a whittingham christmas

(we were so crazy busy this christmas that i decided to divide it up into two posts)

we spent christmas eve with the whittingham side,

enjoying a christmas eve dinner at the ever classy el rancherito.

then we decided that to keep our yearly nativity reenactment to ourselves was just selfish.

so we headed over to the beehive house (and assisted living home) to put on a christmas eve show.

we've visited the beehive house on christmas eve before, but not for a very long time.

i'm pretty sure the last time we went i had braces on and baby jesus was an real baby cousin.

at first it was a little embarrassing, seeing as how we are all so grown up now...

(dawson was shocked that we keep this tradition up when most of us are 16+)
and the fact that our "costumes" are from grandma nancy's collection over the past 40 years,

but the audience loved it and i think it helped all of us remember the true meaning of christmas.

and even though mary and joseph look good with a baby, don't be expecting a real kent baby anytime soon.

we went over to grandmas nancy's after for a little cousin time

and a "practical" white elephant party which included toilet paper as one of the gifts.

(don't worry, it was unused)

and of course a few impromptu dance performances.

if you thought julie's dance skills were limited to the running man, you were sorely mistaken.

we spent the night at my parents house,

and then first thing in the morning we headed over to the kents 

so we could watch presley and maybelle open presents!

which could possibly have been the highlight of the day.

then it was BACK to my parents (we're lucky our parents live 5 minutes apart)

to open presents with the princess of the family, kylie,

who was a little upset that we had to wait til afternoon to open her presents,

but we appreciate her being so patient with us.

then the other best part of christmas (you can never have too many best parts of christmas)

was talking to elder whittingham on the phone!

unfortunately his mission president won't let them skype,

but it was wonderful to at least talk to him for a solid two hours.

he is doing great over there in new zealand,

but we are very grateful that we will be able to have him home for next christmas.

we had an amazing christmas this year,
and are so blessed that we are able to live so close to family.

and this was only half of it!!!

get ready to hear about "a kent christmas" soon...