Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

We are finally in San Diego. We've been here a couple of days and had lots of fun. Besides my parents and brothers who live here in San Diego, we have also been able to visit with my sister Michelle and her husband Jake who returned to their home in Portland on Sunday, my sister Jennifer who just returned to school in Hawaii yesterday, and Grandma Faun who returned to her home in Salt Lake yesterday too. It was fun to have a little while while we were all here at the same time. Michael has been gone on interviews since early Sunday morning, and will continue to have interview trips through the end of next week, and then he will only have a couple more trips after that later on in the month.

I thought I'd take a few minutes now while the boys are down for their naps to post some photos from Christmas Eve and Christmas day.

The whole family playing in the snow on Christmas Eve:

Isaac's first time out in the snow:

Camden loved the snow until he eventually dropped his mittens and his hands got wet and cold. But Michael and I were surprised at how long he lasted before he got cold and had to go inside:

Kolby in the snow:

Eli with a snowball:

All of us with our snowman that Kolby and Eli named 'Frosty.'

Jennie's fiancé, Dalin, and his parents came over Christmas Eve with little gifts for everyone. Dalin's father came dressed as Santa just for our boys. Afterwards the boys watched from the window as they left and Kolby asked, "Santa has a car?"

Isaac and Daddy relaxing:

Daddy reading the Christmas pop-up books to the boys on the night of

Christmas Eve -- a Chidester family tradition:

The boys with their aunts getting ready to act out the

nativity story -- a Bradshaw family tradition:

Acting out the nativity -- Michael and I played Mary and Joseph and Isaac was baby Jesus. Kolby and Eli made very cute wise men and Camden was a shepherd:

Kolby left cookies and milk and a letter for Santa and carrots for his reindeer.

It's fun that Kolby is getting to be old enough to have fun with the idea of Santa Claus:

Michael and his sisters with the boys waiting to come upstairs to

open gifts on Christmas morning:

The boys opening their gifts from Santa on Christmas morning (at the Bradshaw's house, they open gifts from Santa in the living room when they get up in the morning, and then after eating breakfast they open gifts from the family members around the Christmas tree):

Eli, Stephanie, and Michael opening gifts. (This gift was a water filter

that we asked for for our 72-hour emergency kit):

Camden opening his gift from Kolby and Eli. (This year we decided to start having the kids pick out a little gift for each other -- we hadn't really done this in the past, but now they are old enough to get the idea and it was fun for them to choose gifts for each other at the dollar store):

Kolby showing us the Boggle Jr. game he got:

The whole family in front of the Christmas tree.

(Isaac finally woke up and joined us just before we finished opening gifts):

Camden playing with one of Isaac's gifts:

Smiles from Kolby:

Mommy and Isaac:

Merry Christmas, Eli: