Merry Christmas with the Stotts!

December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas!  We woke up in the morning he was all ready to open stockings and see what treasures lie inside.  I opted to wait until after church.  After church we opened all the gifts.  It was all about Grant of course.  Grant (22 months) started to get the hang of ripping the wrapping paper to reveal a new toy.  He wanted to open everyone's presents.  It was fun to watch him get excited.  He had played with most of the toys before Rachel wrapped, and a lot of times knew what they were before he unwrapped them.  Haha!

I am not sure what dad is laughing about.

Grant decided to be the Christmas elf and hand the gifts to everyone.

He wanted Mom's camera.

He got it!

Grant likes to help Rachel in the kitchen, so mom got him cute little kitchen supplies.  It came with an apron, a pan, a cookie cutter, a spatula, a wire whisk, and a rolling pin.  He liked the rolling pin the best. He tried to roll out some dry beans.  Hehe!

Rachel got dad a bib.  Haha!

Looking fly!

Grant got this adorable hat from Aunt Peggy and Uncle Sheldon.

I got him the golf club.

I got Rachel this cute headband.  I wish I bought one for myself too!  :o)

Grant got bath paints!  He loved them and painted everything he could reach from the tub.

Preparing for battle.

Mom took a nap, and Grant decided to crawl into bed with her.

This was how pleased Grant was to skype with his cousins, Trey and Hayley!

Grant is brushing up his skills for the PGA tour.

A Swedish Christmas Eve

December 24, 2011

As tradition in Rachel and Perry's household, Christmas eve they eat a traditional Swedish dinner.  (Perry went on his mission to Sweden.)  The meal consisted of: Swedish meatballs, dill potatoes, gifflar (similar to little cinnamon rolls), glugg (fruit juice), and raw herring in mustard sauce.  This was my first time eating the herring. Oh my goodness!  I could not handle it!  At least now I can say I have tried it.

Our delicious Swedish meal!

It doesn't look good.

I don't know about this...

Smelling it.

Tasting it.

Taking a bite.

Nope!

Don't like it!

After dinner, Rachel and I made nativities.  It was fun, but as you can tell I am not very artistic when food is the medium.  I included a donkey, a sheep, Mary, Joseph, an Angel, a star, and Baby Jesus.  See if you can find them all.  Haha!  Good luck!

My creation

 

Rachel's creation

Grant was being silly.  He knows all the animal sounds.  

Hanukkah Night

December 23, 2011

I went to visit Rachel and Perry again for the holidays!  Surprise, surprise right!?  Hehe!  Rachel wanted to incorporate some different cultures and religions into her celebrations this year.  Tonight was Hanukkah Night!  Mom and Rachel made latkas, potato pancakes with green onions and egg.  After dinner we played dreidel with M&M's.  I lost miserably very quickly.  It was still fun... for a little while.
The Westensee's (Roger, Debbie, and Tyler) also graced us with their presence.  We never actually played any Hanukkah music, but I had the Adam Sandler song playing through my mind all evening.

All ready to eat!

Cozy

Free Concert

Dreidel Dreidel Dreidel!

I am not the only OCD person in this family.

Notice, there are no more M&M's in front of me.