christmas fun

Last weekend was my family's Christmas party. It was up in Logan, and we had a blast. It was so fun to get together and see everyone. We missed the Brennans and the Mark Hopkins fam!! Maybe next year??

To start our day, we met at the Food Pantry in Logan to do some service. It was great, serving alongside each other, helping out, and having a moment to teach our kids about service. Plus it was fun. I couldn't believe the amount of food we helped sort, it was awesome.

Then we headed to Mike's house for some festive partying. It wouldn't be a Hopkins get together without a great spread of food. We had yummy appetizers and soup in bread bowls. Plus everyone brought their favorite treat. We were full.... and happy.

This is my GREAT-nephew Carver. Yes, I have a sister who is a grandma, and I have a niece who is a mom. Carver is just two weeks younger than Eli. They are going to be buds, I know it. He is so dang cute, I couldn't get over his big cheeks. He was a sweet heart. A little more mild mannered than our E man, and we had a blast watching the two together.
After dinner, we had a snowflake cutting contest. It was a lot of fun. Everyone hung their snowflake up on the lights to be "judged." They even had great prizes for everyone. They did a kids category and an adult category. It was awesome. I guess because we are temporarily homeless, we one two of the prizes.... people take pity on us. :)
This was Will's snowflake, as you can read. He was so excited when he won a prize, although he was really bashful going to get his prize. Will has never liked being the center of attention and his big win was no different. Where does he get that? I guess it is because Scott and I are so shy..... j/k.
Cutting out our snowflakes. My personal favorite was Mallory's "Smellma Pitts." That is what she named her snowflake.
Here's all the kiddos with Grandpa and Grandma. What a cute group! We still missed the Brennans and the Mark Hopkins clan!! Can you believe that, all those kids and there are still 7 missing from the picture. Actually, more like 9 because the two babies aren't pictured either. Crazy.
Last year at Thanksgiving and when we were in Utah to seal Eli, we took pictures with Carver and Eli together. It is so fun to see how they grow up! But they grow up too fast. This is my sis GayLynn.... my entire life I have been told I look a lot like her, and have even been mistaken for her. I see the resemblence... except she's a Grandma! ;) Wink, wink. And those boys are really too cute for words. And they are opposites.... Carver has tiny little features, except those big fluffy cheeks. He also has no hair. Eli on the other hand, lots of hair, big manly features! :) I love it!
And of course, it wouldn't be a Christmas party without the man himself. He came, scared all the kids, and we had a great time laughing at what they were asking for for Christmas. Eli sat there for about .2 seconds until he slid off and crawled away as fast as he could. Will wouldn't even get close to him. Until I bribed him, and then he would only stand by him, with me, and whisper what he wanted.

Eli got a candy cane from Santa. He bit into it and was trying to eat chunks of it. I took it away, this is what I got. He was SO sad.
But then he was happy when he got to open a present. Christmas is so fun at this age, mostly because they have no idea what they are doing.....

It was such a fun day, I'm glad we were in Utah. I haven't been to a Christmas party with my family in almost 5 years. It is good to be home. :)