Lobsters

Liam got paint for Christmas.  It was his one consistent request when asked by Santa(s) and adults alike. He was elated when we broke the stuff out to make his first masterpiece..."Lobsters."  He was going back and forth between "Dinosaurs" and "Lobsters", but insisted that the final product was indeed the former.  Liam does not like to be messy, and knowing this, I hinted to Santa that he might want to include some brushes with the finger paint.  Success!  I dare say he may have inherited the artsy gene...

Ties and Diapers

Thanks to the Bret & Jen Rawson family for this adorable Daddy-Baby matching birthday present for our little, dapper man.  All he needs is a tiny briefcase and he'll be ready for preschool...Can't you just picture it?

Both are wearing ties, but I'll let you decide which is also wearing a diaper...

Back to Bethlehem

And finally, this is what Christmas evening looked like at the Chalet de Charles.  If you ask a seven month pregnant lady to host her first Christmas dinner, then you'd better be up for anything...

These Charles folks were great sports, and they totally made this ancient feast come together with their period-perfect food contributions.  

While some found the fare too exotic for 'merican tastebuds, I could eat this every day of my life and be a happy girl.  

Dates, anyone?

Our little shepard boy sweetly served his two-minute time-out for touching Mamma's tripod after several warnings.  It's very hard to discipline someone this cute, but it's for the greater good!

Liam is very excited that his baby brother will soon join the party, but he's not so excited about giving up "his" cradle.

We are very grateful to the late, great Steve Jobs, especially during important holidays...

Kevin won the best-dressed contest by a mile, complete with lamb and ski-pole/shepard-crook.

It doesn't take much to elicit these expressions from Liam...a simple "show me your teeth!" will do.

Many thanks to Autie Tracie for the great photography, because I was a bit, well, occupied.  

At least for my immediate family, the Bethlehem Dinner will be a Christmas tradition.  Christmas is becoming more and more about Santa, the mountains of gifts, stress...everything but Christ himself.  It's time to backtrack.  We have so much to be thankful for.

Speaking of being thankful, it was a Christmas miracle that I didn't collapse from exhaustion afterwards.  Thanks for indulging me in my non-traditional (although quite traditional when you think about it) tradition, everyone!  

On Christmas Morn

Some rearranging of schedules was required this Christmas, as the big day fell on a Sunday.  So, the three-point-five of us opened stockings from Santa around 9am after Liam woke up, enjoyed an hour of church and didn't get to the rest of the loot until late that evening because we hosted the Charles family for Christmas dinner (my first time hosting Christmas...lots of work...yikes.)

Wes and I sang in the ward choir Christmas day and the lovely bishop's wife was sweet enough to hang out with our boy during the two numbers.  Liam loves to practice with us at home...

The best Christmas gift in the universe below...

I have so much to be grateful for in 2011, with these two handsome specimens topping the list.

Seriously, there is nothing I love more than my sweet boys.

Opening the rest of the gifts Christmas night was a little...confusing due to several Charles-kids-who-shall-remain-nameless.  I think they saw a bunch of gifts under the tree and must have thought, "Hey, we should help out this poor family; they haven't even opened their gifts yet!"  So, if we haven't thanked you for personally for your lovely gifts, it's probably because we have no idea who they are from...With that said, thanks so much to Maddie's family for the virtual schmorgesborg of presents for Liam!  He's obsessed with all of his Thomas paraphenalia, and while we had to take back the computer (compoodle) and sherpa set because he already had them, he LOVES both of those as well (you have very good taste.)  Thanks SO much to Grandpa and MoMo for the moolah which purchased a brand new Bluray player and digital camera for the Charles fam.  What a wonderful treat!  Liam also thanks you for the jammies and books, both totally essential to his happiness in life.   

And it must be said, that Santa totally came through this year and brought Liam "paint" and a "Thomas movie", per his request.  Great job, Santa!  P.S. Mamma got some really cool galoshes and tall leather boots and Dadda got a tool set and matching Polo sweaters for he and Liam.  Don't they look dapper?  Dadda also gave Mommy a book of tickets good for various types of massages, courtesy of a loving hubby.  Christmas morn + evening was a success!  

Twas the Night Before...

Christmas Eve was held at my parents' home this year, with no shortage of Rawsons.  My mom decorated to the nines once again, and everyone was filled with the general merriment that this time of year always offers.  Much to everyone's amazement, we were able to pull of a Rawson family picture (first since my wedding in 2008) with the help of the tripod and many bribes for Liam.  

Yes, Weston, the preggo girl wore sparkly sequins to Christmas Eve dinner.  Do you really think I can hide what's protruding from my knees to neck?  Let's just embrace it, k?  I love our little family of 3.5.

The Bret Rawson fam...Can I get a smile, Garrett?  Teenagers. (sigh)  

Surprisingly, the Daniel Rawson family was the most well-behaved during their family photo.  I don't think it's due to experience...they don't do this very often.  Well done, guys.  Cheer up, Eli!

Papa with all of the boys...including the little teeny one in my belly, who will make the ninth grandchild (eight of which have both x and y chromosomes.) 

I've always thought Wes looks great in red.  And a red apron?  Don't even get me started.  Hubba-hubba.  

Great job, Mamma!  P.S. Can we make honey-baked ham a tradition?  I'm a fan, and I think you're right about heating it past room temperature.  Much better.  

Mr. Liam left his mark on Christmas Eve.  His mamma slaved over a delicious Apple-Pear Crisp (with the help of Dadda's peeling skills), but she waited to bake it until half-way through dinner so that it would be fresh out of the oven for dessert.  About twenty minutes into baking it, Liam snuck into the kitchen and turned the dial up one hundred degrees to 475 F.  Needless to say, my Crisp was a bit crispier than intended (black).  Everyone was a good sport and told me how delicious the bottom half was (liars).  Thanks for your contribution, stinker!  

I have weird big brothers.  If you don't know them, well, you really don't know them.

Lindsay had one too many Shirley Temples, methinks.  College students.  (sigh)

Because scissors just don't do the trick...  

Thank you, Daniel & Linda, for the T.J. Maxx gift card...you know us too well.  And Liam loves his Mr. Potato head!  It's just like the one at nursery!  

Grammy & Papa, you really know how to make a boy happy.  School bus!  It doesn't take much, does it?  Good work!  Wes and I can't WAIT to go to Fireside Dining next week with you.  What a perfect Christmas present.  

Thanks for the snowman kit, Bret, Jen and kids!  Now if only Park City would get a storm or two...

I have a really good husband.  He ate my blackened Apple-Pear Crisp.

And so did I, reluctantly.  I'll eat anything my baby helped to make.

We were all so impressed by Isaac and Kaleb's musical talents.  This little four year old treats his violin with so much maturity (he'd better; it's worth more than he can count...) and plays it like a pro!  Only furthering the Asian-child stereotype ;-)  Of course, we'll do the same with our kids so maybe it's more of a Rawson stereotype.  

You would not believe Kaleb's piano prowess.  I started piano at age 6, and Kaleb at 7 is playing what took me at least a couple of years to master.  Great work, bud.  Keep practicing!  

Thanks to the Rawson clan for making yet another Christmas wonderful.  The fact that we all gather under one roof only once or twice a year makes it all the more special.  Anyone want to go to California this summer?