Christmas 2009

Christmas 2009

Bountiful Utah

Stockings Hung and Tree Full

The kids woke up around 8:15 and we made it downstairs by 8:30

Isaac with his trains

Spencer with his new Nemo...an instant hit!

This girl was on top of the world!!

Spencer opening up his Fisher Price Piggy Bank...Natali was SO willing to help. All Spencer really wanted to do was eat the paper.

Her newest dress up!

Spence showing off his new clothes. What a handsome little man!

We had Chris for the sibling exchange this year...he got a new lunch box & some chocolate.

We had a great Christmas day. It was filled with lots of toys and fun. Cousins came later in the day for Christmas dinner. Only 364 more days till the next one!!!

Christmas Jammies

A new tradition has been born in the Fluhman Family...Christmas jammies that we open on Christmas Eve. The kids were so excited. Natali thought it was just SO special. All Isaac could say was...FIRE TRUCK! Spencer, well...he didn't need jammies so he just wore some old ones (maybe next year Spence).

2009 Skating Party

On Christmas Eve it is tradition that the Hayes side of the families rents out the Classic Skating rink in Layton and we have a party. It is a BLAST. Roller skating, jump houses, inflatable slides, food, family, arcades, the Hokey Pokey, and even SANTA! Ben & I had fun running around with the kids. Natali LOVED having so many of her cousins around. Isaac refused to do any of the inflatables, but really enjoyed just running around.

Natali & Savannah

Bubba doing his thing

Spencer & Natali chatting it up with Santa!

Since when is this girl shy?

Abby & Natali getting ready to shake it to the hokey pokey!

Gingerbread Houses

GINGERBREAD HOUSE PARTY

We gathered up at Emily's on Monday and decorated gingerbread houses with all the cousins.

It was a blast!

The finished Product

Natali (the Cinderella Bride) & Isaac

Isaac & Abby

Abby & Ben

Mateo & Anna

Calli & Mary

Liz, Charlie, & Jack

Oliver

Concert

Friday night was a great night! I had the chance to attend the Mormon Tabernacle Christmas concert with my mother in-law and a few of my sister in-laws. This year Natalie Cole performed with them. It really brought in the Christmas spirit. My favorite part was the children's choir. They sounded truly angelic!

We left kids with husbands and started the night with dinner at Cafe Rio (please come to Des Moines). We then made our way into the heart of Salt Lake and enjoyed the lights of Temple Square. The concert was beautiful. The costumes, decorations, performers, and our seats were amazing. Afterwards instead of fighting traffic we made our way to the Lion House and picked up some rolls & a pie...oh Lion House rolls how I love you!!!

It was so nice to come home and already have the kids a sleep in bed. Ben was such a great sport. (doesn't hurt that he gets to go the bowl game in a week and half) It's been a long time since I have been able to go to something like this. It was so refreshing and uplifting.

Temple Square

(photo courtesy of the web)

Last Wednesday we took all the kids down to Temple Square to see the lights. It's been years since I have been there and we have never been there as a family. It was chilly out, but we bundled up and headed out for a Christmas adventure. It was absolutely picturesque. Spencer snuggled me in his sling, Isaac was cozy in his stroller, and Natali loved running around underneath the magical glow of the lights. I loved it all...the giant red lighted cedar, the row of orange lights by the Assembly Hall, listening to a choir practice in the tabernacle, seeing the array of nativities they had set up, the reflection pool with its floating lights, and listening to Natali & Isaac point out over & over again the angel Moroni.

After walking around we were all ready for dinner we decided to branch out and try something new. We had heard good things about Pat's and had seen it spotlighted on one of our fav. food network shows (yes we are dorks) Dinner's Drive-In's & Dives...Pat's In Your Face BBQ. Oh my it did not disappoint! Some of the best ribs I've ever had...and corn bread...and mashed potatoes.

It was a great evening! You can't help but get into the Christmas spirit after being at Temple Square.

Christmas in Bountiful
Christmas morning was a lot of fun in Bountiful. We got up around 8am and went downstairs. The Lindsey and Wright families came over and joined us in the morning, and the rest of the cousins came in the afternoon. Natali loved having so many cousins to play with. Her are a few photos of her with them & the Christmas tree.

Natali & Mary

Natali & Mom

Natali & Oliver (with Jack in the background)