End of 2008 Festivities

Hope you're all in the mood for a VERY long post. The past few weeks of December and the first week of January were full of fun activities, so here's what our pre-Christmas consisted of:
We started off by going to Tom's Farms with our friends, the Sloans and their 3 darling boys (yes, the baby I'm holding is theirs, not ours. Haha-I know you're all surprised, right?)

While on one of my weekly Tai Pan trips (don't tell Steve), my mom had the brilliant idea that we should do garland on all my railing. We didn't realize at the time how much railing I have and how long this would take us. However, I'm so glad I did it, it was so pretty during the Holiday Season (and it's a good thing I get a year break before having to do it all again).

The third week of December, I threw the Mom's Club Christmas party at my house. It turned out so great! We got a bounce house, Santa came, and everyone brought delicious food. Here's Mackenna all ready for her friends to come over:

Yep, still not a fan of Santa:
Opening presents from Santa with a couple of her friends:
Next up was the annual Paul/Duff Christmas party at my in-laws house. I always look forward to this party so much and now that Mackenna's old enough to play with my friend Amanda's daughter, Madison, we have the best time. They bought Mackenna the most darling Christmas pj's:LOVE the "ruffle-butt":Mackenna was SO spoiled by the Duffs this year. I don't think there was anything left in Toys R Us after they bought Mackenna's presents!

They even bought her her first car:The weekend before Christmas we headed out to Palm Springs for the Paul side of the family's Christmas party at Steve's uncle's house. This is one of Steve's cousins' little boy and he just loves playing with Mackenna. I can always count on him to entertain her at family gatherings, it's fabulous:

On Christmas eve, we went to dinner with Steve's family then headed over to my parent's house where my mom decided she wanted to get Christmas over with and made us open all of our presents that night! As always, Mackenna was spoiled with new pj's, clothes, 2 new tables (one for outside, one for inside) and many other things. Here's Mackenna all ready for Christmas eve in front of our tree:Mackenna loved all her gifts from Nana and Grandpa Smith:

Mackenna with her uncles:

All ready to go home and go to sleep so Santa can come (of course the Smith family has horse pajamas):Christmas morning was so wonderful because we were able to have my and Steve's parents and younger siblings over to our house to open presents and have breakfast. We are so lucky that both of our parents live close and that they are great friends. The first thing Mackenna did when she woke up was go and sit at her new table and eat her breakfast (yes, food is more important than presents to this girl):

Right before our parents arrived, we heard the fire engine sirens and ran outside to see all of our neighbors waiting for Santa to come around and hand out goody bags to everyone (Yes, I live in the coolest city ever!!):

After we dried off a bit, everyone arrived, and we got the video camera rolling, we let Mackenna in to see her presents. She ran past everything, straight to her new playhouse and I don't think she came out for the rest of the day:

Santa also brought her a new bike and of course, the correspoding helmet and knee pads which, if you know my child, are VERY necessary for her safety:My dad and Steve's mom made us the best breakfast. It was like having my own personal chefs for a day. I coule get used to that really easily!!:Steve's dad (and my brother Kirk in the background):After cleaning up and taking some much needed naps, we headed over to Steve's parents house for Christmas dinner. Again, my parents and brothers came too and it was so nice to have everyone together. Here's Great Grandma Jane, Grandma Kathy and Papa:Aunt Ashley (Mackenna's twin):Steve's parents got Mackenna a slide and she was SO excited about it:

Of course, she was equally excited about the box the slide came in:A couple days after Christmas, Steven's best friend Brad got married and it was the most beautiful wedding ever! Our friends Sean and Ashley came from Arizona for the wedding and it was so fun to hang out with them. Here's me and Ash at the temple:

The happy (and gorgeous) couple:

Mackenna at Steve's parents's house ready to go to their reception that night:The following day, we packed up and headed to Arizona. Steve's parents took the whole family as one of our Christmas presents because Steve's sister was playing in a basketball tournament in Pheonix. The Duff family came too so we had a fun week of eating, swimming, shopping, and laughing. This picture of Chrissi and I was taken just as we arrived at the hotel (The Intercontinental...Amazing!!) in Scottsdale:Mackenna was just a little hammered after the 5 hour car ride, but Kathy was looking perfect after her 55 minute plane ride!:Mackenna's swimming pool (or the hotel room bath tub):

Walking into one of Ashley's games with her BFF Madison:

Getting ready to go swimming:At dinner with Chrissi and Mandy:One of the nighlights of our trip was getting to see Steve's mission campanion Mark, his wife Jacki, and their new little boy Dallen. Seriously, the cutest little boy I've ever seen!After we got home, Mackenna was asking for "cousin Hay Hay" so luckily my sister was visiting at my parent's house and we were able to go over and play for a little bit :

Phew! All caught up...except for the beautiful wedding in Santa Barabara we went to yesterday, but that will have to wait. Happy New Year, everyone!!