i can't believe christmas is already over. it came and went super fast this year, but we enjoyed every minute of it. (side note....when i uploaded these pictures they posted backwards to how they occurred, so here is a account of our christmas holiday in reverse!)

on monday after christmas dad took us all to the cheesecake factory in salt lake. it was way busy and we had to wait an hour, but it was totally worth it. the food was great! i'm so grateful for my family, they are fun to be with, we are truly blessed.

we have always spent christmas day traveling from one meal to the next. we start at pap, skip and clare's for pancakes, then off the nanny and pappy's for lunch and my parent's for dinner. it's a very filling and satisfying day!

below is my christmas gift from brenda and dave...they gave john and nerf gun for his birthday and then gave this to me to defend myself with. it's huge...automatic with 20 shots. quite impressive and painful! (john's is only one handed, pump action 6 shot...hee, hee, hee)

i don't know how she does it, but john's mom finds the funniest things for john. this is a magnetic paper clip toy thing!

we begin the christmas festivities on christmas eve with my family. after the service at church we gather around the fire place and open presents. this is jana, her boyfriend joe, john and i sporting our new duds.

i was very excited about this gift. it's cheesy, but extremely useful. i will definitely be getting one for myself! it's a camping egg carton...no more soggy egg cartons in the cooler.

grandma avant, my dad's mom, comes every year to celebrate with us.

again, i'm so thankful for all of our family!! they are great, so generous and loving!! we love everything we received and enjoyed giving things even more! merry christmas to all of you and have a happy new year!