Christmas Eve

Santa came to Grandma and Grandpa Belka's house and the kids got to tell him what they wanted him to bring that night.

Family pic with Santa

Then the kids acted out the nativity while Grandpa read from the scriptures.

Briggs was Joseph, Brynn was Mary, and Bryten was one of the sheep.

After we left the Belka's we then went to my parents for the Condie Christmas party. My dad shared a Christmas message, we ate AGAIN, and then the kids opened up pajamas from Grandma and Grandpa. We put on music for them to have a fashion show. The kids loved it.

We absolutely loved being with our families. We sang, played games, ate great food, but most importantly got to spend time together.

Merry Christmas 2008

All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth

Brynn lost both teeth within a couple weeks of each other. Just three days before Christmas she had lost the other. She loved saying Merry Christmas and hearing how it sounded without her teeth.

Christmas parties

Briggs at the Mills Christmas party.

All the kids on stage waiting for Santa. This party is a big tradition that our family does every year!

Brynn at our Condie Christmas party. She is on a launching parachute. The kids all took turns and loved it. Even some adults did it!

My aunts then had a pinata for all the kids. They went to so much effort to make this party a hit and it WAS!

Here are all the kids singing songs at our program. Then later that night we headed up to Tiff and Rich's house and hung out with them and had a great time.

Christmas lights

Bryten at Temple Square

Byron and Briggs riding on the Trax. Briggs is fascinated with trains right now and so of course was loving being on one.

We headed to Salt Lake to check on Grandma Belka after her knee surgery and decided to make it a trip to see the lights as well. We first stopped over at Winder Dairy and got our hot chocolate and scones and then headed down town to see the lights. Then we got to meet up with Brock and see where he works their at temple square. We had a great time and decided to make this a tradition!

Christmas Fun

Get together at the Belka's when Jake and Natalie came home for Christmas Break!

Brynn playing Christmas music at a nursing home.

Bryten and Kyson at their Christmas program for preschool.

Brynn's first recital

This is Brynn at her first solo recital. She was excited and nervous. The week before she had a trail run at our ward's talent show. It is scary to get up infront of people and have all eyes on YOU! I was so proud of her and she did a great job at both. Right now she is learning some Christmas songs and we are learning a duet together which will be fun.

Tree skirt for Christmas

Two years ago for Christmas Byron got me a sewing machine and until a month ago there it sat in its box and had never been opened. I wanted a project to get me started on sewing so I signed up for a class that was told was for beginners. Well the only beginner in the room was ME! I thought perfect, I'll sign up for the tree skirt class so it will be a project I will be motivated to finish. Well the class was overwhelming to me. The sweet instructor sat down the last hour and helped me step by step. I left the class with two out of eight stars sewn. So I was happy to go home with something. But how was I ever going to finish this? Then my mom suggested that my Aunt Carolyn help me. So we took it over to my aunt's house and she fixed my mistakes and pretty much took over and taught me how the correct way was. We had a system down and she flew through the stars and had it ready for me to sew together. She found someone to quilt it for me and Aunt Carolyn did the binding. When she found out I was sick, she stayed up late and hurried and finished it to suprise me. Now I get to enjoy this all month long. Everytime I look at it I think of her and all that she did for me. I am so thankful for her and all her hard work and the time I got to spend with her. My kids love her and love being with her in her home just as much as I do.