NASCAR, Nativity, Ballet, and Christmas Vacation in Punta Cana ~ December 1st

The boys had a great time visiting the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

We had such a great time with Grammy, Papa and Kathy! We love family visits!

I went with Aaron's class on a field trip to President James K Polk Historic site. It was a fun day and the kids were great.

We love to decorate for Christmas. I made this big wreath to hang on the small balcony in the front of the house. It matches the one I made for our door. It took me a few days to put out all the lights on the hedges and I repaired several fuses, but finally the house is done. Audrey loves the musical snowman given to her from Grammy and Papa.

Aaron hangs out with daddy when he needs to work on Saturdays or rarely a Sunday after church. This is one of his drawings on daddy's board.

Our new family adventure is participating in Martial Arts. Audrey, Aaron and I had our first class and got our white belts. We are very excited and like our instructors. Audrey jumps all over the place and makes everyone smile and laugh. Aaron is very serious and puts his heart into every move. I love the workout and being able to hit and kick things really hard! I've participated and love most sports, but this is very different and I'm having so much fun!

Wells Fargo had their annual Christmas party for all of their employees and families. Frosty and Santa came and the kids, well Audrey, was very excited. AJ didn't like standing in the line to see them, but he did like the candy canes that were handed out.

Our stake decorated and displayed hundreds of nativity sets donated or on loan from members of the church and community. I had the opportunity to spend a few hours each day the week prior helping to set up and decorate in preparation for the event. It lasted for 3 days and hundreds came to the church to see it all! There were musical performances from the church members and community throughout the event. Such a beautiful and spirit filled occasion.

The week before Christmas we had the Clowards, cousins, over for dinner and a gift exchange. We love having family near and just being together.

A few times a year parents are invited to observe our kids during their tumbling and ballet classes. Audrey loves them both!

Audrey's preschool class sang some Christmas songs for the parents before Christmas break. They did a great job. Notice that Audrey is a head taller than all of her classmates. We love her teachers and the positive Christian atmosphere they provide. They teach lots of cute songs about getting along and good behavior. They also teach lots of Christian values and Audrey brings home a craft of some sort every day.

For Christmas this year we decided to get away again and return to Punt Cana. 2 years ago we went for Christmas and loved it. The beach is probably our favorite family vacation place. It also gets us away from the holiday ciaos, and very far away from the office. Audrey and Aaron did great on the plane for the most part and everyone was excited to hit the beach!

The kids loved the welcome we received of fruit drinks with fun straws and a nice wash cloth to clean their faces. Little fish swam in the pond nearby and they wanted to catch them in their hands.

The kids loved the balcony off our room and the big tub of course. It is almost as exciting as the pool. Right away we headed to get some food and stopped by the turtle pond right across from our room. The pool was a little chili but that didn't stop the kids. By dinner time Audrey had fallen asleep in daddy's lap from a busy first day of vacation.

I love the fan palm trees.

We love to watch the workers climb the trees and cut down coconuts. We tipped on of the men and got one for ourselves. The kids weren't very impressed with the coconut milk, but it is sweet and fresh.

Off to the beach for some fun in the sun. The kids spent most of their time in the sand although they love to jump the waves and transfer water from the beach to their hand made pools.

Audrey is pretending to be eating an ice cream cone. She is very imaginative in her sand creations. AJ loves to build mountains, rivers and walls.

We enjoyed dinner together, especially when the Mariachi band played some Christmas music we requested. Audrey was putting stickers on paper to keep her busy and gave one of her pictures to the band. The pictures were of the birth of Jesus and stars with all the shepherds in attendance also. Very cute and thoughtful of her.

AJ's birthday was today and he got an underwater camera that he was so excited to use at the beach and swimming pool. I got up early to get a good hut for us to use at the pool in the morning. Audrey drew pictures and we all took turns hanging out in the hut and swimming.

Aaron took AJ on a zip line adventure for his birthday. On there way they saw many animals on a natural reserve of some sort. Afterwards they climbed and enjoyed many zip lines in a beautiful area.

The boys had a great time together. When they got home we had a nice dinner and then AJ wanted to go night swimming. He noticed the lights in the pool the night before and couldn't wait to go swimming, even in the cold water.

Happy Christmas Eve! Another beautiful day in paradise! The kids wanted to hunt for coconuts so we spent the morning searching off the paths and in the grass and trees. Then we headed back to the beach.

Audrey and I love the coral flowers here. She and AJ pick them off the ground and hand them to me several times a day.

Baby bananas! The kids were so excited.

We loved all the Christmas decorations all over the resort. It's so nice to be away from the hustle and bustle of the season in the city, yet still have Christmas all around.

Aaron was getting the peacocks to jump for some food and the kids loved it! The birds were all over and the kids got excited every time they saw one. We also love the flamingo pond. Just so many amazing sites.

Meet shark AJ and mermaid Audrey.

A "real" pirate ship in the ocean! The kids want "ride" on it next time we come.

The kids love to make rivers and pools even though they are also filled with seaweed!

Christmas Eve dinner is a very big deal here. They always have the most beautiful carved fruit and delicious food. It was such a fun night and yummy food.

Audrey was so tired she finished eating with her eyes closed. Then she fell asleep on Aaron's lap.

AJ opened his Chrismas Eve pjs, but Audrey was asleep so she will open hers tomorrow.

Merry Christmas!! The kids loved their stockings, but couldn't wait to see Santa on the beach. We hung out at the pool until it was time for Santa to come. 2 years ago Santa para-sailed onto the beach, but today he just came on a boat. The funniest thing was that he was a dark skinned Santa with his face painted white and wearing white gloves. It was actually a little weird, but all the kids lined up and got a present.

Yummy Mexican food for dinner. It has been a wonderful day and we were sad to be leaving in one more day.

On our last morning we went to the beach again. We thought it would be funny to build a sand snowman and it turned out pretty good! Audrey and I also made a sand wedding cake.

Audrey is drinking our favorite pina colada/grenadine drink. I can't count how many delicious drinks we have had since we arrived, but my tummy is a little bigger because of them! AJ had a hard time saying goodbye to his sand mountain.