Christmas Eve 2019

And then it is finally Christmas Eve-- the most anticipated night of the whole year!  And I love everything and everyone in this picture.  Now THAT is a kid table!

These four had their own table-- not quite room at the adult table or the kid table.  I'm glad they have each other.  And don't feel too badly for them.  They have quite a good time together.

Clark, Brigham, George, Eli, and a little bit of Peter:) The crowns come from the Christmas crackers.

 They are a British tradition Abe picked up on his mission to London.  Here is my sweet niece, Rosalie.

The adult table.

So, so beautiful.  I could cry.  Is anyone else's mouth watering right now?

Family, being together, singing Christmas carols--- This may be as close to heaven on earth as we can get.

The backstage picture of the Nativity pageant.  It was not really as reverent as I might prefer.  I'm not sure what to do about that.  But they do seem to enjoy themselves.  That's something, right?

George and Rosalie were Joseph and Mary this year.  As no one in the family has a baby these days (weird!) a Webkinz koala was the baby Jesus.  I don't know why they didn't get out a baby doll.  My favorite thing about this picture is the manger.  It is Faith under that sheet.  She held that crunch position for a LONG TIME!  She's so strong!

The three wise women.- Kaylee, Aliyah, and Takara.

Emi made a good angel.  She is a sweetheart.

The after cast photo.

Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa, the girls got matching Christmas pajamas.

Greta and Juliette-- I could eat them up they are so yummy!

The boys had matching jammies too-- although there was a little mishap with the sizing of Cannon's 😁  Oh well, now George has two sets.

The cousins played games

Elinor loves her Aunt Laura.  We feasted on decadent desserts.

Bethany's reading of Cajun Night Before Christmas  is a always a favorite.

We have absolutely no Cajun background.  But Grandma Fox gave us this book and it's tradition now and it entertains us.

Grandpa read Twas the Night Before Christmas, even with a case of laryngitis. 

The extended family all headed back to their homes and we were left just ourselves.  The Foxy Ladies opened their matching pajamas.  Greta thought us holding her like this was so funny.

My heart was full.

A siblings selfie.  

They are my world and to have them all together for Christmas Eve again made my heart so happy.  

Then the little kids hurried off to bed-- anxious for the long night to be shortened with sleep.  

Cannon Family Christmas Eve Breakfast 2019

We always like to get a family picture taken right as we arrive at the Cannon family Christmas Eve breakfast.  We thought this one turned out pretty great... until we realized Faith was missing!  Where had she got off to so quickly?  She was pretty excited to reunite with a second cousin she likes to hang out with, so maybe that's where.  Oh well.  We have plenty of other complete family pictures:)

I'm not really saying anything about this event that I don't say every year.  It's awesome and amazing.  You feel so loved and welcome and my extended Cannon family are the nicest people on the planet.  It's how we hope Abe and my posterity will feel about being together.  There's no guilt.  No pressure.  You go because you want to feel how you feel around them.

Even the little ones feel it and love it.

Kristi, Bev, and my dad-- and Bethany photo bombing in the back.  Nice one, Beth!

 A nice picture of my and my dad.

There is proof that Faith was there:)

Even family members who aren't "technically" part of the family anymore, still come!

Cutie little cousins.

Karaoke in the home theater is always a highlight for Cannon.  It's really too bad Cannon has such a hard time with self-expression.

Uncle Chip catching up with the three oldest Cannon cousins.

I sure love these guys-- my best cousin, Ben, and Clark.  Abe requested Clark show off the belt buckle in the pic.

And here is a close up. A gift from a proud papa.

So much happiness and visiting all around.  I always think how happy this gathering must make Joyce and Glen Cannon.

Christmas Means Music

Obviously, Christmas is more than just music, but for me, I feel the spirit of Christmas through the music.  The piano recitals, the dance recitals, the family gatherings, the concerts.  I love it all! 
This picture of Bethany and Raven was taken at a concert at Raven's house.  She sang beautifully a couple of pieces and the rest of the concert was a duet vocal performance that was just inspiring.

Andrea was the organizer of the amazing evening.

Her apartment overlooks Temple Square.  It's nice to get such a great vantage point of the lights without the hustle and bustle of so many people.

For the second year in a row, the Chase family joined us for a night of Christmas music.  They love music at least as much as we do, so we just get together to sing and play instruments and exhibit and it's just so much fun.

Younger Kids Christmas Party 2019

The big kids had so much fun with their Christmas party-- and we had plenty of supplies left over-- so the younger kids repeated the party on Monday the 23rd.  

This was George's team-- Oli, Taylor, George, and Dallas.  

This will be a fun group to watch grow up.

And these guys-- oh my!  They will all turn 12 this year (except Hayden, who is already twelve).

Their "Zombie Apocalypse" was.... well... it was just what I would have expected from them:)

Kate, Tristin, and Emma.  They created a very solid entry.

And they are just adorable!

Faith and Brinley

They were the most detailed and careful.  They won the overall award with "Best Use of Theme"-- "Santa's Workshop".

Peter and Eric were a team.

Elinor was their helper.  

I was the helper for Greta and Aly. 

Our house won "Best Gingerbread House Made By a Mom".  I felt so honored.

Clark and Bethany were the judges.  Each team got a minute to tell the judges about their creation.

It's fun to see the younger kids following the example of their older siblings.  

Action packed!