Christmas Joys

 Our Christmas Day was very different this year. It started with lovely traditions - stockings opened in bed, talking to Nan and Pop in England and opening gifts - and then we packed up and went to the beach!

Uncle Bill and Aunt Patty had rented this beautiful house in Newport Beach near her extended family, and all my cousins were staying there with them.

It was fabulous to spend the rest of the afternoon and evening with them all - I hadn't seen my cousins and their spouses since Will and Anna's wedding two years ago! And since then, Elizabeth and Tim have added a baby to the family, so meeting Emma was definitely a highlight for us.

(Mom was working at Magic Mountain as Mrs. Claus all day, and Melanie and Nick were back East with his family, so it would have been a very quiet day had we stayed in SClarita.)

 William brought his old Nintendo 64 system, and the girls loved playing Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros.

 We all loved interacting with sweet, sweet Emma, who was a day away from 8 months.

Later, after a fabulous homemade lasagna dinner, most of the crowd played a fun board game.

Tyler taught Cora the angles when playing pool - see the notebook?

The talented Tyler also showed Violet how to handle a mandolin.

Love these people! So blessed to call them family. Definitely need to make it up to the Pacific NW in 2019.

 We also ran out to catch the sunset - the house was just a block from the sand.

My girls.

Wow.

Stunning, if I do say so as their mother.

 No, we didn't write it, but yes, we did take advantage!

Thankful for this guy, too. He spoiled me with the beautiful white sweater I'm wearing in the photo, along with other gifts.

Our family - Christmas 2018

As Violet put it, "Just think, Mom. The birth of the Savior, has turned into the most wonderful time of the year!"

Amen. God Bless Us, Everyone!