Merry Christmas From the Crabtrees

We sent cards to faraway family and friends, but not to those close by.  Here is our letter and picture in case you were wondering what we've been up to:

2013 Crabtree Family Letter

Dear whoever’s reading this,

Kimber is 13 and was on the Mattson volleyball team. She’s in her first year of middle school at 7th grade and loves shopping, watching movies, and doing whatever she does on her iPod Touch. She got braces from Dr. Molen and glasses for school.

I (Samantha) am 10 and passed levels 4 and 5 in swimming and am on level 6. I’m in 5th grade and did volleyball and piano. Dr. Molen put an expander in my mouth. I love rollerblading and going outside on my bike. Sadly, that’s all I could think of for me.

Alli is 8 and played volleyball on a team for the first time. She is in 2nd grade and played baseball and soccer. She likes soccer better. Her favorite things to do are play on the computer (ST Math and Webkinz), play soccer, and watch TV (Disney channel). She was baptized on September 28th.

Camryn was born on May 7th. She is 7 months and learned how to sit up. She loves to eat everything we give her –food, toys, blankets, necklaces, hair… She’s crying right now, but usually is happy. She goes to a babysitter three days per week while mom teaches preschool.

Mom teaches preschool Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday now. She did Activity Days for church but now she doesn’t. She loves a clean house even though it takes a fight every day to get us to clean it. She drives us everywhere every day – she’s almost a cab driver. She likes going out on dates with dad and kissing him. Gross, I know.

Dad got a new car – it’s a Tesla. Remember when he got a new motorcycle last year? Now its broken and he hasn’t fixed it because he’s too caught up in his new car. He just got done coaching 5 volleyball teams at once. He loves watching sports now that we have Disney Channel (cable) – Alli said that. He wants to move us to Spain for a year and mom says no. He plays basketball and volleyball still. He goes to work only so he can play ping pong.

What we did this year:

• Went on a cruise as a family to Jamaica, Bahamas, Cayman Islands, and Cozumel
• Then we went to Destin, Florida to surprise Aunt Michelle and our cousins
• Went to the family reunion with the Crabtrees – I don’t remember where we went (Lake Tahoe)
• Went to Austin, Texas to visit aunt Michelle and her family
• Went to Wenatchee with friends to go eat at a restaurant (Café Rio). I don’t get really get that, but it was fun
• Kimber went on her first plane ride by herself to see her cousin in Utah
• Mom and Camryn went to Las Vegas with their friends
• Kimber went to Girls Camp for the first time
• Dad went to Barrow, Alaska with his friend Aaron
• Mom, Kimber, Alli, Grandma Leanne, and I went on a trip to Moses Lake while dad was in California watching volleyball

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, Everyone!

Love,

Sam and family

Traditions

Christmas Sing-a-long

Snowflake Lane
I didn't take many pictures this year.  They did the whole thing differently and I wasn't even with my girls most of the time.  They had the dancers, characters, and drummers in the middle of the street for most of the time and I couldn't see a thing.  The girls wiggled themselves up to the front so they could watch.  We did get a couple pictures of Camryn seeing as though it was her first trip there.  She loved the music and seemed to be dancing.   I am sad I didn't get a group picture.  We were there with the Leders, Dances, and my parents. 

 She also loved the lollipops :)

Wenatchee/Leavenworth Trip
This year there was not any snow, but there was a Cafe Rio :)
Cam also sat in her first restaurant high chair:

 We still did some shopping in Leavenworth to get our yearly ornament:

We really missed the snow, but we still had a fun 24 hours.  2 Cafe Rio trips.  Shopping in Leavenworth and at Shopko (man how I used to love that store...not so much anymore, other than I did buy lots of clearance Christmas decor...but it brings back good Provo memories).  Two trips to the hotel pool (which was a bit on the cool side).  Fun times! 

Activity Day's Christmas Party:
This will be the last one of these, well at least that I'm helping to plan.  Love these girls and I will miss working with them.  

These last few pictures aren't really from a tradition but there are cute so I wanted to post them.  We went over to the Crabtree's to watch the BYU/UW football game.  We had a great time, even though BYU lost.  Luckily I am a fan of UW as well, so really I couldn't lose :)

Cam hung out with Grandpa:

Then she started sharing some chocolate pie with Konrad.  She loved it (surprise, surprise :).  I absolutely love this face she is making as she watches him put more on the fork.  You can just tell she is really hoping it is coming to her mouth, not his :)

Christmas Day

The stockings:

 The tree:

 We got Sam what she asked for:

 A Kindle Fire

 Alli got one too

 and was surprised bc she "didn't ask for one because I didn't think I'd ever get one"

 Kimber got a....

 wait!  it's ringing!!!

 As you can see below, we had one very excited girl.  I had her convinced she would never get a phone :)  She was near tears at this point.  It was awesome. 

 Camryn got a bunch of new toys

 Konrad was there too :)

 Cam was very interested in what Dad was doing...

 Miss him!

 After opening presents we headed to the cemetery to visit Ian.  It was hard for me this time. 

After the cemetery we went over to Grandma and Grandpa Crabtrees for a couple hours.  I didn't bring the camera in...lame!

Then we headed to the Ridings and spent the rest of the day there.  The kids were excited to open more presents:

 My parents were twins :)  Making breakfast for dinner.  Yum!

 Isn't she so cute???

 Sam attempting to pull the bow string back.  She will have to work on it for a few month before she has the strength.  I love all the stockings hanging behind her :)

 I walked over to the living room and saw this:

 they were willing to smile though even though they were very busy :)

Not pictured:

• donuts for breakfast
• Apples to Apples, Disney Pictionary, and Canasta were played
• Yummy hot chocolate at the Crabtree's
• Camryn's new wardrobe
• my our new vacuum

Christmas Eve 2013

We did Christmas Eve a little different this year.  We went to Seattle to check out the gingerbread houses, enjoyed some beautiful music by the Ensign Symphony and Chorus, eat at the Cheesecake Factory, and we ended the night in Bellevue at the Botanical Gardens. 

In line at the Sheraton, to see the gingerbread houses.

We sat next to the Warners and Liechty's at the performance.  We spied many of our other friends as well.  Fun to see so many people and hear such amazing talent.  Cam and Lucy hung out before. 

 Botanical Gardens:

 We made it home at 10:30 that night.  The girls opened their Christmas Eve jammies and went straight to bed.