Last weekend, we enjoyed going up to Grandma and Grandpa's for the annual Broadhead Christmas experience.  Mom had completed the obscenely time-consuming task of baking cookies to spell out each child's name.  I'm sure Christopher was thankful for his name and Ava was cursing hers!  The kids all iced their cookies and decorated them with sprinkles.  After a few minutes, Kimball said, "I don't want to eat any more.  My tummy is starting to hurt."  I asked him if he had already eaten all of his cookies, and he replied, "Not ALL of them!"  I looked down at his plate to see one "L" remaining. :)

Connor would ice one, then promptly eat it.




Alaina was in heaven.  Grandma had managed to blend her two favorite things - sweets and crafts - into one fun activity.




It is really starting to freak me out that Marshall looks more like a little boy now than a baby. :(  Time flies too fast.




We decorated our individual family Christmas trees.  Be still, my heart.




Alaina thinks I look silly here, but let's face it, I was pretty dang cute.




This Santa toy has enthralled my kids for four years!  They STILL love it!




Long after everyone else had finished their cookies, Alaina was still working on perfecting hers.




Each cookie had to have a bit of every color of frosting, and a smattering of each sprinkle pattern.




Looks like her nose must have had a tickle!










I think Wes has dubbed himself "officially too old for this".




Grandma passed out our annual Christmas story, which is currently residing in my newly-sewn Christmas book bags.  I'm proud of myself to have actually done something crafty, but perhaps not so proud that I left them at Janet's house for her to finish.  Thanks, Janet!  We couldn't have done it without you!!  Grandma and Grandpa also gave the kids each a tin containing ornaments that hook together to spell the kids' names.  Connor and Alaina had been asking to have their own ornaments and ornament boxes, so these couldn't have come at a better time!










On to the nativity!  The three wise men.




Joseph




Mary




In this picture, I can't tell if we're reenacting a Bible story or something more sinister! :)







Award-winning photo faces here, kids!




Last night, I had the grandiose idea to take the family out to dinner at my work for what will probably be the last time, then walk over to temple square to see the lights.  I just typed out a long paragraph about the night in detail, how my kids are apparently not old enough at four and five to walk around for ten minutes, but I deleted it, and we'll just leave it at that.  We walked onto the square, took one picture, then left.  At least we tried.




Always the thrill-seeker, Alaina will make her own fun where there is none.  She pulled her hat down over her eyes and stumbled around her newly-made obstacle course with the help of Daddy's hand.




I'm already started to get nostalgic about working at City Creek, and I still have a minimum of 4.5 months!




About 50 yards from Regent Street parking, Connor's legs somehow stopped working.  Anthony thought he'd just pop him on his shoulders like the old days, but I think what this picture is saying is that Connor doesn't weigh 25 pounds anymore!




As we were buckling our two kids into their seats, Anthony and I were laughing at how we thought the night would go - relaxing dinner, followed by the kids full of wonder at the lights and Christmas spirit - and the reality of it.  Sometimes I really wonder how my parents did it with five kids!