Sharing Holiday Fun

As I mentioned, it was a month FULL of fun events! Of course, that's the holidays for ya! One of the first activities was the Annual Cousin's Christmas party. We always do some kind of charity event with this. This year the kids saved up money to buy food for the Utah Food Bank. We got a good collection to add..so proud of my family! With the current economic times, it's needed more than ever! Another thrill of this event is the tradition of splitting up all the $/treats that Grandma & Grandpa Leach have added to the jar over the year. It's then divided up equally between all the grandchildren. This is a tradition my Grandma Leach used to do to help buy us new PJ's for Christmas Eve, which is a tradition we've kept in our own family now. The money they get helps them to buy their own Christmas gifts (and maybe something for themselves :}). We are so thankful to my parents for doing this for them, it means a lot. Also just for creating & keeping so many great traditions as well (like our Christmas morning Hoot N' Nannys too! :})

The kids counting the money

We got in a game of Holiday Yahtzee. Always love playing games, especially with Grandma...it's one of her favorite past times!

We're so glad Grandma got to come too! We value our time with her all the more these days, knowing that our days may be limited here. Bradon gets a kick out of her, totally gets her sense of humor!

Couldn't tell they were mom & daughter, could you?! :}

The next event was The Festival Of Trees, to watch Kaley perform. I just HAD to capture a few of my favorite trees! (I mean, it is a GREAT theme after all! :})

There were a couple of others I just thought were so cute...

Of course our beautiful little star was fabulous as always!

I think we may be in trouble! :}

We did manage to get in a Baking Day (just missed it last year...ran out of time). This year my good friend, Melissa, her girls, and Danielle joined in on the fun. It's a fun thing to do with the girls...I think they loved it (especially when we kept getting each other with powdered sugar! :})

My sister, Cathy, was in charge of her ward's Christmas program, so a few of us joined along...it was a beautiful program & got us in the Christmas Spirit. Plus she fed us a great meal after & it gave us more family time, so all the better!

Then there was the kid's school program, which is always entertaining! Especially with this character of mine! :}

Kaley was SOO excited for the program, she was counting down the days to this before she was counting down the days until Christmas! It's the star in her I'm sure! We also got to have more time with Grandma, and some of the rest of the family, at the annual extended family gathering, which was also held at Cathy & Jim's house. You got to love being able to capture Four Generations together! This party always includes some musical numbers, which used to be by the grandchildren; but, now more so by the Great Grandchildren (kids are just so cute & entertaining!)Kaley insisted she get a turn too. Nevermind she doesn't actually play the piano...which is what made this funny! (we really need to get her started on lessons, she obviously has the desire to!). I have to say though her gentle touching of the keys sounded pretty, like snowflakes falling :}

Sure do love my family! :}