Christmas Cheer

Christmas Eve nativity (attempt, anyway)

We spent Christmas Eve at home due to a huge snowstorm that kept us off the roads. All our Utah Funaki relatives partied it up in Provo without us, as we kept things simple here. We got dinner from Cafe Rio, read a couple stories about the spirit of Christmas, read Luke 2, sang a few carols, and had family prayer.

Santa made a visit!

the Christmas morning wait on the stairs

Santa brought some fun things for the kids, but I don't give him all the credit! We received wonderful gifts from grandparents, aunts & uncles, and friends. And you better believe I worked hard to get some things that the kids were hoping for —at prices that fit our budget. They didn't get everything they asked for, but who does?

We did eventually make it down to Provo to have Christmas dinner with Grandma Lina and Grandpa Vita. We enjoyed turkey, kumala, lu pulu, (ota for Dad), and Grandma's pineapple pie. Afterward we visited Uncle Brigham and Aunt Shayla to see their baby girl, Aya Camerie, then cruised down to Springville to visit with Aunt Kate and kids. Dad loved playing Dance Central on the kinect —he's good!

some new shades in the stocking

Tevi was delighted with his photo book about himself

New hat and shoes for Ame girl

Christmas wouldn't be complete without a BYU something

Who doesn't love a new hoodie?

This little guy loved his three presents too.

In fact, he was thrilled!

And later that day, taking it easy.

Three years later

I can list myriad excuses for not having blogged in the last three years, but none of them matters. Bottom line is I regret not doing it. Not because anyone who happened to read it missed out, but because I know I have missed out—on preserving my life's happenings that I will most likely forget.

So here I go. My intended audience is me, my husband and kids, and our future selves. This is a journal, a scrapbook, a photo album, and a little window into who I am and what I love.