Christmas Week

We just had a wonderful week filled with Christmas activities and there was no better way to start off the week than with a bucket full of snow!!!

On Tuesday, Jason and I spent some time wrapping our last few gifts and I couldn't help but post the difference between a man's way of wrapping and a woman's way of wrapping. You decide which one's you think were wrapped by who? (I posted these pictures with Jason's permission, of course - he he :))

On Christmas Eve, we always go to two different parties. The first party was at my Grandma Hall's house.

And the second party was at Jason's Uncle Dan's house.

Landon and this little cutie were so darling together

. . . she couldn't get enough of Landon

and I thought it was so cute.

Christmas morning we read the Christmas story with all the children in our bedroom, then we let them come out to the living room to see if Santa came. (This is the pure payoff for Mom!!!!! And I'm so thankful that the children were so gracious!!!!!)

Landon

Amber

Brianna

Corbyn

Kelsea

At 10:30 a.m., we went to Christmas Brunch at Jason's parent's house and like always, his mom went ALL out!!

This year, Jason's mom made quilts for all of her grandchildren and they were amazing!!

We always decorate Christmas trains

At 4:00 p.m., we went to my mom's house for Christmas Dinner and it was so much fun playing games and being with the fam'!!

(Grandma Hall, Amber, and Corbyn)

The day after Christmas, our next door neighbors invited us to go sledding and we had a great time (I am embarrassed to admit that with five children of our own, we still do not own sleds - we are so lame - thanks Tal, for letting us borrow yours).

Brianna

Corbyn

Kelsea, Kelsie D., and Emily D.

December 27th, we went to the Annual Larson Family Christmas party in Cottonwood Heights and we had a blast!

Aubrey, Landon, and Kelsea

Brianna and Ashlyn

Me and my sisters (and niece too)

Grandma and Grandpa Darrington

The kids went to a nursery while all of the adults played games and Brianna capitalized on the sweets from the pinata! It's all about the food, right?

I'm so grateful that we were blessed to have such a wonderful holiday season and I am so thankful for our Savior, Jesus Christ! I know that He lives and that He came to this Earth to Atone for our sins and to give His life for all of us. I know that He was resurrected and I know that He lives!!!!

Las Vegas Bowl Trip

After 13 years of marriage, Jason and I finally decided to go to a BYU Bowl game and went to the Las Vegas Bowl last weekend. We went with our good friends, the Forsyths and the Bruecks. We left on Friday during a major snow storm and were worried that we would be caught in bad weather the whole way down, but after Nephi, it was smooth sailing. We arrived in St. George around 6:30 p.m. and went to The Pizza Factory for dinner, then we stayed at Jason's parent's vacation home for the night. We watched some T.V., played games, then eventually went to bed. Saturday morning we headed to Las Vegas and here are some pictures of the day.

We parked on the strip and went to Mandalay Bay to go to the Aquarium. It was pretty fascinating.

They had these cool handsets that were programmed to tell you about each of the fish in the exihibits. (The men liked them a little too much!)

Jennie, Me, and Jamie

Darren

Dave

Darren used Jamie's handset on his other ear so he could have surround sound. He said it worked really well, but I couldn't help but giggle a little at how it looked (hence, the picture).

We couldn't disappoint all of you and not include another Zoolander pose.

The M&M Factory was awesome!

We had just arrived at Sam Boyd Stadium and were so excited for the game!

We asked a lady to take a picture of us with the "Sam Boyd Stadium" sign in the background and this is what we got - a crooked picture and no sign - oh, well.

We had fabulous seats - thanks to Jennie! (40th yard line, 16 rows up!)

David Hasselhof sang the National Anthem and boy did he have some serious energy!

The traditional pregame Haka dance.

The coin toss

The game, itsself, was a major disappointment (as you already know), but the men that were sitting behind us were an absolute hoot! They were making us laugh the entire time!

I'm so glad we got the opportunity to go on this trip. I did not care for downtown Las Vegas at all (too many naughty pictures!!), but the overall trip was a lot of fun. I look forward to making this a new tradition every year (so BYU better make it happen!)!

Talk too much??!

Sometimes reality hurts. I was told today, by a young child, that her friend's mom doesn't like to talk to me on the phone because I talk too much - that's why she didn't answer the phone the last time I called. Hmmm . . . I really didn't need to hear that today! I never wanted to be the annoying lady that people avoid, because I talk too much - but there it is! I guess I'll try to keep my mouth shut more often.

Concert at the Mall

All of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Grade Spanish Immersion Students at Kelsea's school sang in a Christmas Concert at the Mall. It was a lot of fun.

Annual Barker Christmas Party

Every year we get together with all of Jason's family for the Barker Christmas Party and the kids had a great time this year.

Great-Grandma Barker

Amber and Grandma Barker

Kelsea loves playing their piano!

The younger kids enjoyed the play room

Amber and her cousins loved hiding in their hut under the stairs

Mariah, Nick and Landon

Nick played a mean game of pool

Great-Grandma Barker gave the children little gift bags