A Version of Christmas

This year Kelby, Mikkelle and I all went to California for Christmas! It was a lot of fun and it was nice to spend time with family. Mikkelle was the only Grandchild there this year and she was sooo spoiled because of it. She pretty much thought Cat was the greatest and still says some cute things because of her. So of course we did a bunch of traditions once the partay got started. One of them is looking up from under the tree after it's been decorated. It was mine and Mikkelle's first time and it was actually quite relaxing!

And afterwards we put all the pretty presents under! The tree looked Perfect! It was the fluffiest, straightest tree I've ever seen! And they got it for like $20 bucks!

...And I admit...I've never seen so many stockings hung under the chimney...

Jeanie said these (most of them) were Brendons. I've always thought Nutcrackers were cool and we even got one as an ornament this year! It was nice to talk to Brendon this year and to hear how he is doing. Hopefully after his mission I'll have someone else on my side to convert everyone to move to Missouri. : )

I also love that everyone (well almost) that had gone on a mission in their family had a decoration from their mission. Kelby's is the rooster from Portugal.

We didn't get the lights up until a little later this year cause it rained and Nana was the light put-er-upper! She also had to look around for a poopy diaper up there because Kelby thought he could make the dumpter on the other side of the building. Haha...

We also did Gingerbread houses. Kelby's is the one with a HUGE roof and mine is the soap and dish. haha. I was going to make something else...but that fell through. Literally. Nana's had a voodoo man and Cat's had the entire Temple Session. Haha! Although Kent thought it was a car wash!

And what would Christmas be without a little golfing?

Well...actually it would still be Christmas....

But I can't deny how cute they all look! Haha. It's like they are on the golf team in High School!

We also had the traditional Nativity reinactment. I played multiple shepherds. Kelby the scary angel guy (who reminded me of the angel from "total eclipse of the heart" music video) Shaun the Pimp gangster wiseman...Cat the Israeli "don't look at my face" wisewoman...and of course Nanna as the Pop Princess wisewoman. Kent and Amberlyn played Mary and Joseph with Mikkelle as baby Jesus. I hope we don't burn for this one.

I think the Sheperds were frightened...but I don't think it was because the angel was going to eat them.

She keeps on growing and growing and growing.....

Well, things keep-a changin', especially Mikkelle. I knew babies grew fast but I really had no idea. She keeps Kelby and I really busy. We always try and create memories for her to look back on through pictures considering she won't remember any of this. Like having a hat party! With the help of Amberlyn, we went through all of Mikkelle's many hats and gave 'em all a shot. This one cracks me up though because she looks like a little Buddha (with marshmallows stuck together for arms ). She wasn't too good at holding her head up then, but that soon passed....

And eventually it started getting easier! And she could even smile while holding her head up instead of grunting. : ) It seems like yesterday we were taking her three month old pictures and now she's almost doubled her age! Doesn't take much but still! And she looked absolutely gorgeous in them.

Mikkelle really is a wonderful baby! Always happy and always smiling. She makes Kelby and my life complete. Most people say she looks like me, but she's got Kelby's smile. And that's her best feature : )

Aunt "Giggy" came to visit and I think we had a little too much fun at Build-a-bear! Her little round head fit the bear wigs perfectly. It was hard to resist. And as adorable as she looks with red hair she makes a foxy diva with a black do!

But Mikkelle doesn't need anything added to be beautiful. She is sweet, cuddly, giggly and lovable. She is 100% entertaining! Even her burps are cute. She has a mom and dad who love her and aunts and uncles who adore her. And the coolest grandparents in the world. Life is good.

Christmas 2007

Kelby, I and Mikkelle went to California this year for Christmas. It had been over 4 years since he had last been home and was my first time away from home. We had a family meeting and made New Years resolutions for ourselves and the family. We went out to dinner and had a blast!

The Chinese Food was AWESOME

Mikkelle got lots of presents and lots of love!

We all had matching scrubs this year : )

We did the Hutchings family tradition of the nativity...




It was an amazing vacation and mini reunion and we all had a great time...even if Mikkelle slept through most of it.