christmas traditions

1. Candy houses.

Every Christmas for the past 5 years, my dad

invites his counselors and their families over to

our house for a Family Home Evening.

Candy houses are the name of the game.

We have a contest between the adults and the kids.

Except this year, we didn't really do that.

It was still really fun.

In the past, the older kids have built 

a pyramid, a castle, and a tank.

This year we built a spaceship in honor of

Elder Sam Murphy who is on his mission 

in Puebla, Mexico this Christmas!

Go Elder Murphy!

So we built this spaceship in honor of him:

2. Playing the chimes. 

We made the chimes 

a few years ago and our

family plays several Christmas carols.

It's hilarious. People missing notes or hitting the wrong chime.

But when we get it right?

...It sounds amazing!

3. Christmas lights.

Of course our house is always decorated.

But it doesn't feel like Christmas unless we drive

around to look at all the pretty lights!

Of course, the LA Temple is included in this...

 And this is the tree my ward and I decorated on the temple grounds:

4. the Disney house.

There is a man in our neighborhood who decorates

his house every Christmas with Disney characters.

There is machinery involved so that some of the

characters move.

But he also has fun interactive stuff.

Like:

Yes, I know. Awesome, right?

So, without further ado, can you find Waldo in any of these pictures?

5. Playing wii on Christmas morning.

Inevitably, someone gets a new wii game. Hence, after the presents have all been opened, and we've eaten breakfast, there is a race to the TV. This year, Marie won out over Bryan.

So instead of playing the new Harry Potter Lego game, or Epic Mickey, we played Just Dance 2. I would include pictures, but I have been banned by my family to do so.

But because I'm not allowed to put up any photos or videos, I'll just tell you that my dad did a hip hop dance to "Funk Soul Brother" by Fatboy Slim. Absolutely hilarious. He was losing so badly that he ended up cheating by pushing Marie away from the TV so she couldn't see the next moves. She still won. ;D Sorry, Dad!