Max on Christmas Eve and Morning (2007)

Max opened up his Christmas Eve Pajamas and slippers. He was excited to put them on. They have little penguins that are skiing. We called Grandmama and Buddy, but of course, Max was in his typical "grumphus" mood. We finally got him to fall asleep. Here are some pictures of Max in his pajamas.

On Christmas morning, Mommy woke up Max to change his diaper. He was not happy to wake up. Even when Mommy told him that Santa Clause came he wanted to go back to sleep. But Mommy and Daddy finally convinced him to brush his teeth and come out into the living room. Mommy grabbed the video camera to videotape Max coming out of the room and to capture his expression. But as soon as he say the camera, he got grumpy and ran back into the room. He finally came out.

I think Max's Christmas theme was "autos". He got a pop-up school bus from Aunt Sonia Lynn (Sonalynn - as he calls her). He got a tricycle and a dump truck from Santa Claus along with 2 cars and a racing track from Mommy and Daddy. He got two more church books and a spongy ball - not to mention the chocolates and the orange in his stocking. View the video for the events on Christmas Eve and Morning. (We are still trying to figure out how to post the video - stay tuned.)

Christmas Morning 2007

This Christmas wasn't quite the same without Granmama and Buddy. But we managed to have a little fun keeping with the traditions. On Christmas Eve, we went to dinner at a Chinese restaurant near Jessie and Bryan's. Before we went to their house, I was talking to Jessica on the phone and she had to tell Sydney to stop. It turns out she was hitting Jaxson with her new little purse that her Grandma gave her for Christmas. Jessica laughed because she looked like one of those old ladies who hits people with their purse in the movies.

While we were still eating, snow (well more like sleet) began coming down. The drive home was taken a little more slowly.

When we got home we quickly wrapped our new PJs to keep with the Christmas Eve tradition. Then we gathered around the tree with our newly wrapped gifts. We opened them first and then Dee read from Luke 2. Our RS Pres. had recommended that we share our testimony of the Savior with our family, so we all went around and shared.

You can see some of the results of the storm we had last night (plus some from an earlier storm). So we definitely had a white Christmas this year. Here are some pictures we took outside this morning. If you look closely, you can see the deer tracks.

Not only did this storm bring snow, but it brought lots of wind, so the snow drifts all around the neighborhood are unlike any we've seen. The wind was so strong that it brought the snow all the way to our front door. And you can see it on the wreath on the door also. Even the corners of the windows had a collection of snow on it that it looked like what Mom used to do in California with the cans of snow spray--I had to laugh about that.

Sonia Lynn

Christmas 2007

It's been an interesting Christmas season this year. With Mom and Dad in the mission field, Christmas doesn't have the same magical warmth, but it's helping us to focus on the true meaning.

Gina and Sonia Lynn went to the Glenn Beck Christmas show this year in SLC. They sat on the second row and enjoyed every minute (well almost every minute...Gina got stuck next to people who weren't that thrilled to be there when Glenn shared his conversion story).

We decorated Mom's and Dad's house early this year because Sonia Lynn was responsible for a Single Adult Christmas party, so the day after Thanksgiving found most everything done.

We're going to keep the Christmas Eve dinner tradition alive this year by dining at Hunan's Chinese restaurant. Then Jessica and Bryan are having us over for Christmas dinner. We're keeping with the Mexican food theme, but we're not having tamales--we'll save that for when Mom and Dad are home.

Sonia Lynn is actually all done with her shopping and wrapping. But I'm sure something will come up that will require a last minute trip to the store on Monday.

Well, we hope all are enjoying the season. May we each stay focused on the sacrifice of the baby born in a manger so many years ago and do all we can to receive His gift.

[Sonia Lynn]