Upstairs the adults celebrated by playing Canasta or Hand and Foot, 
After dinner we gather and had our traditional Christmas Pageant. I am so thankful that all the kids are still good enough sports to humor us parents and make it a good time for all. Then it was time to each go our seperate ways to put out treats, tell stories and open a few presents.
We had a fantastic breakfast. One of the highlights was Grandma's scones. The newest Jensen addition Mitchell was so much fun to pass around and hold. The kids all got Christmas PJ's.
The girls gingerbread creation was a Lake Powell theme. The detail was great! It had the slide coming off the back of the house boat, towel hanging over the edge, deck chairs and more. In the water was a ski boat with a skier dodging trees, kids in tubes and swimming, frog land, sand castle, and last but not least the boy scout challenge. That is the big mountain with the flag on top. Every year the boys (I mean men) take all the kids on a very crazy adventure while all he mom's and grandparents sit fretting on the boat praying the kids will all survive.
The boys gingerbread creation was (I like how Kirstin said it) a tribute to the armed forces. That was much more tasteful then what I would have said. The had a large tank with Santa standing on top with what yes a machine gun in hand. They had an American flag, a little bunker, troops and it even lit up with candles flaming for guns. Sitting in a pile of red was Osama. Santa had given the gift of a peaceful Christmas. It was most definitely a boys house.
When we finished the houses Halle wanted a special one so Jacob made this aquarium for her to take home.
After that we sat while Grandpa read us a Christmas Story. I love Christmas and everything that comes with it. Let the season begin...
Then it was off to the Carnival Cruise Ship. We were all so thankful for Grandma Cookie taking us on such a fabulous vacation.
On the ship their were fun things for everyone. The little ones loved dressing up, playing in the kids area, following all the older cousins around and just playing. Jacob always had a cute little shadow Luke. His little minnie me. The boys spent hours golfing, playing basketball, eating and sleeping. The girls spent hours laying out, sleeping and eating. Stephanie made it everyday to workout, but was alone quite a bit. The adults loved just relaxing more than anything and visiting with each other. Everyone played games some with Grandma.
Puarta Vallarta was tons of fun! We rode a charter bus to a local beach that had great waves for boogie boarding and surfing. Some of us had massages on the beaches that were amazing. We played in the sand and burried others in the sand. We then road back ont he bus through a cute little town and ate at Pepe's and played in a little play gorund. The boys were able to use their spanish and we were impressed they really could communicate. The Captain hit the dock so we ended up having to stay an extra day in Puarta Vallarta and never made it to Mazatlan.
Cabo was the last stop, but definately not the least. We went on a water taxi out to Lover's Beach and the Arches, then around to Divorce Beach then got dropped off on Pelican Beach for some snorkeling. Their were a million fish and it was really neat. We had tons of fun then the boys and Kylie, the tough girl, went to play a fierce game of football. Then we went hiking over to Lover's Beach which was a fun adventure. After that we went into town and found delicious $1 tacos and shopped until we dropped. 
This was a great trip and we had so much fun spending time with all the cousins!
Thanksgiving was wonderful! We ate, then went on a treasure hunt and ate again. Then we lounged for a while and visited and then ate some more. Next the boys played some basketball while the girls watched a movie then surprisingly we ate again. After that we played Thanksgiving Jeopardy and then ate some fantastic dessert. And last but not least we sat around unable to move with stomach aches from eating too much. When are stomachs settled down we ate again and played some more games. WOW! We were exhausted. It takes a lot out of a person to eat as much as we did in one day.
This is the fourth year in the row that Timpview Football has taken State. 
It was an exciting Birthday. Sweet 16! We love having another driver around the house. He had his first date November 7 and they went to Color Me Mine and had hot chocolate after. The couples had a contest and Jacob and his date won.
EVery year for Brady's birthday we celebrate by letting balloons go in the sky. This year we let 18 balloons go since Brady would have been 18. We can't believe how quickly time seems to be flying by. 
Stephanie and her friends with their creations
Halloween with the Jensen's
Halloween with the Abbott'sHappy Halloween! We don't have any kids that are young enough to trick or treat. The boys are too old and too young to enjoy carving pumpkins so they insisted we didn't need to do it. Luckily Stephanie is old enough to think that it is fun again. They are too old and too young to think that dressing up for Halloween is wonderful! So basically we decided to have some family Halloween Parties so we could fully celebrate Halloween and all the festivities with kids at the age to really appreciate the finer things about the holiday. We had a Spooktacular Halloween, which was a bootiful thing.
Since we had a few days off from school we decided to take advantage of it. We went to the temple and did baptisms for the dead with some family. Nana has been working hard always having family names that we can do. 