Christmas Violin Performance

This year the boys had the opportunity to perform with mom's orchestra, which is conducted by their teacher Esther Larsen.  She is an amazing teacher, so patient and knowledgeable.  She gives these boys so many opportunities.  She invited them to play with her orchestra.  They were able to perform at a local nursing home and at the University of Utah for the orchestra's Christmas program.  I was so proud of all of them...including my mom!

  The boys at the Nursing home performance

 Miss Esther, Easton, & Hudson

Canon had to leave right after his performance to make it to his basketball game.

This next video was after Christmas.  In January 

the kids had a dance festival at school.  This was Easton's solo part.  He practiced all morning before school trying to find the "perfect" move.  I taught him the lawn mower and he introduced his own version of it.  

Christmas Day 2011

 Christmas Eve...right before the one present we all get to open...hmmm...wonder what that could be?!?!

On Christmas Eve the boys decided they wanted to sleep downstairs together.  I wasn't sure how this would end up working out, but they had so much fun.  After all of our family Christmas Eve festivities...we got them all snuggled together in the bed and they watched Christmas Story.  The excitement and anticipation could hardly be contained!  

(The flash from the camera was so bright we could barely keep our eyes open during the picture...hence they "crazy eye" look from all but Easton)

This year the kids slept until 5:45am!  That's amazing...last year the started waking up at 3:00am and kept coming in every half hour until we finally let them get up at 4:30am.  We were all through with our Christmas morning unwrapping by 6am and Hudson was asleep by 7am.  So 5:45am was a sleep in.

Easton called us from the downstairs bedroom when they woke up.  When he called he said "can we get up now?", when I told him yes, he said, "ok just meet us at the top of the stairs so we can just start unwrapping presents and not waste any time".  You would think we were coming from separate wings of our 7,000 square foot house!  Oh my little Easton...he's a thinker!

 Waiting to come out and see the loot!

Here it is!!

Us on Christmas Eve

Christmas 2011

I love Christmastime....I am cherishing these Christmas's where everything is so magical.  I wish I could freeze that time.  We did many activities to help celebrate and remember the true meaning of Christmas.


We had a Polar Express Party at Nana & Papas.  The kids had so much fun as they opened Christmas PJ's, watched Polar Express, and had a special visit from Mr. & Mrs. Claus!

                                           The kids & Papa and Nana with Mr. & Mrs. Claus.