A Very Merry Christmas!

Whew! What a busy few weeks it has been! We arrived at Grandma and Grandpa Paul's right before Christmas, just in time to spend time with the family. Lincoln and Marina got to see their cousins, and there was a Christmas slide show featuring the whole family! We opened some gifts on Christmas Eve, and Lincoln and Marina each got what they now call their special blankets.

Lincoln's has planets all over it, and Marina's has princesses. Lincoln and Marina had left a note for Santa in Cedar City telling him where we would be for Christmas eve. They also left a note for Santa with some cookies on Christmas eve. It included a preemptive thank you for their presents.

On Christmas morning, Lincoln and Marina could hardly wait to go upstairs and see if Santa had found them.

Santa found them just fine, and even left them a note in return!



For Christmas, Lincoln especially wanted Pokemon cards, and Marina wanted a candy necklace. They each got those things, and lots more. Here are a bunch of photos and videos of present opening on Christmas eve and Christmas day.









Some of the present highlights were:


Ryan's Nightmare before Christmas figurine (for his desk at work)

Lincoln's Jedi shadow box (with his Jedi Training Academy Diploma and a photo of his Jedi training at Disneyland).
Lincoln's Jedi training in the large - he already has both hung in a corner of his bedroom (his Jedi corner)
Marina's photo with Snow White (also already hanging on her wall).


Lincoln's Pokemon cards


Marina's many princess dresses (she got a whole collection from her aunt Melissa, and matching dresses for her and her doll from Grandma Paul.




Marina loved playing in her princess dresses:


Marina also loved playing in her cousin Will's new car - notice her twin doll is the passenger.

Marina also loved her Wizard of Oz PEZ dispensers.



Lincoln loved playing with his night vision goggles. They actually work pretty well, so a lot of us enjoyed playing with them!

The week after Christmas, we spent lots of fun times with the family. First we saw Kami's family, and Marina really loved holding her cousin Ella. I think Ella liked it too.


Then, we went to The Living Planet Aquarium.
Lincoln had a great time there. He especially liked the crocodiles and the electric eel. Lincoln liked the part of the exhibit where you could touch a display and get a shock that was about the same as if you touched the eel. Lincoln did it himself and then made sure everyone in that hallway - those he knew and those he did not - knew that you could go get shocked by the eel. He was a great guide!
They both had fun at the aquarium!

They also spent some time with their cousins Carter and Kyle. It was fun to see everyone's Christmas toys. Carter got this toy car from Santa, and Marina could not wait to drive it. (They actually just sat in it and listened to the radio - NPR was the station they tuned it to!)

Then it was back to the Paul' s for more fun. Sledding in the back yard was fun for all:
Melissa and Will

Lincoln


Kami and Marina
And even Grandpa!



Marina made beautiful snow angels when she was done sledding, and we all had a great time!





Lincoln and Marina also found the time to play video games (Lincoln), hang out in her cousin's exersaucer (Marina), and get a little rest too.





Happy new year to all!