Christmas Parties

Saturday morning, we went to the Neighborhood Christmas Party at our church. We invited our neighbors, Trent and Alix, and their kids. Here, their daughter, Juliet, is decorating cookies with Jon after we had breakfast. We were having a lot of fun until...Santa came...
...then Emily was not so happy... ...and neither was Jonny!
After Santa left, the kids were themselves again, running around the gym and having a great time! Jon and Addie kept holding hands and running together.
Afterwards, we had the Stoney Family Christmas Party at Wade's mom's home in South Jordan. We had lunch and then decorated cookies together.

Isn't it pretty, mom?
Jon loved opening his gifts and was especially excited about some little animals his grandpa and grandma gave him.

Emily was thrilled to receive a new baby doll with a matching diaper bag and blanket with the words, "Made especially for Emily by Grandma Stoney" embroidered on it. It was a sweet gift.

Before we all opened gifts from mom and Keith, mom read us all a story and then talked about the tradition we started this year as a family. Instead of giving each other gifts at Christmas, we're all going to use the money we would have spent and donate it to a family or cause of our choice. Then we write about our experience and put it a white envelope and set it on the tree to help us remember that special experience during the season. I'm really excited to continue this tradition year after year to help me remember how blessed I am. It really feels good to help someone in need. Thanks mom and Keith for the idea and for the wonderful party!