Christmas 2025

Christmas was great!  Christmas Eve was full of all the usual traditions that make it my most favorite holiday of the year.  We had a really good dinner that I probably slaved away at but now I can't even remember what we ate.  We went Christmas caroling and had a talent show that was very low on talent but high on entertainment.  We talked about the Savior and it just felt good.  Our family is getting older and being all together is happening less and less, which is okay.  But it sure makes it special when we are together.  We are on the brink of big changes in our family with possible weddings coming (or not) and more missions being served.  Heck, I could be a Grandma in a few years!  So I'm soaking it all in and enjoying what we have, knowing that things are going to get crazier, our family could get bigger, or shrink with missionaries, but I'm here for it all.  

Marcus invited his girlfriend, Audrey, to come for a week so we could meet her.  They had fun exploring Seattle together and her eyes were opened wide to what life looks like living in a house with five boys.  She handled it great!

More Seattle sights

The (un)Talent Show 2025

Ethan and Parker had some good moves

Landon broke an apple in half with his bare hands

Marcus ate a Big Mac in seconds (how is that a talent?)

And Henry giggled his way through a piano solo

Matching jammies and hoodies

Henry got a new bike and a giant panda.  Henry has been obsessed with pandas for two years.  His favorite colors were black and white and he has a whole shelf in his bedroom dedicated to random panda paraphernalia.  About a week before Christmas he declared he no longer likes pandas but Santa decided to ignore him and gave him a giant panda anyway.  The giant panda has now become a landing zone for Henry as he jumps from the top of the stairs to the floor below.  So far he has sustained only one mild injury.  

While Randy napped and I packed and prepped food for another Whistler trip, the boys played football in the front yard, blasting music and looking festive in their matching pajamas that I actually really like.  And they love their Nike hoodies.

I'm glad my boys don't think eating Christmas dinner at McDonald's is depressing like I do.

Henry is less than excited to be my ski buddy

We miraculously got the huge hot tub to ourselves and wished Ethan had joined us but he stayed back home with his injured leg.  We made and epic whirlpool in this hot tub!

The treehouse was finally open so Henry and I got to play on it for awhile.

You know you've got a good brother when he will warm your hands while you ride the gondola after a long day of skiing.

Settlers of Cataan is the new favorite game to play.  Henry even learned how to play and has won a couple times.  

Merry Christmas!