An Oregonian Christmastime

We have to be very specific around here.  I was asked every day, multiple times a day, since Thanksgiving, if it was "Christmas" or ... "Christmastime".  Kind of a hard concept, I guess, despite advent calendars and the continual watching of "A Very Monkey Christmas" which knowingly addresses the same issue.

Anyway, we spent Christmastime and Christmas in Oregon, and it was so much fun!

Here's our little Santa... chubby, plump, a right jolly little elf!

Making cookies with Grandma

Let's just say ninja turtles weren't only cool in the 80's.  Alan and Grandpa had a blast with these heroes in a half shell.

And then Alan even got to decorate the cookies!  Very daring considering we were giving them away.  I don't usually have so much hope in his abilities, but he did a great job.

Alan wanted to hold James.  Grandpa was singing "Jingle Bells" to him, which is now Alan's favorite song.  He will sing it to himself all day long... and the chorus never ends...

And here's George the Wiener Dog (not to be confused with George the monkey) sporting his fancy sweater.  He is getting kind of old and has to drag his back legs some of the time.  So sad!  But he is a good little doggie and we all loved playing with him.

Airplane rides!

We did a little nativity Christmas Eve.  Alan was a shepherd, though he wouldn't wear a costume.

Mary and her babe, swaddling and all.

Alan had a wonderful Christmas morning and was very very excited.

Yup, Santa brought diapers!!!

Jolly little elf...take 2!

We went to church and then started on round 2 of presents.

Alan wrapped up this present for George.  Then unwrapped it and gave him a treat.

We had our own little visit to the "North Pole"

I couldn't capture it all in a picture, but it was a pretty cool place.

And Alan loved the holiday friends.

And here's one more shot of the smiley guy.

We had so many fun memories this Christmas break.  In addition to the things documented above we got to catch up with some old friends (and meet a wife and baby), see a great BYU bowl victory (thanks to Riley's fake spike touchdown pass on the last play), and celebrate our 4th anniversary by doing family sealings in the Portland temple.  Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Robertson for taking such good care of us and putting up with our craziness!  We love you.