Christmas 2011

December started out with the girls' choice Christmas Dance. Danika asked a guy named Mormon Redd--yep, that's his real name...Mormon Joseph Ephriam Redd to be exact. He responded with this cryptic message (left on our front porch): "Lettuce rock and roll." The orange hazard cone was just a bonus I guess! The week before we had a massive wind storm, and I guess maybe it blew somewhere where a boy could snatch it up (over 1000 trees blew down in Davis County).

Amy came over before they picked up their dates, so I was able to snap a picture of the two of them. I don't like girls' choice because I never get to see they guys.

The next fun event was a "reunion" party for some of my previous Laurels. Two of the girls (Aubry and Caralee) who graduated in 2010 were getting married at the end of December, so Alison Sillito (my class adviser) and I wanted to get together with them before they got hitched. It was fun to catch up with everyone :) They are such cute girls--I just love all of them!

We had a little family get-together for dessert on the 18th. Troy, Mandy and their kids, Tammy, Matt and Tristam, and Uncle Lee met at our house. Everyone brought a dessert, and we just hung out and talked and ate (of course). Here are the cousins, acting typical...

 Our water heater stopped working during the day, so Troy tried to fix it...which I felt bad about because he is always working. He thought he had found the problem, but our carbon monoxide alarm went off at 2:30 a.m. because it wasn't fixed and the gas had just kept running all night. We turned it off and moved the kids upstairs. Mike called the company in the morning, and they figured out the problem (the condensate tube wasn't draining right, and had hard water build up inside).

On the 23rd we had Lee over for our annual Raclette party. We usually do this on Christmas Eve, but we started a new tradition a few years ago of ordering Chinese on Christmas Eve and watching A Christmas Story (fa ra ra ra ra, ra ra ra ra!). So we decided to do Raclette on the 23rd.

Raclette is a Swiss tradition, similar to fondue. You cook your various meats and veggies on a hot plate, and then melt cheese over your portion in little trays under the heating element. It is really fun because everyone can personalize their own trays.

We had a great Christmas, despite the fact that Danika was sick for most of the school break. She came down with a respiratory flu the first day they were off, and spent most of the 2 weeks in her "Forever Lazy" footie pajamas.

 Here is where we found Megan on Christmas morning!

Here are just a couple of pictures of some of the gifts we received...Megan handmade a gift for each of us. Mine was a cute snowman decoration.

 

Megan wanted new PJs, so her sisters gave her some hot pink flannel ones with black snowflakes.

 

Brooke really loves the movie West Side Story, so we gave her the 50th anniversary blu-ray edition.

Megan made Brooke some funky Southwestern print PJ pants.

Danika found a "Saved By the Bell" calendar for Brooke. 12 months of 80's hair...the gift that keeps on giving!

Mike had been searching for some new slippers. He found some Sorrels online (he likes to buy his own presents). He loves them so much he bought some for Paul and Troy too. 

Danika loved her plaid flannel shirts.

After presents we went to Church, where we enjoyed a beautiful musical program by the ward choir. It was so nice to celebrate Christmas on the Sabbath. Overall it was a really nice, relaxing day!