Christmas

 This was Ryder's second Christmas and it was a lot of fun!  He wakes up early, usually around 5:30 or 6 so we went out to see what Santa had brought.  He got a big ride-on tractor and he immediately loved it!  Santa also brought another truck with some blocks inside, a "Choo-choo" shirt, and some storybooks on DVD.  He also got a lot of cars and trucks in his stocking.  We didn't have a lot of time to play because we had to get ready for 9 AM church.  Ryder had a really hard time during church, probably because of the excitement from the morning.  After church, we went home and opened presents with Kevin's family.  I was really excited to get a Kitchenaide Mixer this year from Kevin and Chad and Jeannine.  I have wanted one since we first got married.  It is a really pretty color called silver cocoa. I love it and can't wait to start using it! Ryder got a lot of clothes, and some books, and movies (Cars 2, and Mater's Tall Tales, both really big hits!)  Every time he opened a present that he wanted to play with right then, he would spaz out wanting to open the package NOW!  We couldn't move fast enough for him!

 Tractor from Santa!

 More things from Santa

 Ryder playing with his new Mater toy he got in his stocking.  Ryder has a SERIOUS Mater obsession right now.  If you don't know, Mater is a funny tow truck from the movie Cars.  Ryder always wants to watch "Nay-na" (which is how he says Mater)

 Kevin's stack of gifts

 Ryder opening a book from Grandma and Grandpa Briggs

 Reading his new book with Grandma

 Dave and Brianna gave Ryder a plastic, bouncy ball and he loved it!  He was throwing it and kicking it.  He mostly loves to sit on it and try to balance on it in different ways.  These two pictures show how he kept straddling the ball and balancing like that.  He was very entertaining to watch!

 This was a big truck set from Dave and Brianna and Grandma and Grandpa Briggs.  Once Ryder got the wrapping paper off, he pretty much went ballistic waiting for us to get the trucks out of the package.

After opening presents, we got to talk to Kevin's brother, Casey, in Georgia through Skype.  He comes home from his mission in June and so he only has about 5 months left!  He looked and sounded really good!  He got to see Ryder who has definitely changed a LOT since Casey left.  Ryder was only about 2 weeks old!  After talking to Casey, we had the Briggs' traditional blueberry cream cheese Christmas morning casserole. It was delicious!  

After eating and Ryder's nap, we headed down to Orem for round two.  I felt bad that my family had waited to open presents until we got there.  We didn't get down there until around 4!  It was fun being with everyone and seeing what everyone got.  Ryder got a bunch of books, clothes, and more cars.  He also got some Thomas things from my parents.  A really fun present my parents gave him is a wiggle car.  We haven't put it together yet, but when we do, he is going to love it! 

At one point, my mom opened up a present from my Dad that choked her up and made her so emotional, she couldn't say anything for several minutes.  It was her original wedding ring with a new diamond set in.  The original diamond fell out years and years ago and so there was a CZ in there since then.  It looked beautiful and obviously meant a great deal to my mom.  Chantelle and Rashell even got teary eyed watching my mom's reaction.  I'm so thankful for my parents and their example of an awesome marriage!

 Ryder's new car that plays music from Colby and Rashell.

 

Ryder wearing his new shirt from Santa

After opening gifts, we had dinner.  My family always does a yummy fondue dinner on Christmas.  It was so good this year!  There were two cheese pots, an oil pot, and a broth pot.  The dipping choices were steak, french bread, sour dough bread, sweet potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, and apples.  For dessert, we had chocolate fondue with strawberries, pineapple, grapes, cake, mint oreos, and brownie bites to dip. Makes my mouth water just remembering how good it was!

There were a couple things we did during December that I didn't get any pictures of.  One was my Grandma Nelson's annual Grandma's Cookie Bake.  It was amazing and so much fun as always!  The other thing was Kevin's Grandma and Grandpa Rino's 23rd of December party. There was good food, a cute nativity play, and a fun gift exchange.