Candles

We spent the day in Snowflake to visit more with family while they are here.  We had a buys fun-filled day that ended with candle making.  The kids picked the mold they wanted to shape their candle as well as the color and scent.

Christmas day

We had an awesome Christmas!  Devin was able to be with us the entire day this year!  The kids always enjoy fishing for their presents.  The best part about it is that they get a few min one-on-one with Grandpa Porter.

We spent most of the day in Snowflake, playing games etc with the family.  Maria and Jordan and their family were the only ones we missed at Christmas this year.  They stayed in California this year rather than traveling with 4 month old Lewis.  Brindi and Ariel were the only family missing from the Porter side this year.  It is always fun to be near so much family!

Christmas Morning

The kids lining up in order of age to come into the living room, also known as the calm before the storm.  There was a lot of excitement and energy in the air!  

We enjoyed a quick Christmas morning together before getting ready for church.  It was great having Devin with us on Christmas Day this year!!  He makes that beanie look good!

Christmas Eve

Devin's younger sister, Olivia, has been in Phoenix Children's hospital in the valley for the past few days.  We all met at my in-laws anyway for the traditional soup and bread dinner and nativity.  Heather and Aaron's family is here for Christmas, only Brindi's family will be missing this year.  We were all ready to do the nativity when Laron suggested we sing a song.  Then another song.  Since he was obviously stalling the nativity, the kids were dressed and in position and it was already late, we suspected that my in-laws and Olivia were coming home.  The roads were really snowy and icy so it took them longer than they had anticipated to get home.  Sure enough, they came through the front doors to a a glorious sight of the whole family gathered in the living room with the kids dressed and ready for the Nativity.  We had at least 8 beautiful girls dressed in white to represent angels on the balcony and the shepherds, wisemen, Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus below with numerous animals.  Olivia needs to wear a mask to protect her from breathing in germs etc (especially with so many people around), but she is so happy to be home!

Christmas is on a Sunday this year so we let the kids open one present on Christmas Eve.  New Sunday clothes for everyone!  The boys were in great need of new suits and of course the girls are always happy to get a new dress.

christmas concert

The kids were asked to sing as part of the high school Christmas concert.  Kardon, Kindsey and Kaddie sang in the small youth group and Kenton sang a solo.  They did a great job!

Afterward the kids got to visit with Santa.

Christmas tree cutting

 We finally had an opportunity to cut a Christmas tree today so we took advantage and went into the woods.  The tree had grown a large branch out the side about 18 inches up from where we cut it.  It looks like it is two separate trees but it only has one trunk at the base.  It makes the tree more full and we love it!  We all took turns chopping it down.  Of course there was a snowball fight as well, that has also become a tradition of tree cutting.  It was a really fun day!  We have a ward Christmas party tonight so we'll have to decorate the tree in shifts. 

 These are the cupcakes we took to the ward Christmas Party.  We had fun making them look like Santa hats.

 The kids took some of the branches that Devin had to trim off the tree into their room and decorated them.   Each of he kids had decorated their own.  We put lights up in their windows and called it a night.