Christmas Festivities

On the 23rd, we had the annual Rino (Kevin's Mom's side of the family) Christmas party at the Briggs' house. It was fun and there was good food as always. We had dinner and a white elephant gift exchange.

On the 24th, we went down to Orem for a Christmas eve party at my parent's house. My dad's side of the family was there. There were some delicious soups and other good food. We played a gift exchange game and did the nativity story. I wasn't originally going to be in the nativity, but last minute got put in as Mary. After the nativity, my Grandparents talked for a little bit, and it was really sweet. Then it was home so we could hurry and go to sleep before Santa came!

 Kevin and Ryder as shepherds

 Courtney and Leah as angels

 Me and Trey as Mary and Joseph with Austin as baby Jesus

 Riley was originally going to be Mary, but she really wanted to be a shepherd instead

 Rashell and Payton as a sheep and cow

 Colby, Logan, and Jeremy as the wise men

The whole group

Christmas morning was exciting! Ryder woke up and went out to see that Santa had brought him and big train table! He was so happy, but immediately went right to work playing with it. He was in the "zone" ha ha. It was so fun. After playing with that for a little while and then checking out his stocking, the rest of Kevin's family came down to open presents. It was a nice relaxing morning. We had blueberry cream cheese french toast, which I always look forward to! It's so yummy!

 Christmas morning. A train table!

 Smiley followed by 15 minutes of...

 this intensity and...

 this kind of concentration

 Ryder's stocking stuffers

 Showing Grandma and Grandpa Briggs his new stuff

 After Ryder's nap we went down to Orem to see my family. We opened some gifts, and we definitely got spoiled from both sides of the family! I got a Vitamix blender from both sets of parents and Kevin. We got a brand new stroller for this new baby boy coming. Kevin got some awesome new camping gear. Ryder got lots of fun toys, books, and clothes. Baby boy even received some new baby gear and clothing! We then had an amazing fondue dinner. It was so good. We had meat, and a selection of fruits, veggies and bread to cook in broth and cheese. Then for dessert we had a TON of yummy things to dip in the new chocolate fountain my parents got. It was a lot of fun.

 Down at my parent's house, showing a new church outfit for Ryder

Ryder was a little burnt out on opening gifts at this point. He just wanted to play by the stockings

 A new outfit for baby boy :)

Checking out one of his new books with Aunt Rashell

Ryder and Payton playing on an Ipad

Christmas was so nice and I'm glad we got to spend time with both of our families.

Fun Day with Grandma

Jeannine decided it would be fun to take a day off from work and play with Ryder and I. We went to Gardner Village and looked at the elves on display. We had some yummy lunch and then we each got a treat from the candy shop. After Ryder's nap, he got to decorate a giant gingerbread man with Grandma and then cuddle up and watch a Christmas movie. It was a fun day and I wish I would have remembered to take more pictures!

Grandma's Cookie Bake

Every December, my Grandma Nelson puts on a Grandma's Cookie Bake party for the grand kids/great grand kids. It was getting to be so huge that it was really hard on my Grandma to prepare all of it. This year she did a much smaller party just for the younger grand kids/great grand kids. It was so nice! Not quite as chaotic. Ryder had fun, and who wouldn't have a blast frosting and decorating yummy cookies?!

 Yummy frosting!

 Sprinkles

 Payton

 Ryder and Me

 Ryder's finished cookies

Riley

Playing in the Snow

I decided to get Ryder all bundled up so we could play in the snow. By the time we put everything on, I'm exhausted! Ryder looks like he has doubled in size! Not to mention in this picture he's making a goofy face :)

New Ornaments

Every year at the beginning of December, my parents would give everyone a new Christmas ornament for the Christmas tree. We all got together to open our ornaments, and the grand kids each got new pajamas.

 Ryder checking out his new ornament

 New jammies!

 Yay!

Ryder and Payton are little buddies

Visiting Santa Claus

Ryder was excited to visit Santa this year. We went to Zoo Lights up at Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake and it was a LONG wait to see Santa, but it was so worth it. He was so cute with Ryder. He was asking him about what he wanted, if he was a good helper to Mommy, what animal was his favorite at the zoo. He spent a few minutes with Ryder and it was so sweet. Ryder is so funny, he was so excited but yet, he would not look at Santa's face while they were talking!

 He loved visiting with Santa

You can't hear what they are saying, I just think it's funny how Ryder wont even look at him. 

Cars

Ryder LOVES to make "lines" of cars everywhere. He will spend so long making a line and he is very careful about the placement of each one and the spacing between each car.

This particular time, he lined up a bunch of cars on the edge of the pool table

This was a pretty cool design he made with his cars

Oh Christmas Tree!

Ryder got to have his own Christmas tree in his room this year. It was just about the same height as him and he loved it! 

Temple Square

We went on our annual visit to see the Christmas lights at Temple Square a few days after Thanksgiving this year. We went and got sandwiches for dinner and then bundled up and took Trax up to Salt Lake. Ryder loved riding on Trax! It took longer than if we would have just driven, but it was fun! 

Cousin Austin

While we were visiting my family, we got to love on baby Austin a little bit. He's so cute and he makes me so excited for our little guy to come!

 Ryder holding Austin for the first time

 Giving kisses

Can't wait to see him holding our little guy!