Christmas Time

 Christmas is lights, music, parties, concerts, and food - all to celebrate the birth of the Savior. We had a real Christmas tree this year - the first one since 1997.  We bought it from the youth fundraiser in our ward. It was a really pretty tree.

We had a ward party outside. Although lots of people grumbled about how it would be too cold and that the older people wouldn't come, but the party was a complete success. It was a beautiful, starry night with no wind. There were wagon rides, a fire, games, a movie, and a dance outside. Inside the Leavitt community building there was board games, doughnuts & hot chocolate. Tons of people came. Santa Claus rode in on a sleigh. Carly was a little disappointed that she didn't see the reindeer, but horses pulling the sleigh was pretty cool too.

The girls slept next to the tree for two nights.

We went to Rod & Sarah's house in Taber for Christmas Eve. We had a delicious dinner and a program. Our little family sang "The First Noel" a capella in a round. We practiced a couple times in the car on the way. We were amazing, of course.  Carly played "Jingle Bells" on her violin, and Taylor played the piano for her. For the Nativity, we all drew a paper with one of the characters of the nativity, and we stood in our place as Austin told us what it might have been like to be in that role. 

Christmas morning was awesome - even though we had a few online shipping troubles. Next year I will open the packages I order the day I get them instead of trusting that what I ordered was inside the box.  The girls got new suitcases for our trip to Disneyland this year. Lucy and Carly got Generation Dolls (even though Santa forgot to put Carly's doll in his bag and it showed up on our doorstep a few days later).  I love all of the thoughtful gifts that are given to sisters, parents, cousins, etc. Hanna got a new ipod. Jill got a quilt that we had a very kind lady in our ward, Char Olsen, make for her. I tied it, but she had already sewed it and then she bound it. 

Lucy got this super cute new dress from her cousin, Ella.

Hanna is a very thoughtful gift giver. She ordered these vinyl letters with the meaning of Nunn. Austin actually teared up when he opened it. We love this saying and hope to live up to our name.

The Lees came to Cardston on Christmas afternoon.  Grandpa took us on a very fun, but maybe a bit too long, wagon ride. It was cold. By the end we couldn't feel our hands or toes.  But then we warmed right up with a delicious dinner.

Merry Christmas!!!