Christmas in Arizona

Christmas morning: Chandra, Kira, Brian and Bracken. Bracken was so excited to see a little stuffed owl and snow leopard peeking out the top of his stocking.
I love the Johnson family! We had so much fun Christmas morning. Stockings, watching Chandra eat the wrapping paper, sharing presents, making their crazily enormous Christmas breakfast(biscuits and gravy, waffles, french toast, hashbrowns, bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, fried eggs, english muffins, orange juice, toast...gotta have everyone's favorites!) church, and lots and lots of games. ` Bracken made his own little bed in the ottoman on Christmas Eve. "I'm sleeping in a manger, just like baby Jesus!"
The Johnson's all LOVE getting their backs scratched. So while we visited one night we did it in a backscratching circle. :) The whole family was together for the first time in years, so we had to get family pictures! Jeff and Niki, Sue and Rob, Kristi, Rick, Melissa, Sally and Mike, Brian and Kira.
Grandpa, Grandma and all the grandkids!
Ben and Chandra, they're just one week apart.
Acting out the nativity on Christmas Eve. Bracken was Joseph, Ella was Mary, and Ethan was the donkey.
Is there any room in the Inn?
All dressed up for acting out the Christmas nativity!

On Christmas Eve morning the adults ran a 5K. The kids had their own little races while we were running.

One morning before Christmas we hiked up Camelback mountain. Chandra and Bracken came with us. We let Bracken walk the whole way and he cracked us up finding pebbles to throw, pointing out all the dogs, and singing little songs at the top of his lungs. We made it all the way to the "18" post.

Bracken was able to play with cousins every day while we were in Arizona. He had so much fun with all of them. Ella and Bracken became best friends and played so well together. Bracken asks if Ella can come play with us or if he can go to her house almost every day now. Too bad they're 8 hours away!

We always try to go the zoo when we're in Arizona. Bracken loves to see the animals, and we usually get culture passes from the library so it's free to go.

We love you family! Thanks for a fun week and Merry Christmas!