The Bloods Stink at Christmas

Much to Aaron's dismay, I started setting up the tree while people were still in town on the day after Thanksgiving. 

 

Babies and twinkling lights <3

How cute is this winter baby?!?

Annie was a total Christmas Elf in both fashion and willingness to help set up the tree

Celery arm is still going strong

Mimi was a powerhouse at the interfaith Creche Festival this year! We got to pitch in helping sand and stain lots of display stands. Mom lured me over to help in the evening by letting me talk her and Breezy's ears off about my predictions for the soon-to-be-released Stormlight Archive #5 book. It was a beautiful event!

To cap off a great night, I got to hear my mama sing "In the Bleak Midwinter."

Next up was our ward Christmas party, featuring a yummy dinner, cookie decorations, games, and a Santa photo op. 

Isaac hugs everyone these days. I'm honestly surprised he wasn't trying to smooch Santa as well. 

Then the Johnsons started trickling into town! Blake, Clio, Max, and Morgan stayed at my Parent's house and Aunt Trisha stayed with us. Blake was here for about a week before the rest of the people rolled in. We had many great jam sessions, with the most memorable being when he and Breezy wrote a lovely song called "The Bloods Stink at Christmas."

Hot tubbing and polar plunging were frequent activities over the break! Blake won the contest of least audible reaction to the cold. The rest of us whimpered. 

Mimi reading the kids "The Mitton." Annie is pondering how any fabric could stretch enough to fit a bear. 

 

The kids always love exploring the Town Hall lights in the evenings. Isaac thought that this big walk-in ornament was a Liahona. 

Elliot is perfecting the art of the lounge

The dads catching a little siesta

The lad being cute when he was supposed to be taking a siesta. I thought that napping under the tree was a cute idea, but the lights were too fascinating so we had to relocate him. 

Isaac and Trisha hit it off this year

Christmas Eve Fondue! This picture features Blake being #1, Papa doing an interesting dance move, Morgan growing a hand out of her head, and Elliot being a bowl of cheese. 

Papa loved having some baby bonding time

Elliot treated us to a shadowbox nativity play with Mimi narrating 

We ended Christmas Eve with a sing-a-long with Blake on guitar, me on viola, and Breezy on her new autoharp until she got tired of Blake making her memorize his altered chord progressions on the fly. 

Kimberly Ann and Annie Kimberly sung their hearts out.