Grandma Jones' family christmas Party.

every year my mom has a Christmas party for her kids and Grandkids. and last year we started doing it the Saturday night after Thanksgiving , so she can fit it in with everyone and not have to compete with ward parties, and work ones. and whatever else comes along in December. and it helps get us all into the holiday spirit. and every year Santa comes! the Santa Onehm paid to have pictures with . we know him, and he has come every year since Liberty was a newborn, so? 8 years! we love our Santa! he does the same tricks every year. and reads a story. and then lets us take loads of Pictures. so we seriously look forward to Grandma's Christmas Party. oh and Joy hovered the whole time by Santa she was totally enthralled. she got to ring the jingle bells and do the paper hat trick. she was so into it this year.

the Girls loving Santa! doesn't Joy look like she is in Heaven?
Liberty(age 8) , Hope(age 3) Santa, and Joy(age 5)

Paxton(age 6 years and 11 months) super excited and smiling enough you can see his dimples. that is rare. and too darn cute!

Lance had to hold Pierce (age 16 months) and he was obviously not into Santa this year.

Joy was too cute and had to go up and give Santa a kiss on the cheek!

Grandma is always super Popular with my kids. Holding Pierce and Hope wishing it was her.
and Aunt Jane telling a story

Pierce was not so sure

Liberty(age 8) and the man in red!

Joy(age 5) super thrilled she is finally sitting on Santa's lap! Can you see her hand on his beard? it is real folks! ( his wife curls it for him and they whiten it for the season. )
she whispered to him about what she wanted which is "a rainbow unicorn pony that is smart, has babies that she can ride on and can fly". when Lance told her that those aren't available in stores, she said,"oh, Santa will make me one." and every time she told anyone else about her dream pony it got better and better.

Hope (age 3) thinking about what she wants to ask Santa for.

Peyton ( age 9) and Santa

Joy as the assistant and all eyes on santa!

Joy Escorting Santa to his seat. right after he got there.

'Twas the night before Christmas ....

most of the kids watching Santa's reading!
see Joy's fancy hat? she got to do that trick.

this would be an ok family picture if Hope's diaper wasn't showing.
and no my 3 year old isn't potty trained yet.

this year My Mom had a Webkin for every grandkid. 26 in all from 18 down to 8 months old. she wrapped each one with a big gold bow and put them all over her tree and then called up groups by age and let every grandkid pick one . there was only one of each kind so there were a couple kids with tears but really not too many. Peyton didn't get the one he wanted so he is hoping for the tree frog in his stocking. and everyone else wants one too. i think that can be arranged.

we got a black bear, and a raccoon, an alley cat and a white bunny, a panda bear and a Clydesdale. registering all of them for the first time was a delight i might say (sarcastically) Liberty was the only one with a Webkin before tonight. i know this will be a nightmare for me. but they were thrilled. and really i have already had to remind her to feed her webkin. pretty sad when i have to remind the kids to feed the real pets and the virtual ones. and someone let their webkin get tired, and they had to take it to the Dr. and Joy overbought on webkin clothes in the shop, and couldn't buy a bed. she had to sell some other stuff, and then earn a bunch of money playing games so she could buy a bed so her webkin wouldn't get tired. gosh, wonder where she gets her shopping habits? and lack of planning? maybe she'll learn the easy way, on her webkin instead of real life like her mom.

It was a totally fabulous family party! gotta love Grandma and Santa is pretty darn fabulous too. we love this Santa the best. he asked who was 8? and what did Joy's CTR ring stand for. He used to be in Janie's ward. and he calls every year and asks when we need him to come. he used to go to my mom's school class to every year for a visit also. so fun. we really feel lucky to know our Santa!

maybe I'll dig up past pictures of the kids with Santa later in the month. and i still need to scan in my painting my mom did. too darn cute.