Christmas Eve at the Cabin in Island Park, Idaho

On December 24, 2012, Christmas Eve, we were in Valrie's parent's cabin in Island Park, Idaho with her parents Thane and June Smith; her brother Tyson Smith and Scotty Rogers; her sister Shelly Smith, and her sister Jamie Larson, her husband Virgil, and their children, Zelli, Zaidee, Jillian, and Andrew.  We played games and then everyone helped perform a Nativity reenactment.  We then each opened one present from youngest to oldest.  We also filmed this reenactment with our video camera and maybe one day we can post that for everyone.  Here are the pictures from this day.

 L to R: Zaidee and Zelli Larson

They played us in Monopoly. Valrie got first, Zelli second, Cody third, and Zaidee fourth.

 Nativity Reenactment Cast

L to R: Shelly Smith (Wiseman), Valrie (Wiseman), Zelli Larson holding Andrew Larson (Mary and Baby Jesus respectively), Jamie Larson (narrator), Jillian Larson (Angel), Virgil Larson (Joseph), June Smith (Shepherd), Zaidee Larson (Wiseman), Tyson Smith (Shepherd), and Scotty Rogers (Shepherd). Not pictured: Thane Smith (Donkey) and Cody (Filmographer)

 Another view of the Nativity Reenactment Cast

L to R: Shelly Smith (Wiseman), Valrie (Wiseman), Zelli Larson holding Andrew Larson (Mary and Baby Jesus respectively), Jamie Larson (narrator), Jillian Larson (Angel), Virgil Larson (Joseph), June Smith (Shepherd), Zaidee Larson (Wiseman), Tyson Smith (Shepherd), and Scotty Rogers (Shepherd). Not pictured: Thane Smith (Donkey) and Cody (Filmographer)

 Valrie helps Andrew Larson to open his Christmas present.  Zaidee Larson looks on.

 Valrie helps Andrew Larson to open his Christmas present.  Zaidee Larson looks on.

Valrie holds up the little stocking that Andrew Larson got for Christmas.  Zelli Larson looks on from the left and Zaidee Larson from the right.

 We are assuming that Jamie Larson is saying one minute.  Either that or she is trying to pick her nose while her husband Virgil Larson looks at her questioningly over such behavior. :)  Also seen are Jillian and Andrew Larson

 Uncle Tyson Smith helps hold his niece Jillian Larson as she opens up her pajamas.

 Zaidee Larson opens up some purple pajamas while Andrew Larson looks away.

 Zelli Larson begins to unwrap her gift while Valrie meditates in the background.  Shelly Smith can be seen sitting in the chair.

 Zelli Larson opens up some hot cocoa and and a litle stocking with some candy in it.  Valrie is seen smiling in the background.  Shelly Smith is sitting in the chair.

 Valrie opened up some vibrant red Christmas-themed pajamas.  Shelly Smith is seen in the background looking away from the camera.

 Tyson Smith pulls out yet more pajamas as Jillian Larson decided to jump in front of his face as Cody takes the picture so she can see his present.

 Cody opens up the same vibrant red Christmas-themed pajamas as Valrie, only larger.  Andrew Larson and his father Virgil are seen in the background.

 Scotty Rogers opens........wait a minute......Pajamas!  Shocker.

 Virgil Larson gets ready to open his present as his daughter Jillian Larson approaches him to see what he is opening.  Jamie Larson is to his left holding their son Andrew.

 Jillian Larson is so eager to see what her father Virgil is getting that he has to bat her away so he can finish opening his present.

 Jamie Larson begins to unwrap her present while holding her son Andrew.  Virgil Larson is to her right holding their daughter Jillian.

 If you guessed that Jamie was going to open pajamas you were right.  Andrew gazes down at the pajamas.

 Shelly Smith opens the same type of pajamas as Jamie.  Hmmm. We are sensing a them here.  Zelli Larson is seen at the far right of the picture.

 June Smith holds her present.  Will it be pajamas?  Pretty promising so far.  Zelli Larson is seen at the far right of the picture.

 It looks like an alien bag. Zelli Larson is seen at the far right of the picture.

 She opens it and is laughing because it is not pajamas.  Ok not really, but because is is a new  lid to her Bosch that was broken.  Zelli Larson is seen at the far right of the picture.

 Last but not least Than Smith tears into his present.

 It is....not pajamas.  It is a BYU themed blanket made by hand by Valrie for her BYU fan father.  Zelli Larson, who has decided to be in almost every picture pops ups on the left here.

The backside of Thane's BYU blanket made especially for him by Valrie.

Friends at the Hallmark Ward Christmas Party

On December 15, 2012 we attended our Hallmark Ward Christmas Party and met up with some of our friends there.  Here is a picture from the end of that event courtesy of our friends the Meyers.

Good friends: L to R: The Meyers, Devon and Jen; the Johnson, Valrie and Cody, and Boyfriend/Girlfriend, Johnny Parker and Joua Yang

Group FHE

On December 10, 2012 we were able to attend a group Family Home Evening (FHE) with many young couples in our ward and with our Bishop and his family.  It was a great evening of food and socialization.  Here are some pictures from that event, courtesy of Devon and Jen Meyers.

 Gigi Mendoza, the cute little 4 year-old daughter of Aldo and Amelia Mendoza, entertained us a lot during the FHE

Our FHE Group at the table of the Hankins/Mendoza home.  Clockwise from the top going L to R: Aldo Mendoza and baby Giana Mendoza, Jen Meyers, Devon Meyers, Cody, Valrie, Elena Mendoza, Bishop Russell Hankins, Albert Toledo, Ashley Toledo, Joua Yang, and Johnny Parker.

Us at the dinner table at the group FHE.  Cody looks shiny and surprised.

The girls at our FHE Group.  L to R: Gigi Mendoza being held by Jen Meyers, Joua Yang holding Giana Mendoza, Valrie, Amelia Mendoza, Ashley Toldeo, and Elena Mendoza

The girls in front of the Christmas tree.  L to R: Amelia Mendoza holding her daughter Giana Mendoza, Valrie, Ashley Toledo, Jen Meyers, Joua Yang, Gigi Mendoza, Elena Mendoza, and Diana Hankins

 The guys in front of the Christmas tree. L to R: Aldo Mendoza, Cody, Devon Meyers, Albert Toldeo, Bishop Russell Hankins, and Johnny Parker

 The FHE Group in front of the Christmas tree.  First row L to R: Amelia Mendoza holding Giana Mendoza, Aldo Mendoza, Elena Mendoza, Jen Meyers with her arm around Gigi Mendoza, Diana Hankins, and Bishop Russell Hankins.  2nd row L to R: Devon Meyers, Valrie, Cody, Ashley Toledo, Albert Toldeo, Joua Yang, and Johnny Parker

Another view of the FHE Group in front of the Christmas tree.  First row L to R: Amelia Mendoza holding Giana Mendoza, Elena Mendoza, Jen Meyers with her arms around Gigi Mendoza, Diana Hankins, and Bishop Russell Hankins.  2nd row L to R: Aldo Mendoza, Devon Meyers, Valrie, Cody, Ashley Toledo, Albert Toldeo, Joua Yang, and Johnny Parker

Visit with the Seely Family in Encino, California

On December 16th, on our way to head to Idaho we were blessed to be able to spend the night with Cody's cousin Gwen Seely, her husband Eric Seely, and their 3 children, Reagan (3), Odin (2), and Calvin (2 weeks) at their apartment in Encino, California.  Here are some pictures from this night.  Unfortunately we did not manage to get any pictures of Eric Seely.

 Cody's cousin Gwen Seely with her two-week old son, Calvin Rockwell Seely and to the right is her daughter Reagan Seely

 3 year-old Reagan Seely with eye-popping eyes.

 2 year-old Odin Seely was very upset and in some type of pain all night.  Unfortunately this was the best picture we got of him all night.

Valrie helping Reagan hold her little brother Calvin.

Valrie and Skyler

These pictures were taken December 16, 2012 and show Skyler in one of his favorite relaxed poses with Valrie.

Gingerbread House Making with the Meyers

On December 8, 2012 we had the wonderful pleasure of being able to make gingerbread houses and cinnamon Christmas ornaments with our friends, Devon and Jen Meyers.  This was Jen Meyers first time to participate in these Christmas traditions, and as you will be able to see later, she did excellent!  Enjoy these fun pictures.

Devon Meyers on the X-Box while preparations are being made for the ornament and gingerbread house making.

Valrie and Jen Meyers making cinnamon Christmas ornaments

Valrie and Jen take a break from making their Christmas ornaments to smile

Devon and Jen preparing the bases for the gingerbread homes.

A gingerbread home foundation

Jen smiles while Devon gets a little too intense about making gingerbread houses

Jen is having a good first time making gingerbread houses.  Valrie's cement for our house was green.

Valrie carefully crafts the roof of our gingerbread house

The 3 houses start to take shape.  L to R: Our house, Jen's house, and Devin's house

Jen's house still under construction

Our house mostly completed and the walkway being poured by Valrie.  We exchanged our sloped roof for a flat roof.

Our mostly completed house.  Valrie did 90% of the work.  Cody only did the placement of some (M & M) stones and the idea and ornament placement of the green tree to the left.  Notice the three bears to the right of the doorway.

An aerial view of our house

Valrie with our masterpiece

Our house with some more added scenery.  The (marshmallow) snow pile was Valrie's idea.

Cody with our masterpiece

Valrie with our 100% completed house.  Notice the snowman on the roof (Like Christmas With the Kranks)

Devon's masterpiece  Notice his three bears are stuck in the house.  Literally.

The other side of Devon's masterpiece.  It started to slowly collapse.

And yet another side of Devon's house.  Slowly collapsing.

The backside of Devon's house.  Caving in.

Jen's immaculate barn house

The leaning gingerbread of Meyer

Oh no!

Jen and her masterpiece

Another view

The backside

An aerial view of her barn house

Us and our finished product

Our second home (both are gingerbread homes)

Looks like an earthquake hit Devon's house

Oh wait, nope, it was a Devon quake!

The three finished houses side by side.

Two of the houses were unaffected by the Devon quake

An aerial view of the three finished houses.  Devon's house was later condemned and it was demolished by Devon himself, as he ate the entire thing in one night.  Luckily no Devon quake in the belly.