Pajama Party 2018

I had accepted the fact that we would not have all of our kids together for Christmas this year. Erika and her family were going to be in Colorado and Derek was going to be coming from South Carolina for just a short time. Still, I ordered pajamas for those who would be at our house on Christmas Eve.

During the Thanksgiving holiday, Derek had several changes in his life plan and ended up moving home to work with LeRoy and reset for the next journey in his adventurous life. Just a couple of weeks before Christmas, Erika called and told me they had decided to make a surprise visit. All of the sudden we were planning an early mini-Christmas and I was so excited!!

Excited enough that as soon as Erika called, I quickly ordered a set of pajamas for Erika's family and said a prayer that they would be at the house soon enough - just four days away. The pajamas got to the house on the same day that Erika's family did.

♥ This is my eternity! ♥

Though the picture doesn't look extremely different from year to year, there were many new changes: Lilly was born, Derek moved across the country and back, Levi and Daymia are having a baby, Justin joined the Utah Jazz Stunt Team, Nathan and Hyrum each now attend new schools. 

Nathan has just hit a major growth spurt and by next year will probably start moving up the height line. With his current growth pattern, we're guessing he will end up right next to Derek, though Derek threatens him that he better not surpass him.

Even Charlie got in on the jammie dress-up party and gave me a toothy grin for his picture.

I've started my own grandma tradition of a first-year ornament for each new grandchild. I absolutely love this picture with Erika and Lilly!

Hallmark does a great job of providing the cute ornaments and my kids are kind enough to be providing the cute grandbabies.

We are so excited to welcome our first grandson to the family! Daymia and Levi will be amazing parents!

We got a good laugh out of Levi's papa bear appearing to nurse as they posed for a picture. Of course, Levi exaggerated the look...and then we had them switch sides for a more modest pose.

Pajamas seem to bring out the sleep side in some, but Lilly was ready for a few more hours of playtime.

There was enough snow the next day for the kids to go out on the four wheeler. Hyrum put his snow clothes right over the top of his jammies. Erika had taken their van to deliver a gift to a friend and Kailee's coat was in there, but that didn't stop her from finding some warm clothes and getting a good feel, and taste, of the cold Idaho snow.

From Bret's Instagram: Had some fun in the snow yesterday! Kailee got pulled on the sled and drove the 4-wheeler with me. She also ate lots of snow and said "mmm this snow is so delicious"!