Tanner's First Christmas was the best one yet!!
We drove up to Sacramento and spent 8 nights and 9 days there.
We were only going to spend 5 days there, but our trip kept getting extended so that we could enjoy more time with the family. All of Jeremy's siblings were home for the holidays, including two new brother-in-laws, so it was super, super fun!
On Christmas Eve day, we watched the Raiders game. Tanner got his first sports aparrel from Uncle Zach. By the end of the week, he was given enough sports gear to represent every major sport team in Northern CA.
Later that day, we went ice skating. It was DadZ's first time ever, so that made for some very entertaining moments around the rink. MomZ didn't skate because she broke her ankle during the week of Melissa's wedding, but she still watched from the sidelines with Tanner.
Then, we
joined the Davidson relatives for the traditional Christmas Eve dinner and games. Each year, the family reserves the relief society room at our church, and we make it our "home." Everyone contributes food to eat and then we play games together. This year we played the winter version of bingo, aka SNOW. Then we played a competitive game of broom hockey in the gym.
After games, Grandma Davidson led us in a reenactment of the Nativity. We had enough cousins, aunts and uncles of all ages to play every part! Tanner got to be baby Jesus. Our cousin Natalie was Mary. She did a super job taking care of Tanner during the play.
Aaron is the next youngest child from Tanner, and he's 2. He desperately wanted to be Joseph, so Grandma said "Sure!"
This picture makes it look like we had the whole ward there, but it was just our family!
After the Nativity, each family presented a skit/talent. This annual "show" is a highlight of the evening, and the only rules to the mini-performances is that it must relate to Christmas and every member of each family has to be involved. For the Zavoral group, we sang "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer." During the song, MomZ (who is now a grandma, and currently crippled), came screaming into the room on her cripple-scooter, being chased by a Baby Reindeer who suspiciously looked like Tanner. (Zach made the reindeer "whiz" through the room).
To end the evening, Grandpa Bob dressed up like Santa for the little kids. He is Tanner's great-grandpa.
Tanner didn't like being on Santa's lap.
On Christmas morning, we opened presents. Katie and Tanner are just about to see what Santa brought them.
Tanner got really good at opening presents. He would grab the wrapping paper, and then we would pull the present away from, which would tear it open. We actually gave Tanner some wrapping paper as one of his gifts because we knew that he would love that more than a fancy toy!
After presents, we went to church. Then we joined the Zavoral extended family for brunch. YUM! I love the eggs benedict that Aunt Judy makes.
This is great-grandma Ginny Zavoral. It's neat that Tanner has SEVEN great-grandparents that are alive! He loves every one of them!
4 generations.
For my long-legged husband, I made him custom pajama pants that go 3 inches past his feet. He had been wanting pj's that were long enough for him, so I sewed them at Taryn's house without him having a clue. Taryn managed to whip up a matching pair for Tanner.
Later in the week, we had a big feast with just Jeremy's parents and siblings. Other highlights with the clan included lazer shooting, raquet ball, a big basketball tournament, watching lots of sports on TV, and going to the Kings basketball game to see Jimmer play.
Tanner invaded MomZ's plate of stuffing and mashed potatoes. We actually started him on yams and whole-grain oatmeal during the break. He liked the oatmeal best.
The only bummer about the trip was that Tanner had croup and got an ear infection while we were in Sacramento. MomZ was super sick, too. But it was really nice to have the rest of the family help take care of Tanner. And MomZ didn't have to do any dishes or cooking the whole week (maybe she planned that?). I am so grateful for my Zavoral family and that we got to be with them during Christmas!!
