Christmas in Arizona

Merry Christmas!

We had such a wonderful Christmas this year!  We went to visit my parents in Arizona.  It was so much fun to get the boys started on some of our family traditions.  

First, Dad, Jason and Brett made and decorated Grandma Bailey's sugar cookies.  They had a great time rolling out the dough and cutting the cookies out.  The next day Papa took Jason out to get the luminaria set up for our street.  Jason was in charge of filling the bags with sand.

Jason was very meticulous about scooping the sand into the bags and Papa was very patient- they made over 50 of them!

They had a great time!

When it got dark, they went out to light the luminara with candles.

The boys loved playing with fire, of course.

We didn't burn the street down, thank goodness!

The luminaria looked so pretty lighting up our street.  It was like a landing strip for the reindeer!

After baths on Christmas eve, the boys got to open a gift. They were delighted to discover...

Captain America jammies!!!  Brett especially was soooo thrilled.  They pretty much lived in those pjs for the rest of the week.

Captain America has arrived!

Avengers, assemble!

They left out stockings, cookies and carrots for Santa and the reindeer.

Santa didn't need all of them.  They boys taste tested the cookies for him.

Christmas morning!  Most of the gifts were from Santa, but Thor left this one for Brett.  I wonder what it could be?  Jason and Brett also got to open up Grandma and Grandpa Liau's thoughtful gifts.  They were so excited to play with the tablets and cannot wait to go shopping with the red envelope money!

We were so glad Great Grandma and Grandpa Bailey could be with us on Christmas.

My favorite people in the world!!

Look at that turkey!  It belongs in a Norman Rockwell picture :).

Mimi made a delicious Christmas dinner.

Great grandma and grandpa ready to eat.

My handsome hubby.

The Wise Guy came!  This time he had the boys help him get dressed so they weren't terrified like they were last year.

He brought gifts of wisdom- books and (mentally challenging) games!

Another book to add to our extensive CARS library.  We have become experts in the field.

The Wise Guy thinking contemplative thoughts.

Hey, that's not the Wise Guy!

Neither is that!  Every time I looked at him Brett had another sucker in his mouth.  I think he confiscated them from everyone's stockings.

The night before we went home we visited the Mesa temple to look at the Christmas lights.  They were spectacular!

This is my favorite temple because it is where Derek and I got married.  We were a little disappointed that we didn't get to see Alex, Aaron and Glori and their families, and we really missed the Liaus and Hattie's family, but we had a wonderful time visiting my parents and spending Christmas with them in Arizona.  We are looking forward to a wonderful new year!