Christmas Chaos

Christmas in Smithfield

Christmas Eve Dinner
We almost had the whole family there, Christmas Eve is such a special Bunker night; dinner, 'The Three Trees,' the reading of our Savior's birth, sharing our Christmas service experiences, and a family gift exchange. The Christmas Eve was a bit chaotic as the number of Bunker babies has multiplied and not all are babies anymore, so we skipped a few things on the normal agenda, but hearing the service experiences was wonderful as always.

Two favorites of a traditional Bunker dinner:
MASHED POTATOES & GRAVY
BLACK OLIVES

Affection accepted

Affection denied

Christmas with cousins= CHAOS

CBC/Nash Traditions
Santa's Sack with Christmas Jammies

Santa's Cookies and Milk
This year we made gingerbread butterscotch, they were chewy and fabulous!
(Tatum in her new jammies)

Sprinkling food for Santa's Reinmoose (according to Tatum)

I know, we are cruel parents, but Linc kept the hat on

Princess Guitar

Lincoln's guitar

Our guitar

I must say, Santa was sure clever this year. We all received guitars, perfume/cologne- Tatum was so thrilled with her Tinkerbell body splash, watches-yes she loves her Minnie Mouse watch too, but what I think she was most thrilled about was that it was like Daddy and Mommy's.

Another CBC/Nash Tradition
Fresh squeezed orange juice accompanied with a toast. Cheers!

"It meant so much to have you here for Christmas. Your visit was extra special because 2008 was the first year we have been with grandchildren on Christmas morning. I thoroughly enjoyed experiencing your traditions. I find myself recalling Tatum's delight with Santa's bag and the cookies he ate. Her little voice is so expressive. Holidays are always more fun when children are involved." Grandma Teri


We were hoping for a white Christmas and Santa delivered.

Thanksgiving Point Dinosaur Musem

Did you know this is the biggest dinosaur exhibition in the world? Well, it is. Tatum really ate it up. She loved the big bones, and the star room, the big shark mouth and especially the interactive exhibits. We spent the morning at the museum with Grandma Teri, Brooklyn and Cairo, so perfect for dinosaur loving kids and three year olds!


http://thanksgivingpoint.com/visit/museum_of_ancient_life/about/museum_facts.html

Cai, Tatum & Lincoln with SANTA CLAWS

Tatum did not want to leave this area, especially after Ben built this spectacular dam so her dinosaurs wouldn't wash away!

Build your own dinosaur

Excavation is serious work

Very serious work

Lincoln getting in on the discovery

Sharing tools of the trade with fellow archaeologist Cairo

Cairo decided the tool was better than the dig!

Snow days -Utah

Tatum loved, loved, loved the snow. She would run, dive, roll, sled, throw, eat you name it she did it with the snow. It was so great to have the park that was perfect for sledding just around the corner, walking distance from Grandpa and Grandma Bunker's house. I loved the sledding, Ben loved it , Tatum loved it and even Linc enjoyed the sledding. Our poor little Linc looked like Ralphie's brother from 'A Christmas Story' and could hardly move in all his snow gear, but he was such a trooper!
I must say mine and Linc's snowman worked Daddy and Tatum's!

Holly and Hal Reinmoose

GoGo took the kids (this time I even got to go) to Build-a-Bear for there Christmas gift to make the Christmas friends.
Tatum calls reindeer, reinmoose. Just try correcting her.
Nothing like seeing Tatum and Lincoln snuggling their new friends. It was so fun to see Tatum, she really takes this whole friend making business serious.

A few of my favorite Christmas things.....

I love Nativity scenes, I have been collecting them in the most recent years but my new favorites are the 'Little People' set, the kids love playing with it and it is so sweet. Lincoln loves the "Drummer Boy"set, that plays the Drummer Boy song, and makes various farm animal sounds, Tatum loves set up the sheep in the field, and they both love the manger set, it plays "Silent Night" and lights up.
My other favorite creche is the one Tatum made out of a laundry soap scoop, some wood chips and felt. It is so sweet and she is so proud of it.
Another favorite Christmas thing is Christmas baking,
and Christmas decorating,
and revelling in Tatum's enthusiasm and excitement for all things Christmas. It is such a magical time of year.

Happy Birthday Bennie!

We love you, thank you making life such a gift!

California Bunker Coalition Christmas 2008