For Christmas we went to San Diego to be with Matt's family, we were there for three full weeks and had so much fun! Here we are before church on our first Sunday at home. I always like going to our home ward when we go home, especially during the Holidays. It's always fun to see our old friends.
Whenever we go home I love to visit with my older sister and her family. Her kids are so darling and play really well with my girls. We went over to play one day and we walk into the kitchen to find Olivia had climbed up onto the table and was eating candy off of their gingerbread house! We were dying laughing! She was so thrilled with herself , and her yummy little treat!
Over the break Matt and I had so much fun hanging out with his family. One night we went with his brother John, sister Amy and her husband Jared, and Matt's little sister Ashley to get frozen yogurt. It was so nice of Matt's parents to let us put our kids to bed and go out with everyone. When we got back Amy, Ashley and I had a girls movie night in the family room , while the boys went to a movie at the theatre.
It was a lot of fun to watch a movie just us girls. Ashley is getting so much older, I can't believe it!! I think that Amy and I lasted about 20 minues into the movie before we fell asleep. Ashley is so cute, I think she stayed up and finished the movie all by herself.
This is Amy's husband Jared...or "uncle Jerry" as we call him! I'm not so sure how he feels about this, but when the girls call for him it's really cute. Olivia had a lot of fun reading Christmas books with "Jerry", and I think he had fun too! Our little girlies are so lucky to have such great aunts and uncles who love them and love to spend time with them.
Every Christmas Eve Matt's family goes to this restaurant Islands for dinner. Before we go we usually doorbell ditch little gifts and chocolates to people who might need a little Christmas cheer. This is a picture of Matt's dad, Amy and her husband Jared, and Matt's brother John, waiting for our yummy food!
Olivia waiting for some cheesy fries.
Matt, me, Matt's mom, Matt's sister Ashley, and Maddie. 
Another picture of Amy, Jared and John.
We love the traditions we share with the Carpenter's and look forward to them every year. This year was especially fun because instead of doing lot's of doorbell ditching we knew of one family who could use a little boost. I was able to go with Matt's dad on Christmas eve morning at about 6:45 to do some of the shopping, and it was really great. It felt like I was on a game show, I was shopping for two kids and just kept filling my cart! I loved it! We doorbell ditched the stuff that night and then headed out to dinner. It always feels so good to help those around us, Matt and I felt really blessed to be a part of this little adventure with his family.
