Christmas Morning 2008

Christmas morning tradition for the kids is you don't get to go downstairs until Mom and Dad are up. I like to go turn on the lights and music while Hyrum gets the video camera ready. I'm not sure how many more Christmases we have of them following this tradition. I could hear them yelling about the gifts before they made it to our room. It was a fabulous morning, a fabulous Christmas!

First Look (or was it...)

Gabriella so excited to see what Santa brought!

Bailey's new skateboard
A new doll for Gabriella (I think this makes 11. I know, but she asks for a doll every year for christmas and Birthday! What are you going to do? She's got her own orphange in the playroom!)

Loves and thanks! It had to be documented!

Christmas Eve 2008

We had a different Christmas Eve this year - a very laid back evening. (Thankfully.) We had our good friends the Paternoster's over for dinner, decorated sugar cookies for Santa, talked about the Birth of Christ, saw Santa run across the yard, and then put the kids to bed. It was great!

Watching where Santa is on the computer. This was really cool because it showed the different time zones and how he was making his way toward them. (We started this in the morning!)

Marcie, Erik & Brooklyn and Bailey and Ella

Decorating cookies for Santa. More like eating cookies for Santa.

Mr. C's note to the kids
Goodnight to all and to all a Goodnight!

Winter Wonderland

I love snow in the month of December! It makes Christmas! I think it's so beautiful. It's when it goes into March and April that I begin to really hate the white stuff. But it was really fun to watch the kids get giddy with excitement while playing outside.

Goody Gumdrops! It's the Rigtrup Christmas Party! December 20th

So Hyrum and I have had a Christmas party for the last 4 years. I LOVE Christmas but I especially love this Christmas party. In the past it's been mostly an Elder's Quorum party but since Hyrum is no longer President, we decided to expand the guest list and make this an Annual tradition. I was really surprised we had as many guest show as we did since there was a serious snow storm outside!

One of the funnest things about the party (next to "no kids allowed") is the White Elephant gift exchange. It's hillarious! There's always such a selection of "gag" gifts. I think people plan for this all year! This year we had a box of junk (literally), men's thong underwear (with happy faces all over it), a "how to kiss/treat a girl" book from the 1950's (with personal notes) and a bunch of crazy other stuff! My stomach muscles hurt from laughing so hard!

Don't miss next year's "Ugly Sweater Christmas Party!" Game on!

Gary & Christi Jacobs, Krista Mitchell, Kelly Jensen and Jake & Cindy Rigtrup

Gary measuring how much is left in the bottle.... Making sure the Peguin lights up! A HOT gift this year. Remember to raid your local Big Lots for next years bird light up!

A VERY cold train ride to see Santa! December 20,2008

Mom and Dad Rigtrup decided to take everyone on the train to the North Pole (Snoqualmie) to visit Santa. We were so excited for the train ride until we discovered there is absolutely NO HEAT on board the train. WHAT?! I think this was the coldest day of the year.

We then had to wait outside to actually get into the building to visit the bearded man. Seriously, I don't think I've been this cold since I lived in Idaho during the Winter! The kids had a great time until they froze up but we are really grateful to Grandma and Grandpa Rigtrup for the experience and I think we all have a true appreciation for Santa! Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa!

Bailey and Caleb

Hyrum and Dad

Me (just before my frost bite)

I tried to prolong this picture and visit as long as I could because we were warm and indoors!

The kids thought this guy looked cool in his vintage sheriff's outfit.

Ward Bethlehem Night - December 13th Evening

This was really a fun night but a lot of work for our Church Activities committee. We had to come dressed in time period/cultural clothing. The gym looked amazing and we all had a fun time - eating (Hyrum), making sandels (Gabriella), laying around (Bailey) and socializing (Stephanie). I appreciated all the work that went into this and the amazing spirit of the true meaning of Christmas this brought. Bailey, the shepard.

Bailey hanging out with friends.

Seriously, all these boys did was lay around in the Syngogue! Funny how some things never change with time...

Nativity acted out by ward children and the Allen's! So cute!

Gabriella as one of the 10+ angels singing Silent Night! (I know, she doesn't look much like an Angel but I was sick of trying to put wardrobes together for that night and by the time I got to her I threw on her white sweater, a "Hyrum made" halo and her purple wings and called it good. She was not impressed with my efforts and let me know that she was more of a fairy than an Angel! Bad, Mom, Bad!)

Little Stevey visits! December 14th

Steve, my brother, came in from Yakima to visit his son Daniel. We had a great time visiting and I'm so proud of him and his progress - he's doing fabulous and looks great! I'm excited for his future! Welcome back Steve!!! I love you little bro!