Christmas Time!

For me the festivities began with the December performance of my ballet girls. The ballet department at Center Stage put together a show with excerpts from "The Nutcracker" and my ballet 5's were "Tea/Chinese" and my 6's were "Hot Chocolate/Spanish" from the Land of the Sweets. They did great!

The Saturday morning after finals Jayce and I had our own little Christmas celebration together before all of our family get-together's. Wrapping paper was sparse, so we did what we could! Note the phone book pages and package with three different kinds of wrapping paper on it (none having to do with Christmas). We woke up and had chocolate chip waffles (dieting starts after new years, right?) and then opened presents together.

Here's part of the loot:

Between each other, sibblings, and both sets of parents Jayce and I got everything we asked for and more. A hiking backpack from Jayce's parents, movies, TimTam's, books, Jayce got three pairs of shoes from my parents, a gift card to Mimi's from Rachel so that we can go on a date together, etc. The list just keeps going! We are soooo excited about our gifts.

Jayce bought me this nativity!! Almost every time I passed through the Wilk I'd stop and look at all of the nativities and Christmas decorations they had out in the bookstore and this one was my favorite. It's so sweet and simple, I love love love it! My first nativity!

After our little celebration together Jayce and I began running all over the place getting errands taken care of. Later that day Kimber (Jayce's sister) and Fabian (aka Fabs) and their kids arrived from California. They decided to come up for a few days to be part of baby Porter's blessing. The weekend was fantastic. Porter's blessing went really well and we all went up to the cabin in Heeber to relax together. It was a weekend full of adorable kids, fondue, the infamous game of Legretto, the pig game, and so much more. I so wish I pulled out my camera while we were at the cabin! The highlight of my Sunday was getting to sit on a bench at church with Jayce and the boys (Tristan and Tyler). They are just so fun to be around. We love our nieces and nephews! The fun did not end though. Monday morning Josh dropped us off in Salt Lake where we were able to go to Jayce's old roommate's sealing in the temple and then we booked it to the airport to fly out to Virginia to spend time with my family.

We came home to discover that James is a monster! His head is in the 90th percentile. It's huge. He has also become a master roller and almost master crawler. Watching Rebekah change his diaper is quite entertaining now.

For Christmas Eve we ate dinner and played games at my dad's cousin's house. I don't have any cousins in my family, but at least my dad does. The Schmutz's are a great family. All the kids got together to be part of the telling of the Christmas story. Our nativity looks rather exquisite, don't you think?

Christmas morning!

All the children chipped in to get my parents a framed picture of the Manti Temple since that's where they were married.

I want one!

Christmas dinner. I always love my mom's place settings. One day I shall have golden goblets of my own.

Another thing that makes James fun to be around is his addiction to putting everything and anything he get his hands on in his mouth. First, you get to watch the reach: His big, round eyes lock focus on some object close to him and then his solid torso leans over and he stretches his pudgy little fingers out until he can lay a hold on his heart's desire. Second, his little mouth stretches as wide as it can and he begins to bring his little fists full of something delectable (aka sweatshirt strings, toys, the kitchen table, Mom's pantry door, etc.) up to his mouth where he can contently suck on it. It's quite the act. Jayce had to stop him from eating the paper..that's just not good for a baby's digestive system.

The Capitol building! What's a trip to northern Virginia without a trip or two to D.C.?

Inside the capitol's dome. You may not know this, but the capitol is basically dedicated to George Washington. He is one of the focal points at the top of the dome and the painting depicts his ascension into Heaven. In the bottom of the Capitol there is a big room called the Crypt and it was supposed to be his tomb. He would have been buried in the Capitol! However, his wishes to be buried at his home, Mount Vernon, were honored instead. Fun facts from the Porter's to you.

My parents took us to see the lights at the D.C. Temple. They do a great job. Inside the Visitor's Center they have Christmas programs, lots of Christmas trees decorated by wards around the area, and a nativity exhibit set up. It was great.

Virginia friends! I got together for lunch with my two Lindsey's.

Rachel's birthday was January 2nd, but we celebrated it New Year's day since most of the family was there. However since she was sick, it was decided that her boyfriend Todd would do the honors of blowing out the candles for her. I come from a family of germ-a-phobes!

Jayce wouldn't smile..so I tried to make him.

Moral of the post: Family is wonderful. Our break was so great because of both mine and Jayce's families. We are excited for another family moment coming to us this month since Jayce's younger brother is coming home from his mission. A family member I have never met before, haha!

More to come from the Porters!