Our Christmas Morning

For the past 4 years Jon and I have been able to go away on a vacation with my family during Christmas. We have great memories of spending the holidays all together as a family. We have been a bit spoiled so the thought of not waking up to the palm trees and warm tropical beaches seemed a bit rough. Man do you blame me. Here is a little memory of our Christmas 07 in the DR.



Christmas 08 was a bit chillier. I have to say that I do love the month of December and every detail leading up to the big day. I just don't care to be here on Christmas and to do the whole present thing. After sitting around a few days this year we are already planning our escape for next year. Beck may protest a bit now that he has this Santa thing down. The boys made Christmas morning fun. It was also great to have Grandma and Grandpa Walker come up. Beck loved opening things but would of been content with his Thomas the train train tracks and table. I guess you always think you need to go overboard. Jon did get some good things for the boat that will help with our Lake Powell trips so that was pretty sweet. I think he liked a year home. Candice I know you wanted videos posted so that you can see but I will have to get to that later.

Shipley Christmas Party 08

We had a brunch at our house Christmas Eve with Jon's sibling. It was fun to get some of the little cousins together. We missed you Grandpa and Grandma Shipley.

Walker Chirstmas 08

What would Christmas be without our dinner at my grandparents. We all had a great time with the Helm cousins. Candice and Dave you really missed the performance this year but if you think walking where Christ walked was more important than Alex's singing then okay.

Helm Christmas Party

Since Candice and Dave our going on a wonderful trip to Israel over Christmas we decided to go spend a night up at the Shipley cabin with the Helm clan. We had a great time with a ton of snow. It was a winter wonderland. We played in the snow, ate great food, and played a few fun games. It was nice to all be together without the distraction of Fantasy Football. I know those 24 hours of no computer was rough on the men in the family.











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My Auntie Candice

Aunt Candice and Beck are the very best of buddies. He absolutely adores spending time with her and I think she likes it just as much. Candice does so much for Beck like spending hours out in the snow while his mom stayed warm by the fire. Entertaining him in the car the entire way to the cabin. Also to show true true devotion she let Beck sleep in a twin bunk bed with her. What a Aunt! We love you and will miss you and Dave over Christmas. Be safe in Israel and have fun. Don't worry it is not like you will be missing much Christmas morning. I mean Beck really is not into presents. I also know that you will miss me and Baby I as much as Beck.

Grand America Tea

Our Annual Christmas get together at The Grand America for Tea with the girls.

Temple Square Lights

It was a fairly mild night to visit the lights on Temple Square. We headed down after a busy day of running around and visiting the Candy Factory. Beck was in love with all the twinkling little lights and could not get enough. Ira enjoyed the first little bit but is not a stroller boy. He liked to be carried so that he could get up close to the lights and touch them.


Uncle Drew and Baby I



All I can say is it is a lot of work to get a quick family snap shot. So this is the best we could do.






Beck kept on telling us that he needed to swim. I had him stick his hand in the frigid cold water to prove that he would really dislike taking a dip in the dead of Winter. He told me it was warm and to take his clothes off he needed to swim. Man I love this kid.


Loves being close to his Papa Helm

Pucker Up

Thanksgiving 2008

Jon's sister Holly and her family invited the Shipley side up for Thanksgiving in Boise Idaho. We all had a great time. It was very relaxing becaus her house is so baby proof and I had a house full of baby sitters. Beck did not leave the trains for 3 days. Thanks to Holly we all ate well and had a wonderful time.







We played a game of good old kick ball to work off some of that food.



Festival of Trees