Christmas celebrations

We started off the holiday celebrations with Ben's work party at Wadley Farms. So much fun! Great food, fun ugly sweaters and a crazy white elephant party.  I just can't compete with his ugly sweater, so I didn't try.

Claire's preschool Christmas program was so cute. She sang and smiled her heart out. 

Love our Nativity. Complete with a star!

Breakfast at iHop.

We went to City Creek on Saturday the 21st and luckily got in line before anyone else was there! Once we were finished and getting some food, the line was a mile long out in the cold. We were lucky. Alex was totally content on Santa's lap and Claire wouldn't get near him :( Better luck next year. 

That evening was the Kendell side party. Great job planning, Aunt Cathy! Yummy homemade Cafe Rio followed by a bunch of fun games. My grandma is always the life of the party, participating in every game, including getting bonked on the head by a newspaper, having jello dropped into her mouth, and piggy back rides! 

Monday night was the Johansen Christmas get-together at Temple Square this year. We ate at J&B's and walked around to see the lights (along with everyone else in Utah). It was fun!

My cute Christmas kiddos.

Christmas Eve morning we made our famous gingerbread houses.

Mine was a trailer. I love it.

Ben's was a snowman Nativity:

Anna's was intense and amazing!

That evening we went to Ben's mom's house for dinner, opening presents and fun with pipe cleaner:) Videos from my phone soon...

Christmas morning we were going to Skype with James back at our own house via conference call, but I got a bad feeling and nervous that we'd miss it... so we stayed and talked to him with everyone. It was SO. MUCH. FUN. Miss and love that kid.

Saturday after Christmas, Jon and Jaclyn flew in and we celebrated with them.  Celebrated a NEW BABY!!! YAY! So happy for Jon and Jac.

Then we had a blast sledding.

We came home to a leaking fridge, causing the downstairs ceiling to leak from every light. Bummer. Welcome to home ownership.

But that's okay. All is well. We had a great time for the holidays. New Years was spent at our house (I wasn't feeling well) and reading in bed and lights out by 10pm! PARTY ANIMALS!