How Could I NOT Fall in Love?

Matt at 16...I remember having this picture in my wallet and on my bulletin board. I loved the "ice man" hair cut and his big brown eyes. I was smitten from the start.

A December To Remember (with 10,00002 pictures...seriously, brace yourselves!)

To kick off the season, Papa Paul got us tickets to see him in a choral performance. WONDERFUL Christmas music put us right in the mood!

Amid the hustle and bustle, one of my favorite traditions is a quick girl's shopping overnighter...

We shopped, we laughed, we ATE...too bad we didn't get much sleep!

Did I mention we shopped?

We rolled directly from our shopping trip to our Ward's Christmas Party. Our bishopric did a great job with the entertainment. Gotta love 'em.

Matt even sat of Santa's lap

Nothing says "Christmas is Coming!" like a trip to the Tea House in San Juan. Mom treated us to a wonderful lunch of curry (sans figs).

Headbands anyone?

Wait, aren't we both really blondes???

While the guys whisked themselves off to see the BYU football game in Vegas (and maybe avoid some of the Christmas crazy?) the girls got together and made orange rolls and other Christmas goodies.

How many orange rolls can four sisters and a mom (and a couple of honorary sisters) make? Apparently, 42 dozen. We also managed to whip together 4 batches of Christmas Mint Cookies, potato casserole, Christmas morning Strata...and after they left I made four batches of sugar cookies, and a double batch of pecan tarts. YUM.

While we giggled and baked, the kiddos kept busy making gingerbread houses...it was so fun to have everybody at MY house this Christmas for a baking day. We made a mess and it was total chaos, but it was a blast! I think THIS may be my new favorite tradition.

Christmas Eve brought the Gardner Family together to celebrate

Jake and Hillary expecting #3 in March...I can't wait!

My guy

My main man

Amanda and Michael were so sweet to open up their home for our Christmas Eve...thanks guys!

The best part of Christmas Eve is ALWAYS the nativity. Not only does it help us remember the reason for the season...but it also provides comic relief in the form of too cute grandkids.

Of course, Grandma HAS to read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" to all the grandchildren right after they open up their Christmas jammies.

Papa got a special present for "The Bean Brothers" this year...

Could it be chili?

The children were nestled all snug in their beds...

Some pretended

And some weren't there at all!

Christmas Morning brought lots of fun presents (despite dire warnings...Santa DID come) and then "the other Weenigs" and Papa joined us for Christmas brunch.

Papa got to open his present for both the Weenig families, the Keslers, the Baggetts, and the McGregors.

All in all, it was a WONDERFUL Christmas (and now I'm glad it's over!)