Pre Christmas

After our trip to Moab and a big Thanksgiving feast at our house with family, we headed up to the mountains to get our Christmas tree. This turned out to be more fun for me and Jamie than for Belle and Mark. They walked around for about 15 minutes before heading back to the cabin to play with Pepe and drink hot cocoa. Jamie and I continued our search together.

Notice that a Power Ranger goes with this boy everywhere...

Found it! It was only about 9 feet tall. So, yes, we cut a ton off the bottom. I enjoyed laughing at Jamie as he dealt with cutting the tree to a manageable size.

The next week Isabelle had her holiday program at school. The preschoolers and kindergartners put on the cutest performance ever. She learned about 8 songs and was right up front and middle just singing her heart out! When she first walked out she had the look of fear on her face, but once the music, singing, and dancing started she began to relax.

I was trying to get a decent picture over all the adult heads. Not so successful.

The next event was our annual family get together at the Boulderado Hotel. I love all the build up to Christmas and it's about 10,000 times better when you have kids! Their excitement makes me the happiest person. Isabelle and Kylie had a lot of fun with each other.

 

 

Here are a few of the kids (all the little ones who couldn't sit for longer than 15 minutes at the table for brunch) listening to Nana tell them all about their great, great grandpa, Hugh Mark, who managed the hotel and lived in this room. They were all so attentive!

Mark peeking over the railing.

Singing Jingle Bells with Noah, Kylie, and Jordan in front of the ginormous Christmas tree.

Taking a better look at how tall the tree was inside the hotel.

 

After brunch we went to the cemetery where all our grandparents are buried. We do this every year and it is such special tradition. Mark was named after my mom's side of the family. Unfortunately, he was getting tired and refused to sit next to this so I could get a picture.

 

But he would sit next to some random stone of the Shideler family. 

 

 

We have done this tradition for 4 years now and it is so special. It's so much fun to see aunt's, uncles, cousins, and all the kids that come along with my cousins! And to remember those who aren't with us anymore!