New Christmas Traditions

We've tried a few new things this year and we've been having lots of fun! We had some friends over to act out the nativity. We dressed up the kids in whatever we could find and read Luke 2 as they listened for their part and gathered around the "baby Jesus". It turned out really cute and very fun. Max was a shepherd complete with jedi robe and golf club staff! How do you like our other shepherd with his light saber (Charlie) and the rifle wielding wise man (Jake)?

We also went christmas caroling with a couple other families in our ward and that was really fun too. Even though we're not that big on singing, we wanted to try it and we had a great time!

The other fun thing we've been doing (and hope that it becomes a holiday tradition) is having lots of visitors! Grandma and Grandpa Mano came last week, Taryn and her friends came for the BYU game and Grandma and Grandpa Woolf just got here to spend Christmas with us! The kids are in heaven!

The Santa Train

We took the kids on the Santa Train in Boulder City. It was a short ride, but Santa and Mrs. Claus came through and talked to everyone. It was fun. Max enjoyed talking with Santa (although he's getting a little concerned that there are so many different Santas) and the girls still would rather not get too close!

Holiday Fun!

Since this is our first Christmas to be spent in our own home EVER (well, since we were married 8 years ago), we have been trying to take advantage of all the holiday activities we can and also start some of our own traditions.

We went to Town Square twice, once to see Santa and once with Grandma and Grandpa Mano to see the "Snow" (which was actually more like bubbles).

We had a playgroup at the Bass Pro Shops where the kids always have fun and they have a whole section set up as Santa's Wonderland.

This picture was taken right after we set up our tree and long before the broken leg.

Broken Leg...

Well, we have our first broken bone! I'm not that surprised that it was one of the girls, because they really NEVER sit still! Ellie broke her leg on monday morning. We were at Joann's (just another excuse for Neil to refuse to go there!) and of course the girls weren't IN the cart. I was looking at fabric, Payton was on one side of me and Ellie was on the other. Apparently she stepped up onto the side of the cart and then when I heard the crash and looked down, she was burried underneath it up to her chin. Here is the picture of her temporary cast, we'll go to get her real cast put on tomorrow. And as you can see, she is much happier now than when it first happened. She was such a sad little girl! She has small cracks in both her bones, just above the ankle. Yes, they always say that those carts are dangerous...now we know!

Happy Birthday Payton and Ellie!

The girls turned two on the day before Thanksgiving. We were in Utah, so were treated to a Mano Family birthday party and lots of fun with cousins!

Payton

Ellie