Christmas Day 2016

 This past Christmas, we were blessed to spend with my brother's family in Eagle Mountain!  The stay couldn't have been more pleasant.  We enjoyed time with everyone and getting to play, and we were also lucky to get to meet and cuddle our newest niece/cousin only days old, Lexi. 

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung on the couches with care,
In hopes that Santa would not leave them bare.

One awesome perk of spending Christmas with my brother's family is getting to enjoy their amazing Christmas breakfast of cinnamon rolls, sausage, bacon, eggs, milk, and juice!  That's their family tradition that I've heard of for years and finally I got to sink my teeth into their famous soft, homemade cinnamon rolls.  

Cinnamon Rolls of deliciousness!

 The kids didn't waste any time breaking open their packages and playing with their new toys.

Rexton's likes to line up his cars.  He got a whole set of toy trains which made a nice long line!

 In the afternoon, we went to grandma and grandpa Christensen's for a visit, and Steve had a few surprise gifts for me!

Lily with her soft new jacket from Grandma Debbie

 Then, in the evening it was off to my dad's house for our traditional Christmas dinner! 

Rexton was crying, so I bent down to give him a hug at the same time his dad grabbed him, so Micah turned him around and told him to give me a hug, which he did and I LOVED!

 We helped with a few last minute preparations.  My mom was even in town to enjoy this meal with us!

 The table was set so festively.

 The place settings were complete with these traditional poppers on each plate

There were only a few drops left, so April thought, "Why not?"

 The kids had a table of their own, complete with poppers, crowns, and chocolate milk!

 Our poppers had shiny gold crowns along with a party favor and a page of jokes.  My favor was a nice double mirror in a silver compact.

Jared and Ashley, newlyweds.

 The food was posh and plentiful!  Micah served up the prime rib, and when he got to sit down, he filled his plate with a nice thick slice of the juicy meat!

 On the menu:
Dad's Christmas salsa that he hands out to his neighbors as gifts every Christmas,

Great-grandma's fruit cake recipe,

 bowls of steaming hot french onion soup with melty swiss cheese toast floating on the top,

 We can't forget the crab-stuffed button mushrooms blanketed with warm melted swiss cheese.

 Tri-layered Christmas jello has a lime-flavored gelatin base, a sweet and fluffy cream cheese middle, and a clear jewel-toned strawberry gelatin layer to finish it off. 

 There was also prime rib, roasted red potato wedges, and citrus-glazed carrots.  A real feast!
And if you saved room for dessert (and even if you didn't), rich chocolate brownies with vanilla ice cream and homemade chocolate sauce.  What better way to end Christmas than with full bellies and sweet memories.