A Most Wonderful Idaho Christmas!

This was a fabulous Christmas for us. On the 24th, early in the morning, Jon, Bonnie and Ella drove with us to Idaho. We spent that evening at Angie's house which was very warm and cozy. We played games, ate, talked, ate, did a gift exchange where everyone wanted the Brittney Spears CD, and ate some more. As it our tradition, I passed out the packages containing matching pajamas for everyone.

Dad, as usual, did a family home evening presentation and read the Christmas story from Luke. We had our own two little angels to help add to the Christmas spirit. The whole time it was snowing outside and made for the perfect Christmas Eve. At the end of the evening they all had Jim and I close our eyes and when we opened them, there was the most beautiful, perfect adorable picture of all our children, their spouses and our granddaughters! Of course I cried and cried! Jon and Bonnie had had to travel to Idaho especially to have the picture taken, which was no easy thing during finals. I so appreciated the sacrifice that went into getting the picture. I absolutely love it!! (See below)

Christmas Day we all congregated at Aaron and Kelly's house. Kelly had the house decorated beautifully and she also had a wonderful breakfast waiting. We spent the morning opening presents, seeing what Santa brought everyone and watching Malia and Ella have a wonderful time with all their new toys. (Of course it wouldn't be Christmas without Chevy Chase's Christmas Vacation....)

Kelly fixed a lovely turkey dinner that was fabulous and Jim and Steve took over the clean-up duties with everyone else pitching ing. Afterwards we played a couple of games and a few people took naps. (Party poopers!) Then it was time to call it a day. Jim and I had a fabulous time. The ride home the next day, however, was horrible! The roads were icy and snowpacked. It took us 8 hours to make a five hour drive!. Today, we are washing laundry, getting tires on the car, taking care of dogs and cats and leaving for California!