A Castle Dale Christmas

After work on the 22nd we headed down to Castle Dale for Christmas.  We managed to fit all our junk in the car and still fit us and children too.  Small miracle! :)

That night as I was getting ready for bed I realized my camera case was EMPTY! My camera was sitting at home on my bedroom dresser. Arg! I was about to drive home to get it when Luke reminded me my mom probably had an extra camera at her house.  She did! Luke drove to Price on Friday to get it.  My mistake turned out very favorable for us-- her camera is way better than ours!

It was nice being with the Peacock clan.  Courtney and her boyfriend, James, were down from Grantsville and Monica and Chris traveled the far distance across Castle Dale to stay at their parents house too.  It was fun being under the same roof but we sure missed Laura and Eric though.  Why does Nebraska have to be so far away?!
On the 23rd and 24th we played WII games, baked yummy goods, ate lots and lots, went shooting, ate some more, did some crafts and enjoyed one another's company.

 Yes they did taste that good! 

 Cowboy Tree

Loving on Maya (Courtney's dog)

In the middle of the night between the 23rd and 24th Tianna woke me up with a tummy ache. She said, "I guess shouldn't have watched the Grinch before bed."  hahah.. Apparently the Grinch gave her the stomach flu.  It was a rough few hours but luckily by morning she was perfectly fine! .... her mom on the other hand was VERY sleepy!

 

Christmas Eve dinner consisted of  steak and coconut shrimp and an assortment of salads. ( Like I said, more food!) it was very delicious though, so why not! Then the kiddos opened their pj's and got ready for the Nativity.

 I think they liked their new pj's! 

 Found Luke's deer pajama pants at DI! that made me happy!

 Aden and Tianna: Best Buddies Forever and Always

 The 4 Peacock Grandkiddos!

Tianna really really really wanted to be Mary in the Nativity...again.. but eventually conceded the role to her sister who hasn't ever had the chance to do it.  Tianna was the angel.  Raleigh was a short-lived Joseph (it was past bedtime after all,) and Aden was the shepherd who wished to remain anonymous.  (After last time he played Joseph and Tianna bossily placed his hand on her shoulder and wouldn't let him move it so they could gaze lovingly at the baby in her arms, I don't blame him! haha)  So we just had an angel and Mary, but it was still perfect.

 Tianna sang the Christmas song she had composed all by herself:
"The stars are twinkling above, Jesus is in the manger.  Mary looks, Joseph Looks, at the babe so humble.  The Wisemen came, the Shepherds came, it's all a miracle."

 Later the roles switched and "Mary" had the angel at gunpoint while we sang some songs.

Later Grandma Belinda read a story about a little Nephite boy who saw the new star when Jesus was born.  She had their full attentions!

Just before putting the kids to bed we continued on with the Peacock tradition of driving the kids around Castle Dale and Orangeville to see all the lights.  It's a great way to get them all good and sleepy so SANTA CLAUS COULD COME to town! .........i love being a parent! It makes the holidays so much more exciting!