This year we decided to go the day after instead of before Christmas. I was surprised by how many people were there.
My whole family decided to brave the cold and come walk around Temple Square.
Cam and Izzy always have a great time with their cousins.
As usual we had dinner at Squatters with Cody and Trish, Rusty and Kariann, and Leslie. 
We had a wonderful Christmas this year. Cameron was surprised, like he wanted to be; and Izzy got the things she most wanted out of her outrageously long letter to Santa.
On Christmas Eve we got together with my family. We don't get together until 9pm. Then we have a big dinner and gift exchange.
This year it was a my house. I love Christmas. It's my favorite holiday! I start thinking about what I'm going to cook weeks in advance. My family likes to try new recipes, so every year all the sisters pick something different to make.
I tried talking my family into having a little talent show. I wasn't very successful. Izzy and I played a little duet, and Cam played a song on his own. Joanne wrote a poem about the time the kids spent with them in ND. Jenn read a Christmas story. We also sang some Christmas Carols. It was a lot of fun. Maybe next year I can talk more of my siblings into it.
We also had our traditional gift exchange. We do it a little different than most people. We don't tell each other who we have. Then on Christmas Eve we all have to say things about the person we have, so everyone can guess who it is. Is really fun. We've done it for so many years that is hard to come up with something new.
On Christmas day we had dinner with Amos' family. We went to Rusty's house. It was the first year we were able to get all the siblings together at the same time on Christmas. It was nice to be able to just relax and enjoy each others company.
Our birthdays are 5 days apart. We always try to celebrate it together to make it easier on everybody. It's such a busy time of the year. It's hard to get everyone together at the same time.
A couple of weeks ago we went bowling with some friends for Rosie's bday. The kids had a lot of fun. Cam and Izzy love bowling. 
Amos had 5 strikes in a row this night! Needless to say he had the highest score.
After a few years of not having a family party, Amos' mom decided it was time to re-start the tradition.
Leslie picked a day and our house as the place for it. So on the 12th we had the party. We were kind of nervous! We didn't know how many people would come, and if would be able to accommodate everybody. I didn't get a lot of pictures, but I thought I would post the few that I did get.
In the end it all turned out great! Every one had fun.
Every year on the first weekend of December, Amos' dad's family gets together for Christmas. The family is fairly big, it's hard to keep track of who's who, who goes with who.
The kids like going and playing with their cousins. There are always different fun games for the kids to play. This year they had ornaments for the kids to paint. Of course Izzy painted a lot of them, so she could hang it on our "homemade" tree.
You would think that after 10 years of going to these parties I would know who everyone is. Not yet, maybe one day.
With have been talking to the kids about Christmas and trying to figure out what they would like. They both believe in Santa. A few questions about his existence has come up, but we told them that you only get presents if you believe.
Isabelle had no problem writing her letter to Santa. There were a lot of things that she would like. Cameron on the other hand, decided not to write one. I asked him why? And he said:" Well, a couple of years ago all I asked for was a pogo stick and I got like 500 presents and the pogo stick! So this year I figure I would just be surprised."
So we have one kid that is asking for everything she could possibly think of, and one that just wants to be surprised. Hopefully they'll both be pleasantly surprised!
Yesterday we finally got our Christmas decorations up. I love Christmas! It's my favorite Holiday.
Every year we put our Christmas decorations up on Thanksgiving weekend. This year we were a little behind schedule.
Anyway, the kids had a fun time, and Amos finally admitted he likes our tree. Yea!!!
Every year Amos complains about our Christmas tree. I really like it to be a certain way. All the ornaments have to match, even the wrapping paper on the presents under the tree have to be a certain color. I know..I'm crazy!
So this year Amos' grandma asked if we would like to go cut a tree with grandpa while in Flaming Gorge. The kids and Amos were really excited! Finally a tree that they can decorate however they would like.
On Friday before we left Amos, Grandpa Hoover, Mike, and the kids went out to look for the perfect tree. All the kids had a blast.
Today we spent the day making ornaments for the tree. Issy was really into it. In fact, she's been making ornaments since we got home Friday night!
Grandma Becky and Grandpa Gil came over to help. Cam and Issy were really excited to decorate the tree with all the ornaments they had made. They asked me if this could be a new tradition, so I guess we will do this every year from now on.
I love Thanksgiving! It's such a great holiday. We get to enjoy great food and quality time with our family.
This year has been a challenging year for Amos and I in so many ways. This holiday has really made me think of all the great things and people we have in our life.
As with most couples Amos and I rotate Thanksgiving between our families. This year was "in-law" year. Although I missed seeing my family and spending time with them, I had a really good time.
For the first time since we've been together we decided to go to Flaming Gorge to spend the Holiday with Amos' grandparents. The kids love going there. It's always a lot of fun.
Grandma and Grandpa Hoover are always so nice and welcoming. We love going to their house. It's just so relaxing and peaceful...well maybe not for grandma and grandpa. lol
Amos with his parents and siblings.
Amos and Grandpa Hoover entertaining the kids before dinner.
Grandpa taking the girls for a ride on his new Razor.
Grandpa after spending the day with the grand kids. I'm pretty sure they wore him out!!!
Amos' cousin Nick had a baby boy about 3 mos ago. Last Sunday they had a baby shower for him and his wife.
It's tradition in his family to make an alphabet book for the baby. Each member of the family picks a letter and makes a page.
It was fun to see his aunts and some of his cousins. We don't get to see them very often.
We have a lot of birthdays in November and December. Last week we celebrated my sister Camilla's birthday.
It's always nice to have an excuse to get together with my family. Not that we really need one. We love getting together to eat and play games.
This time Jenn's house was the place to go. Her kitchen is really big. It makes it easy to cook when we are all there.
Of course the food was delicious!!!
The guys playing Settler's of Catan. It's the new thing this year. Every time we get together either Alex or Sam will bring their game. 
My mom with Ethan. He's getting so big. It's so fun to watch him crawl around!
Getting ready to sing Happy Birthday. Jenn made a really yummy raspberry cake.
Sarah and Ethan.
Crystal and Issy. They are such good friends. Last week Amos was helping Alex with some stuff at his house. The kids went there everyday with him. Crystal told us it was the best week every! I asked her why and she said:" I got to see Cam and Issy every day!" It was really cute.
Sam brought Ethan's walker and we were all saying how cute he was in it. Daniel decided he wanted to be cute too...lol
