business is going to take up 4 separate posts. I am not going to be offended if you skip them (in fact I won't even know), but I do want to record some favorite pictures and memories for posterity...Posterity, you can thank me later.

We headed to Idaho on the 22nd of December. We weren't sure if we were going to be able to go to Idaho at all because I had a birth mom due with twins and her doctor planned to take them on the 24th of December if she hadn't gone into labor on her own (Christmas Eve, who does that?!) Anyway, just when I had resigned myself to the fact that we wouldn't be going to Idaho, she went into labor and had the babies earlier in the week. WAHOO!!! The timing was perfect (for her too- don't worry it's not all about me).

Had to document Flor having her first sucker post-genetics results. :) She liked it. She does not, however, like chocolate as we have discovered.

He has the best seat in the car...I want one my size.

 Grandma and Poppy welcomed us into their home for the duration of the holidays and while I am sure it wasn't easy to have us for so long, they were fabulous to feed us and care for us.

Hallie watching Poppy play his cello from her little perch against the wall. Poppy was practicing because he was playing in church that day.

Nothing better than a huge bathtub with flowery smelling bubbles 

Ready for church

Hals helping Grandma make some really yummy coconut cupcakes

Flor also liked "helping"

Meanwhile, these two enjoyed catching up on some sleep.

The evening of the 23rd, we went to my Grandma Shawna's house for our traditional Strobel family party and Nativity. My Strobel family is HUGE (by my count: 11 kids, 54 grandkids, 45 greats with 4 on the way) and even though only a fraction of the group comes every year, it is still a lot of people and a lot of fun to catch up with everyone. We had dinner and then a family update from each child in attendance. After that was the nativity, read by my Uncle Mark and acted by whichever children want to participate. We had a hoard of angels and had to beg Hallie, Sadie, and Eliza to be shepherds because no one wanted that job. Haha. 

Devin was in charge of taking pictures because Jennifer and I were in charge of dressing the children up and sending them out at the appropriate time. I have about 3 pictures of the actual nativity and about 15 of me standing against the wall back there. Lovely honey, just lovely. 

See, what did I tell you? Neither of them were thrilled about being a shepherd. 

Please note that our baby Jesus was a 2 year old girl. She really wanted the part-- so of course she got it :)

We are lucky to have  so many loving grandparents in our lives! Both of my grandmothers are still alive and kicking and it is great to watch my kids develop a relationship with them as well. 

More to come.....Lots more.