Photo Shoot with Steve Rawson

The Neverending Christmas Story

Grammy and Papa hosted everyone for Christmas Day Dinner this year.  The meal was amazing: standing rib roast, smashed potatoes gratin, asparagus, roasted vegetables, cider, etc.  Bret received a call just before the party started that there had been a shooting in Salt Lake and he was to represent the officer involved.  He left immediately and showed up several hours later, just in time for the tail-end of the gift exchange and Annual Rawson Talent Show.

My dad gave the adults an awesome present this year.  It started with two huge, matted 8x10 frames.  Next, he laid out thirty-two of his best photos on the basement floor, and each adult got to choose one (two per couple) for the frames.  If more than one adult chose a photo, he would have it printed on Monday.  If no one chose your photo, you could take it home on the spot.  Evidently, everyone had my same idea--to decorate my entire home in my dad's photography, so each couple ended up picking three times the photos they were allotted.  And of course, The Colonel obliged.  

In an attempt to become Ultimate Domestic Goddess (UDG), I made each family photo puzzle blocks this year.  They were a hit.

I can't stop looking at this face.  Is it just me, or is he beautiful beyond words?

Liam got a little fussy toward the end of the evening.  Too much partying...

Until he received Grammy and Papa's present...a musical set complete with xylophone and drum!  He's in heaven.

Isaac's favorite gift was his headlamp.  He wore it for the rest of the night (light on.)

Ho Ho Ho, Merry Christmas!

Sleigh Bells Ring

Santa made it to the Charles house this year.  I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure we heard some jingling late Christmas Eve...

Our 2010 addition.

Liam's favorite ornament, and the one he walked to when he took his very first steps.

The little guy woke us up around 7:30am, and he started dancing when he walked into the family room holding Dada's hand.  Toys galore!

We're working on not being freaked out by the igloo-tent.

Santa brought Liam a red rocking moose...just like the ones that visit our backyard!

And by far his favorite present...munchkin-sized pots and pans with cooking utensils.

This is so Mama stays safe on the slopes this season.

Christmases are getting more magical for me as Liam gets older. Seeing everything through his eyes increases my excitement exponentially.  

Thank you to MoMo and Grandpa for Liam's new activity mat!

Wes went to Anthropologie and picked out something for me all by himself.  Isn't he sweet?  I think he was as shocked by the pricetags in said store as I was receiving his gift...Sale, baby!

As for next year, I have asked Wes for big muscles, so I got him something to help with that.

Not So Silent Night

Christmas Eve was with the Charles household this year and Tracie went ALL out.  I don't think I will ever be able to get inside the mind of someone who at seven months pregnant, bakes fifteen different Christmas treats.  Wes ate himself sick (literally) and I'm still on a sugar high, two days later.  Thank you for working so hard, Tracie.  It was glorious.  

Liam is just starting to realize what he is missing.  His taste for sugar is slowly starting to mimic his father's.

Lots of lovely people were there: Charlotte and Niel, Derek and Ambree (so good to see them after quite a long while), Kimberly's sister Melissa, Travis' cute family with a very pregnant Milli who flew in from Missouri.  (It's easier to name the people who aren't preggo in this family than those who are.)

Classic.

I love the Charles gift exchange.  It's so much more fun (and less stressful) shopping for one person than twenty.  Thanks, Papa John for my great gifts!