Watkins World

Christmas Eve

In our family, Christmas Eve is the main event - then we can relax and enjoy Christmas Day. This year was no different. Our tradition is to have ham, funeral potatoes, green bean casserole, rolls, jello salad and ice cream roll. This year we added creamed corn, thanks to Holly. After we got home from shooting, the kids hopped in the hot tub and then had showers while we prepared dinner. Here are some pictures:

The kids table

The kids table with Hannah included - even though she ate with the adults.

The adults table

Another tradition - playing Christmas carols with chimes

I must say, we were REALLY good this year. We didn't even need to do a warm up. Everyone played when they were supposed to. AWESOME!

Yet another Christmas tradition - opening pajamas on Christmas Eve. This year I found matching pajamas for everybody.

The grandkids in their matchies.

Group picture in our matching pj's (I don't know what that spot is between Bryan and Jeff - something in the camera). We missed Michael, Mallory, Madie and Finn so much. They also had matching pajamas and we wish they could have joined us. So sad they couldn't be there.

Yes, we are a bit crazy. Of course, there has to be a crazy picture!

After pictures and chimes, we acted out the nativity a little different this year. I set up an empty manger in the family room and I had each child carry one of my nativity statues into the family room and place it in the manger as Holly read a short paragraph about each one. I helped Hannah carry in baby Jesus and it was very touching. I loved doing it this way and I think the kids will remember it. Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures of this because I was busy moving the kids along.

We ended the evening with ice cream roll and then everybody went home to have sweet dreams of Christmas! I love our family so much and I'm so thankful for each one of them. I absolutely LOVE Christmas Eve - it's my favorite night of the year - especially when I can have so many of my family members together.

Target Practice

Bryan gave me a gun for my birthday in June and I've been wanting to learn how to shoot it. On Christmas Eve, Ty's family, Holly's family and Bryan and I went out into the desert to do some shooting. I can tell you this.....I have a long way to go! How does the saying go? I couldn't shoot the broad side of a barn. Yeah, that's me! We realized that I like Bryan's gun better and he likes mine better, so we are going to trade guns. His is much easier for me to shoot and doesn't have as much of a kick. The kids had fun shooting - Uncle Tyler was an excellent instructor.

Tyler, Bryan and Ethan

Our pregnant Holly - and Tyler showing me how to hold the gun! I couldn't get these two pictures to rotate - I tried about 4 times and finally gave up!

Tyler teaching me how to shoot my gun. It was very heavy.

Top left: Tyler and Jeff; Top right: Ethan and Sadie;

Bottom left: Lexi and Claire; Bottom middle: Tyler and Kylie; Bottom right: Sadie

Sadie and Claire digging for gold.

Claire shooting

Ethan and Sadie - such cute little buddies. I hope they will always be great friends!

More Hot tubbing! This time with Uncle Jeff instead of Uncle Tyler.

Temple Fruit

At the Mesa Temple, there are many grapefruit and orange trees that they let people come and pick. On Sunday morning, before church, we drove to the temple to show Ethan and Claire how to pick grapefruit and oranges. It was a beautiful morning and such a peaceful place to go on a Sunday morning.

Piano Guys, Nutcracker and Hot Tub

We were so excited to have Holly, Jeff, Claire and Ethan join us for Christmas this year. The next few blogs will be some of the fun things we did while they were visiting.

One of the first things we did was go to a Piano Guys Concert. We took Holly & Jeff and the grandkids who are taking piano lessons (Kylie, Lexi, Sadie, Sam, Claire and Ethan), or who will be taking in the next year or so. The kids got a little bored, but the adults loved it. It was a fabulous concert and we especially enjoy their Christmas concert. We've been to several of them here in Mesa.

Bryan and I have had a tradition that we take our granddaughters to Nutcracker once they turn 3. Since Claire was going to be with us this year, we decided to change things up a bit and have all the girls and their moms go with me, minus Hannah, since she was too young. So, before we went to Nutcracker, we had the boys join us at PeiWei and then the girls left for Phoenix. Here are the pictures:

Also per our tradition, after Nutcracker, we always go over to the Hyatt Regency and ride their elevator to the 24th Floor. This is a picture of the girls in the elevator. It's quite a ride!

Such a very fun Girl's day out!

After Nutcracker, we came back to our house and went "hot tubbing" as the girls called it! Here is one of the many "hot tubbing" pictures!

Ward Christmas Party

The great thing about living in the same ward with BJ and Tyler and their families is that we get to go to ward functions together. Here are a few pictures of our family at the Ward Christmas party:

Sam and Sadie

Sadie, Nana and Hannah

Sam, Brodi and BJ greeting Santa

Hannah wanted nothing of it!

At the Ward party, they had a nativity scene where families could have their picture taken, so we dressed all of the grandkids up and took their picture.

Papa reading Brodi, Hannah and Sam a story - the next day - at our house

Hannah loves these little people that sing Jingle Bells together!

Sadness and Craziness in this world

"On December 14, 2012, Adam Lanza, age 20, fatally shot twenty children and six adult staff members and wounded two at Sandy Hook Elementary School in the village of Sandy Hook in the town of Newtown, Connecticut. Before driving to the school, Lanza had shot and killed his mother, Nancy Lanza, at their Newtown home.After killing students and staff members, Lanza committed suicide by shooting himself in the head as first responders arrived."

I took this quote directly from Wikipedia. It was such a tragic and sad thing to have happen anytime, but especially right before Christmas. I feel so sorry for the families who lost children and loved ones in this shooting. The shooter shot an entire class of 1st graders - 6 year olds! I don't even want to blog about this, but unfortunately, it is part of history and that's what I use my blog for.

As I was holding Sadie during Kylie and Lexi's Hip Hop Concert, I couldn't help but shed a few tears thinking about the parents and grandparents who weren't able to hug their little 6 year olds that night. I'm so thankful for the safety and protection of our family and I pray constantly for continued safety for each one of these blessings in our lives.

Christmas Concerts

We love living close to grandkids so we can go to their events. I only wish we could attend all of our grandchildren's performances, but we do what we can! In December, Kylie and Lexi had their school Winter Sing Concert and their Hip Hop Dance Recital. Kylie had her orchestra concert and Sadie had her Kindergarten Winter Sing. We enjoyed all of the performances and are so happy these girls are singing, dancing, playing instruments and developing their talents.