Dear MOM,

I know what your thinking.. "I should just go in there and edit some words and add the PJ picture!" well STOP! If you edit one more thing on CHRISTMAS 2008 I will.. not sure what I will do but you wont like it :) so please move on and quit reading the same post over and over and thinking of things to add.. also when you publish this into a book.. all the little writing you have between your pictures totally gets misplaced.. it's almost pointless to write in between the pictures because once again it will have to be edited in the book.. so don't click edit!

Sincerely,

Jessica

(your editor)

Christmas 2008

Ok already I know! j/k...... I have been a major slacker when it comes to this blog! I was surprised to find out that there are some who have not given up on me, and they continue to check into see if there has been an update...LOL... Thanks for your patience!! Here goes~Christmas 2008 was great!Christmas is the favored holiday in our family. We have some fun traditions, and everyone looks forward to them... some, we have been doing for years, others, we have just started in the past couple of years.We always have matching pajama's.. this year we had "pink" for the girls and "blue" for the guys. This is a tradition that I grew up with and looked forward to every year. Now, my children and their children look forward to it as well.We have to give Randi the credit for this years pick... I think she did a great job. Thanks Ran, you are always willing to go out and fight the crowds (and we know how much you detest shopping) to find us whatever it is that we are looking for... you have saved us so many time... we really appreciate it!... and we can't forget Aaron when it comes to shopping as well.. (lthough he enjoys it much more than Randi !!) He is always on the phone with one of us, searching the malls or the internet for the best deal... We really appreciate you both!!

The Host of the Game... money in hand... just waiting to hear

the correct answer so he can shell it out... He loves it!!

This is a fairly new tradition: Robert decided he wanted to incorporate something new into our Christmas celebration. Every year he picks a movie and gives each family a copy. They are to watch it all through the Christmas season, as many times as they want, so that they will be ready on Christmas Eve to answer questions that he has prepared for them. Each family is a team... Robert will ask a question pertaining to the movie... the one with the correct answer gets the money... the harder the question, the more money it is worth.I think that the best part of this game, (and the master plan behind it) is to watch the families preparing for the "Big Night". This requires them spending time together, watching and reviewing the movie. It requires Communication!! What a novel idea... good job, honey!! This year, the movie was a little different than in years past. He picked "The Gift"... it was a little harder to watch over and over... as opposed to Santa Claus 2, which was last years pick. But the message in this movie is so priceless... I think that they all got something out of it... we hope!

This is the standard pose that we get from Brooksby, whenever we point the camera in his direction.... isn't he sweet! :) lol

GINGER BREAD HOUSES!

We have made decorating ginger bread houses an annual event.. this year it was hosted by Aunt Jamie.. Thanks Jamie!

We really enjoy going to see what Santa brought the kids on Christmas morning. We start at the Stafford's, because they get up earlier... actually, I'm not sure that they ever go to sleep!

Stafford Christmas...

Nana & Papa Stafford

EVANS CHRISTMAS..

Trey was so cute... he just loved his bear!!!

Trey was so excited when he saw his basketball hoop!

KIT AND JAMIE..

MIKE AND JESS..

After we have made the rounds to see what Santa brought.. we meet at our house for breakfast. Grandma and Grandpa Evans always come down Christmas day. This year they were here bright and early for breakfast! We really enjoy them, it is so much fun to have them come each Christmas... they have not missed one Christmas, except for when they were on their missions. They are real troopers, they not only come to St. George, but they make the rounds to Derk and Kori's in Cedar. Kathy and Russ in Enoch. Don and Kathryn in Minnersville. Kellie in Lindon. And Rick and April who are in Idaho... Thanks Grandma and Grandpa! We love you!

OPENING PRESENTS FROM GRANDMA AND GRANDPA..

The crazy hat that Branson is wearing... is an invention of Great Grandma Evans. The guys just love these hats!!! She gets requests for them all the time. I have a funny story about the "hat".When Grandma and Grandpa were in the motorcycle accident in Kanab last year. I stayed at the St. George hospital with Grandma, while Robert went to Kanab to pick Grandpa up. When Grandpa walked into the hospital...I thought that, that was his hair that was standing straight up... I didn't know that it was a hat...LOL

The Eudis' arrived here on Christmas Evening at about 6:00.. We were so excited to see them. We opened gifts, ate dinner, and played the "highly anticipated game!" (when money is involved they get pretty anxious:) Here are some pictures with the "whole" family in the Christmas PJ's.

Taya decorated a ginerbread house at home with her Mom and Dad... so Jamie decided that it would be fun to decorate gingerbread men.... they had a great time.. as you can see! Taya loves to do anything crafty :)