I am using pictures to illustrate what Christmas was like. Thus, our journey begins (and these were going to be in order, but things got switched up a little...sorry...)
What's hanging out with the family without someone picking up a small child and "blowing bubbles" on their tummies!
Dave the Jungle Gym
Our airport greeting
Mom and Kevan (at the D.C. temple)
I really don't think this picture needs an explanation...(This is at Nielsen's Frozen Custard in D.C., our post-temple dinner)
Posed Pictures
Sammy and Sara
Sweet Sisters
Jeff and Zack
Jessie's Christmas Present-an iPod Shuffle!
Josh's Christmas Jammies
Katie and Zack
Kristen & Nathan
What a handsome dude!!!
One of the sweetest pictures I found--Jake and Megan
You better believe there were cameras flashing like crazy!!! This is Jake showing us his awesome Christmas present. Grandpa even helped him figure out his new camera.
Semi-Posed/Semi-Candid...Jeff & Emily, our gracious hosts!
Emily & Nathan kissing baby Zacky!
Emma resting on the Ship at Jamestown
Everyone's Favorite--baby Zack!
Kristen with Kevan's family at Jamestown (I realize this belongs in the "Posed Pictures" section--too much hassle to move it all around!)
Some of the Fam--just chillin on the couch! (BTW-Josh got a haircutting set in his stocking. Santa definitely knew what Josh needed and what Katie wanted!)
Barf Bowls--man did the throwing up (etc) go around this year!!!
It would NOT be Christmas without some Christmas storytime with Grandma Lewis. What an awesome Grandma (and Mom for that matter!)
Katie & Josh's Trip to Washington D.C.
This was taken (by a stranger) from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. We had a great time (I realize I look sickly and pale--it was the middle of Winter. It was really nice in VA- but SLC is usually snowy in the middle of Winter! )
(This doesn't belong in this section--I KNOW!) Grandpa Lewis and Zacky having a nap! A lot of people had naps with Zack.
This is one of the guards at the Capitol building. I'm not sure if Josh took this picture because he was surprised at the size of the slugs (in the gun) or if he just felt like it would be a good picture to remember our trip to Washington D.C.
We were in the Air and Space Smithsonian on the escalators, and Josh wanted to take a picture of me, so I smiled, and right as he took the picture I started sneezing. I thought this was funny, so I included it. Please feel free to laugh at my expense, I'm still laughing myself.
Definitely the WORST part of the whole trip. If you know me at all, you know I hate "Stuffed (taxodermy) Animals. I cowered through the whole bottom floor of the Natural History Smithsonian. These are only a couple of the horrendous pictures Josh HAD to take.
No wonder I look sickly and pale in all the pictures, I clearly wasn't sleeping well with these characters floating through my brain matter!
Josh in front of the Supreme Court building. This was something Josh really wanted to see, we certainly got our exercise trying to figure out where this building was (we had no map...)
Misc.
In the visitors' center at the Washington D.C. temple, they had copies of the Book of Mormon in a lot of different languages--one being Arabic. We gathered around as Kevan translated parts (I think Alma...) for us, and showed us how he reads Arabic. Pretty cool!
7 Little Monkies, sitting on the bed...
Emma and Ashley enjoying cousin time in a tree somewhere in VA...
Ashley & Megan in the "armor" at Jamestown. They were hilarious!!!!
This last section is my favorite. As I was looking back through the pictures, I felt a sense of longing to be with my family again--my whole family. I pray that someday soon that will happen. As I continued to scroll through all the pictures of our families in front of the temple, I felt such a strong surge of love for each member of my family. I then was overcome with a great desire to be with my whole family in the temple--in the Celestial Room, and I thought even further about how much I want to be with my WHOLE family in the Celestial Kingdom in the hereafter. I felt a recommitment to the Lord, and to doing those things He commands so that I can do my part and be there. I want you all to know how much I love every one of you. I am so impressed with all your children, with their love for the Lord, and your desire as parents, to instill that in them. Thank you so much for all your love and support. We love you guys a lot, and think of you often!
Most of the family that was already in town (Kristen and Dave came the next day) on the steps at the visitors' center at the temple. 
The Washington D.C. temple, at night.
Jeff & Emily, Ashley, Nathan, & Zack
Kevan & Sara, Jessica, Jacob, Emma, Megan, & Sam
1 comment:
Too funny: we have those exact same barf bowls. And they have been used a lot around here lately!
Looking through all these pictures of kids who look like their parents was a lot of fun, but it made me wonder... when did we start being the grown-ups in these photographs? I don't feel any different!
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