4th Week of December, up until Christmas

We had some fun adventure this year leading up to Christmas, spending time together.  Here are some highlights.

Elf taking a ride in Nyles' airplane.

Sunday we had our Jerusalem dinner at Melanie/Brandon's house in Midway.  This is where we mostly eat food from the time of Jesus, sit on the floor and think of Him.  Then we turn off the lights and each person is given a candle.  As we bear our testimonies we get to light it (or turn it on if battery operated).  As we all continue to bear our testimonies the room gets brighter and brighter.

The 1st "Jerusalem dinner" the family held back in 1999 (20 years ago).

Left to Right: Melanie, Jeff, Carrie, Dave, Joann, Stacie, Steve and Brandon.

Monday we played around outside.  Carter saw a bug as he was going down the slide and stopped!
Nyles was kind enough to move it so he could continue down the slide :)

The boys pretending to be "baby lions" on the trampoline.

Nyles made a Santa beard, so Carter sat on his lap and told him what he wanted for Christmas.

 The boys playing the matching game. 

 Carter later snuggling in a blanket while playing..

That night we met up w/ cousins to go around "This is the Place."

Getting an ice cream before heading over.

Nyles, Conor, Carter, London and Dave at "This is the Place" for their Christmas celebration.

Lynsie and Carter writing a letter to Santa.

Carolers (the lady third from the left is in Dave's single ward).

Listening to Scrooge tell the kids his story.

Making candles.

Lynsie, Nyles and Conor making their candles.

Steve and Carrie making one too.

Pretty tree.

We then took a break to have hot chocolate and donuts that Dave brought.  Thanks Dave!

Luckily it wasn't too cold as we were walking around.

Carter, Nyles and Conor being silly waiting for the train to come.  

Then over to decorate an ornament.

Lastly to see Santa.  The kids putting their names on "The List."

London, Carter, Lynsie, Nyles and Conor w/ Santa.

Nyles telling Santa what he wants.

Coloring their ornaments some more the next day.

On Tuesday, Christmas Eve, we went to see Santa again at Cabela's.

Carter and Nyles w/ Santa.

Then they got to decorate a plate AND frost a sugar cookie!

They also got a cute stuffed reindeer animal.

Dave and Joann came over for dinner (enchiladas), then we read the shortened version of the Christmas Story.  Afterwards the boys got to open up a gift. 

 They got pajamas and a blanket/sleeping bag.

They both changed into their PJs pretty quickly and got in their blanket/sleeping bag.

Nyles got polar bear PJs and Carter got dinosaur ones.  Nyles was especially happy about his robe that came w/ it.  Nyles blanket has dinos on it and Carter's has Paw Patrol.  You can also see our candles we made at "This is the Place" the night before, burning on the table.

The boys were pretty pumped up for Christmas the next day.  After playing w/ Grandma and Grandpa for a bit, they went to bed excited for Christmas morning!  The boys kept looking to see if they could see Santa and his sleigh coming.