Christmas

Merry Christmas
from the
Dibble Family!

(Stella decided against coordinating with the rest of our outfits when she saw her new dress on Christmas morning)

(picture taken at 2:00 a.m. . . . Santa finally came . . . zzzzzzzzz . . . hopefully we're on the earlier delivery schedule next year)

Stella and Malcolm were both super excited about Christmas because they both woke up at 6:00 a.m. Dad gave Malcolm a bottle (thank you) and sent Stella back to bed and they didn't wake up until people started arriving for our annual Christmas breakfast with several people from our Ward. Since we weren't going to open our presents until after church (our church starts at 12:30 p.m.), Santa was nice enough to NOT wrap Stella's gift so she could see it right away and wear them to church. Black nigh heel boots! Santa DID get our letters!

We love our tradition of breakfast with the Ward members (I hope they like it too). Grandpa Dibble and Elliot's coworker Curtis Gruninger have been coming for the last 3 years to help cook (he's the one with Lolly the Jeep). This year Curtis brought his mother and she practically took over my kitchen and wouldn't let me do anything (which turned out to be a good thing because I don't know how to cut pineapple). She made all of the fruit plates look so pretty.

Church was good, I sang in the choir because I always complain about not being able to sing as many Christmas hymns that I want because the choir is always taking them all up, Stella and Malcolm behaved themselves with the Roberts family during church, Elliot cleaned up the building, we headed home, took our picture, changed our clothes, and then FINALLY Stella was able to dig into her presents. She had already arranged them in piles by name and apologized to me because I didn't get as many as she did. I made her spread them sporadically again trying to explain how piles are no fun. It's funny how kids sort of forget what they asked for when there are other presents to open.

Malcolm enjoyed his presents by yelling at them. He got some learning toys and a barrel of monkeys.

The girl loves quesadillas. She also got lots of books and somehow she got lots of shoes.

WARNING: The Ove Glove was not made at NASA. Do not become overconfident in it's abilities such as thinking it's a smart idea to stick your Ove Gloved hand into a pot of boiling water. It's not, so don't do it.

Suddenly it was almost 5:00 and we were supposed to be at my Mom & Dad's for dinner at 3:30!! The day always goes by way too fast! We gathered the rest of the presents for the family and the nerf dart guns to see what kind of ruckus we could cause at my Mom's. I'm sort of happy that some of my siblings have my punctuality problem as well because Lindsay and Keith had just arrived shortly before us, but the prayer was said and everyone was dishing up by the time we walked in. My oldest, yet way younger looking, sister Marci and her family came into town for Christmas this year which was so fun!

We ate up the mashed potatoes ("these mashed potatoes are so creamy") and chewed up the turkey ("so dry you could gag on it!") before we moved on to the nerf dart gun war. Don't worry Adam, Mom's divinity was safe. (p.s. those are quotes from a movie and tv show . . . can you guess which ones?)

To help digest the delicious Christmas feast, we busted out the guns. Nerf guns. Oldies vs. youngsters (Bill, Elliot, Keith vs. Alex, Alecia, Karl . . . . Lindsay joined later, but I'm not sure she knew which teams she was on).

Don't worry, Alecia's not really possessed with those red eyes, but she was quite the contender with the dart gun.

There should be some theme music to this brother/sister conquering march picture.

Uncle Bill, intimidating.

Alex was hiding somewhere for the first several rounds and then popped out to massacre passersby.

Uncle Elliot posted at a popular corner by the laundry room.

My Mom's house has lots of places that have 2 entrances. This makes for a good escape.

Grandpa was helping Brynlee with the dart gun and she was just at the perfect height to be shooting everyone in the junk.

Uncle Keith taking over the post.

An ambush around the corner.

Uncle Bill stalking his prey.

That's a happy, chubby baby.

I thought Stella would totally be in on the nerf dart gun action, but she sat in front of the TV instead playing the Wii. Another reason we can't ever purchase one.

Bryn got such a laugh after shooting Uncle Elliot in the nether regions that Hannah wanted in on the shooting.

Father/Son battle to the death.

Another ambush. Will they never learn?

I think Lindsay just shot whoever came by.

Lindsay challenged Karl to a boxing match on the Wii. I hope their deodorant didn't quit on them that day because neither of them wanted to lose. Karl, quit beating up your aunt.

Hannah and Brynlee duked it out too. That sound coming out of Hannah's mouth is one of my favorite sounds!

Uncle Bill and Aunt Marci loved themselves a little Malcolm. (Uncle Bill looks like he's glaring, but he got his turn with Malcolm too)

I love that Brynnie giggle!