Before and During Christmas!

Its been awhile so I thought I would update the blog! December was a full and crazy month and January is flying by way too fast! Can you believe it is already half way through the month?? I was sad when Christmas was over. I love Christmas time and this year really strived to feel the spirit of Christmas. It was difficult with some stressful situations but overall it was so nice to be with family and enjoy the season. Here are just some random pictures of Alvin =)  He is so fun and continues to grow and learn so much. 

He got these legos from some friends and has been really good at building! 

He is such a happy boy and will laugh easily. 

Early on in December we had a fun friend party. It was an ugly Christmas sweater party. Do you love Chase's sweater? 

We played a fun game and our friend Devin was all for it! 

Here is our attempt at Alvin's ugly sweater. Chase picked it out. 

We also got the opportunity to go to my younger sister's choir concert. It was great to go and listen to good music. 

Amidst the craziness of December we also refinished our countertops. It wasn't quite the job as the cupboards but it did sure make a mess. Now we are planning on doing the backsplash soon. I will show the finished kitchen when it happens! 

We attended the Santa story time at the library and Alvin was not too fond of Santa. 

Another fun tradition we do each year is gingerbread houses with Chase's family. 

We had some awesome yummy treats thanks to Tasha and had fun building, decorating and planning out our individual houses. 

The kids had so much fun joining in the tradition. 

So fun! 

Some of the finished houses. 

Alvin playing with his cousin! 

Before we Christmas we also have our annual Redd extended family party. We have a yummy dinner followed by a program of singing and sharing. Here are my two sisters singing. They did great. 

Grandma and Grandpa also sang in addition to some other numbers and a book reading. It was a nice night. 

Christmas Eve we had planned to get together with family for a small gathering but then everyone got sick and it ended up being just us and some friends in our ward. We had yummy homemade pizza and salad and visited and did our own rendition of the nativity story. It was a nice night as well! We were happy to share it with friends. 

Christmas morning was so fun with Alvin. I didn't realize it was out of focus until after I had taken some pictures. He was so cute and loved the big stuffed elephant he got. 

Our family Christmas morning. 

Alvin got the unwrapping part down and helped unwrap pretty much all the presents! 

Then we made fruit pizza (sticking with the pizza Christmas morning tradition- last year we made breakfast pizza with eggs and sausage- yum!) 

Alvin loved eating the fruit in preparation!

Here was my attempt at an advent calendar that we did this year. Each day had a Christmas themed activity and mostly we did everything minus a few things. It was fun and kept us busy and thinking about Christmas time and what is important. 

After we did Christmas morning at our house we headed to Pocatello to spend the rest of the day with family. Alvin and Chase got matching shirts for Christmas! 

We went to the Taylor's first. It was fun visiting and eating and opening presents. 

We were most excited about giving everyone books about Dane (Chase's brother that passed away). Chase had scanned lots of pictures and spent time putting the book together for his parents and siblings. It was so nice to give it to them. 

Over all Christmas day was nice and we enjoyed spending time with family.