Happy Holidays

The holidays were jam packed as usual, but we - I wouldn't have it any other way. 


The  season started off with a special visit from Santa.  My best-girlfriends from high school got our families together for a light dinner and gifts from Jolly Old St. Nicholas.  All the kids sat on Santa's lap and opened their Christmas pj's. 

A week or so later, our little Braelyn lost her first tooth. She was such a trooper when it was pulled out.  Too bad Daddy wasn't as tough - he made Mommy do the dirty work.

(Before)

(After)

 Most of you know about our trip to Santa's Workshop at the North Pole.  This was a wonderful gift from Mark's mom to the family.   The kids were able to play with the elves, drink snowman soup (hot cocoa), and so many other things.  Unfortunately, there was no snow.  Mark, the girls and I even took some time to enjoy the outdoor hot tub at the condo and took in some beautiful Arizona sun.

(The Woodworth Grandkids clockwise: Jazlynn, Jayvin, Tavia, Ridge, Braelyn, Jax)

Braelyn danced in her third Christmas recital on the 17th.  She was the star of the show.  She currently is taking two classes: Ballet/Tap and Tumbling.  Little sis' Tavia is also loving Tumbling.  We look forward to the spring recital.

(Braelyn and her cousin Bailey)

(Pre-show calm & cool)

(Leading the pack)

One of the girls' gifts from their Aunt Jen (Mark's sister) was a trip to the Broadway Palm where they say the Children's Theater Production of Aladdin.  They loved it.  Especially Braelyn.  I love that they are getting to experience the arts.  They spent the day with Grandma and Aunt Jen and were able to add a few signatures to their autograph book.

(Grandma and the girls.) 

 (Aunt Jen and the girls.)

(Aladdin and Jasmine with our stars)

Christmas was wonderful.  We spent the morning of Christmas Eve with Mark's family at our house.  We enjoyed a delicious brunch but missed a few key players: Grandma and Grandpa Richardson and Uncle Matt and Aunt Kris.  The kids had fun opening gifts and the everyone was off to their respective churches or living rooms.

(The kids with their gifts from Aunt Kris and Uncle Matt)

Mark, the girls and I went to an early service at church.  God bless the Chreasters. We arrived 50 minutes early and still had to stand.  For the first time in my life, we didn't have plans on Christmas Eve.  So we took advantage of a quiet dinner out.  The rest of the evening we spent monitoring Santa's travel and wrapping gifts.  Christmas morning brought Barbies, clothes, and more Barbies.  Grandma Woodworth joined us for opening gifts the we went to my parent's for the Frawley Family Christmas.  The only bad thing about the day was that I kept eating and eating and eating.

 (The girls wrapped in their princess blankets from my mom.)

One of my gifts from Mark was tickets to Ballet Arizona's production of The Nutcracker.   I love dance and the theater, so it is shocking that I had never seen it.  Needless to say, it was wonderful.  We think Braelyn will be ready for it next year.

As always, we enjoyed our time with family and friends.  We are so thankful for all of those in our lives.  Now on to planning those New Year's resolutions...