Family Christmas Parties

Apparently I was having too much fun visiting and enjoying the parties at the family Christmas parties we went to in Utah to pause to take many photos.

At least I did get this adorable one of Cooper (2) and Natalie (4?)

 Coop LOVED riding the horse at Aunt Elise's house.

But nothing topped seeing the REAL horses in her backyard!

 A non-Christensen family member told me my daughter was adorable.  I would have loved to take credit for this cutie pie!

Nothing says family fun than a good ol' game of hearts with the girls!

 SO glad our Mower cousins came down for a visit!!  Aaron and Tonee left before it was picture time.  Here are all the "original" cousins, minus Aaron, doing the traditional pose in front of the fireplace mantle at Mom's house.

L to R: Jayson, Chrystal, Shelisa, Camyll, Chelsey, Austin and Cassady

My how we've grown! 

I'm sad I didn't get any pictures of Cooper playing with his cousins, Keslee (4), Jaden (2-3/4), and Calvin (2-3/4) that night.  He had a blast playing with kids his age.  They were all so cute together!

Yay for parties with extended family we rarely get to see!

Dinosaurs! Thanksgiving Point Museum of Ancient Life

The day after Christmas we decided to do something fun as a family, and chose the Museum of Ancient Life at Thanksgiving Point.  Cooper was very interested in the physics room.

We played with this mushroom cloud maker for awhile.

Cooper thought it was really cool.

 Steering wheels!!! (one of Cooper's FAVORITE things) 

 He got to build his own dinosaur, and feel what it was like to be a caveman in a cave.

 The BEST part was the water table with water, sand, AND dinosaurs!

 What's that, Mom?  No splashing?  Watch this! 

 Hmmmm...yep, I think I'm cute.

 Yep, definitely cute.

 SHARRRRRK!!!

Cooper has a pop-up book about a shark, which he insists on reading nearly every night for bed, so he was really excited to see this big shark exhibit.

 Not so excited about taking a picture with Mom.

 I tried to take a picture of the Brontosaurus skeleton.  It was HUGE!!

  Coop was more interested in running up and down the ramp...

...but he sure had fun at the museum with Dad, Mom, Chelsey and Cassady!

Christmas Morning 2011

Christmas morning at Mom and Dad's house wouldn't be complete without reading Luke 2 together once everyone is awake, and then lining up on the stairs, youngest to oldest before going to see what Santa brought.  Cooper was excited, as was Cassady.  Chelsey and Stettsen had been up all night with his family, and were barely coherent.  I was FINALLY able to dodge being included on the stairs, declaring myself no longer a child, since I have on of my own.

Santa brought Cooper lots of great loot since he was such a good boy this year.  He instantly got to playing with the duplo legos.

Stettsen tried to explain to Coop what a sit and spin is.  Once we put it together, he LOVED it!

Ah the chaos of wrapping paper, lots of people, and lots of presents...

Had to snap a portrait of me and Nate.

Nate was eager to model his gifts.

One of my favorite parts of Christmas is all the great little stuff in my stocking!

Nate was excited about this one...what could it be?

"Poopourri" from Mom!  His wife was thankful for this little bathroom addition. ;)

Cassady was EXCITED about getting a new camera to explore her photography talents.

And she looked adorable in her new beret.

Cooper and Papa checked out some toys.

Chelsey and Stettsen were thankful for eachother...awwww....

Mom modeled her new clock.

I've never seen Dad so excited about home decor!  "Life is good," as Dad always says.

Pretty soon Jayson and Anna joined us.  Cooper was excited to show them all his new stuff.

Anna and Aspen modeled some of the scarves I made all the girls.

Tyler was SO EXCITED to show us his new remote control helicopter.

Alex got one too.  But I think Jayson (their Dad) was more excited to play with them than they were!

Alex was excited to give Grandpa a special gift he'd worked on.

It took Dad a minute to realize what it was, but then he really liked this thoughtful gift-- a model Mach One!  The exact car Dad had back in the 70s.  They also gave him a framed picture of him with his car, one of the only photos he has of this awesome car.

Pretty soon baby Jaisie and Camyll joined us.  Can you find the baby in all that wrapping?

Can't get over this cute picture of mommy and baby.  They have the same eyes.  Too cute!

Calvin didn't get to come over that day because he was too sick, but Cooper enjoyed being with baby Jaisie.

It was a WONDERFUL Christmas Day full of family and lots of memories.

Christmas Eve 2011

Christmas Eve day we went bowling as a family.  It was Cooper's first time, and he thought the shoes were pretty neat.  We had such a good time!  Dad showed us all that his bowling class in college still paid off, and took first place.  Can't remember if Mom or Jayson took second.  Nate came in third.

 Here's the little man watching his ball.  With a little help from this "high tech" bowling stand, and some awesomely high tech bumpers, Coop bowled something like a 45.  Go Coop!

 No visit to Jack & Jill's Bowling Alley would be complete without an order of those yummy greasy fries with a side of FRY SAUCE.  Another first for Cooper, he decided he liked fry sauce enough to just use his finger.  Who needs fries?

We were sure to include Bryt in our celebration of the day, being his birthday, even if just by phone.  Here's Jayson talking to Bryt on the phone whilst bowling.  I don't know why it struck me so funny.  And Jayson can be thankful that I used this shot and not any of the bending over bowling shots. ;o)

Christmas Eve wouldn't be complete without a new pair of pajamas!  Tyler, Cooper and Aspen were ready to celebrate in theirs.

 Then it was crash time; two tired boys ready to go to bed so Santa could visit.