Grandma's Party 2009

Christmas Eve will always be welcomed by Grandma Thelma's Christmas Party. It has been a tradition throughout my childhood and I hope that it will go through much of my children's childhood. It is the only time of the year that the Dana family makes it together. We are always short 1 or 2 families but for the most part everyone is there. The boys' favorite part is Santa (boys' meaning Tallon, the pictures will show that Orrin and Vivin don't quite share the same love).
Orrin doing okay

Vivin loving it

This is my cute Grandma. She loves having her family together. She spends a lot of her time at the party watching everyone interact. She also keeps a watchful eye over her presents making sure that every grandchild and great grandchild is accounted for and happy with what they receive.

Tallon with the Big Man himself. Seriously this kid loves Santa.

I absolutely love this picture. Tallon and Grandma have always been the best of friends. They have some of the funnest conversations and Tallon KNOWS that his Grandma Thelma loves him.

We were lucky enough this year that this was the only place we had to be on Christmas Eve. I like it that way. We were able to spend the entire evening as our little family. We made fudge for Santa and his Elves, drove around town and looked at Christmas lights, read our new Christmas book, and tucked our little ones into bed. Tallon was so nervous that he wouldn't be able to fall asleep and that Santa would never come, so he and I sang Christmas Carols for a while until he was ready to close his eyes. This Christmas has held so much magic for him. He has stressed over being on the "nice" list, did some repenting so that he could be, and just knew that Santa would bring the best presents. It took a lot of convincing on Ty and I's part to get him to not try to "catch" Santa. It was so much fun watching the magic of Christmas in his mind and in his heart. The best part was that he never forgot the real reason for the Christmas holiday. Each night he would pray that Santa would come and that he was good enough for some fun toys and then he would close his prayers by thanking his Heavenly Father for his Son being born and allowing us to celebrate Christmas. Who could ask for more.