Christmas 2011

I L-O-V-E Christmas! It's seriously my favorite time of year! I start listening to Christmas music in September, start decorating as soon as my husband lets me, and leave my decorations up and music playing until people start calling me strange. I had an excuse to begin even earlier than usual this year. I really wanted to enjoy the season once the baby came, so I had all decorations up, the tree up, presents bought and wrapped and everything ready by mid-November. I didn't know when this bundle of joy would arrive, so I wanted to be prepared.

We also participated in some fun festivities before the little one arrived. We attended some Christmas parties, went to temple square, drove aound and looked at Christmas lights, etc. I'm glad we did all of these things before the little guy came, because after he was born I didn't really care about the Christmas season anymore. It was all about my sweet baby!

We told our families we were not going anywhere for Christmas this year. Jayson was only a week old when Christmas came around. We told family and friends they were welcome to visit us this year. We had lots of loved ones visit the little guy.

Jayson with his uncle Tanner (my brother).

Jayson with his grandpa and grandma (my dad and stepmom).


Jayson with Bradley (a good friend of mine).


Jayson with his "aunt" Lindsey and "uncle" Cameron (good friends of mine).


Jayson with Lauren (a good friend of mine).


Jayson with his aunt Grace and aunt Connie (Mike's family).


Jayson with his aunt Melissa and cousin Giselle (Mike's sister).


Jayson with his aunt Sabrina (Mike's sister).


Jayson with his Uncle Steve and Aunt Kjerstin (Mike's brother and sister-in-law).


Jayson with his aunt Joanna (Mike's sister).


Jayson with his grandma (Mike's mom).


Jayson with his grandpa (Mike's dad).


Jayson with his aunt Tessa and uncle Kraig (my sister and her boyfriend).


My sister Angie and her family traveled all the way from Pocatello to meet Jayson. He is her first nephew and her kids' first cousin, so it was a pretty big deal. They just loved him!!

Jayson with his aunt Angie (my older sister).



Jayson with his cousin Luka (my sister's son).


Jayson with his cousin Veronika (my sister's daughter).


Jayson with his cousin Sabrina (my sister's daughter).


Jayson with his cousin Jaron (my sister's son).


Jayson with his cousin Shayla (my sister's daughter).


Jayson with his uncle Jonathan (my brother-in-law).


My family came over Christmas eve and stayed over. Since it's basically just my mom and little sis, it didn't make sense for them to celebrate alone in Lewiston. Tessa was really sick, but she came anyway and wore a mask while hanging at my house. We opened presents Christmas morning and had a great time! Tessa's boyfriend joined us this year. The biggest Christmas surprise was a laptop Tessa and Kraig got for my mom. She was so surprised!



Here is all of the Christmas loot! Mike and I must have been good this year!


Christmas morning with the new West family!


My sis and I both got cute winter hats!!


Even Maya was in the Christmas spirit!


Jayson and his mommy on Christmas morning.


His onesie says First Christmas!


As for me, I had no interest in gifts this year, although I got many wonderful gifts. I sure had fun giving them, but my greatest gift came from my Heavenly Father this year. This song sung by Barbara Streisand explains my feelings best...

The best gift
That I ever got
Didn't really weigh a lot
It didn't have a ribbon 'round
And it sometimes made the terrible sound
The best of all it seems to me
It wasn't neath the Christmas tree
And yet, I guess I'd have to say
That it made all the other presents twice as gay
The best gift that I've ever known
I'd always wanted most to own
Yet in my dreams of sugar and spice
I never thought it could be so nice
The best gift that I ever get
Was sometimes dry and sometimes wet
Was usually pink but oftentimes red
As it lay so innocently in its bed
The best gift of the year to me
The one I hold most dear to me
A gift that simply drove me wild
Was a tiny new born child...