A Colorado Christmas

It was so fun to have Christmas this year with little kids!  Ok, really just Chiara and three little ones who didn't really understand.  Eve was on the cusp this year....

Chiara opened her stocking first because she was the only one old enough to understand and yet young enough to not be able to wait until after church.  :)

Reagan had a little help with her stocking.  She must have been a good girl this year because she got a chewy rubber spatula from Santa!  Yum!

Eve didn't immediately take to the idea of opening stockings...

"Wait...so you're saying that this red sock is full of treats and toys for me?  Yeah, I guess I'm down with that...."

"Mom, this looks just like your kitchen dishes.  Just....smaller...and more colorful..."

Playdough! 

After stocking and a yummy breakfast (our tradition is cinnamon rolls and scrambled eggs) we got all dressed up in our Christmas best and headed to church. 

It was an extra special meeting not only because it was Christmas and we were together with family but also because Stuart and Genevieve blessed Asher and Andrew, Lance, and Dad got to participate.  Eric held the microphone so he got to be in on it too.  So neat!

We came home and got a few shots of the girls in their matching Christmas dressed (thanks Aunt Kelly!) before nap time.

Eve loved playing with this little orange.  What a Christmas doll!

That afternoon, we had a glorious feast!  In addition to the family I've already mentioned, we had my Dad's Uncle David, a family friend John, Genevieve's two sisters, and the missionaries.  Quite a turn out!

After a good nap, Eve enjoyed her plate too! 

Then finally it was time to open presents!

Another Larsen tradition is to start with the youngest person and do rotations of each person opening one present at a time.  Eve got a really cool "see how tall I am" board from Aunt Kelly and Uncle Lance.  Can't wait to get that one put up!  What a creative idea!

Grandma got the best toy for Christmas - a barn complete with animals, a farmer, and cool sounds!  Eve liked to stuff each piece into the silo so no one could find them.  And to slide the rooster on the top back and forth to make it crow. 

We'll definitely be back to play with that toy more!  Grandma's always have the best toys!

After all the excitment was done, we had the pie.  And by pie, I mean PIE!  6 or 7 different kinds - I can't even remember!  Before we left, I tried them all and each one was a masterpiece!  If I should live to be 100, I don't think I'll ever be able to make pies like my parents.  Not only are they mouth-watering delicious, they also look almost too perfect to eat.  Almost...anyone who's had a Larsen-made pie knows what I'm talking about.  Pure heaven!

What a blessing for us to get to spend this special holiday with our family.  We are so grateful for the birth of our Savior and His life.  I love this time of year and the peace and goodwill that seems more present than usual. 

We stayed one more day after Christmas then got my parents up bright and early (3:30am!) on the 27th to take us to the airport for our flight to Utah. 

Thanks to Grandpa and Grandma for letting us come!  I literally did not want to leave!  But our vacation was only half over and we still had a lot of visiting to do!  Off to Utah!