Matt and Stacie and their family came to enjoy the beautiful San Diego Christmas with us.  We were so delighted to have family here.  It makes life happier with cute little kids around, plus their parents.  We had a great time together.

Billy and Amy gave Matt and Stacie a surrey ride on Coronado Island for a Christmas gift.  So, we got to go along for the ride also.  We did get off a couple of times to look at the ocean.  Above, Jacob and Owen pose for a picture.

We got all seven of us on the surrey.  It was really fun and the kids had a great time.

We stopped at a park to let the kids play for a few minutes.  The boys went to the baseball diamond, and Stacie and Evie watched Anna play on the slides.

What a gorgeous view.  That's mighty fine weather for December 23rd.

Matt and Stacie and their kids.  Love this picture and this family.

Enjoying a little lunch together.

Here we all are on the surrey.  Fun, fun, fun.

We took a little detour to Coronado Beach because the kids had never been to the ocean.  The water was cold but Matt and the boys enjoyed wading around in it.  Anna was not happy to go in the water and stayed with Grandma.  Stacie went out a bit and grandpa went on a walk along the beach.

That night, we went to the Mormon Battalion and watched a musical Christmas program put on by some of the missionaries. They did a really fine job, and it was fun to see some of our missionaries that have served in the Santee YSA branch--Sister McKee in particular, front row, fourth from the left.

President Schmitt and his cute family perform a Christmas Primary song.

After the performance, Dick took the kids out to the covered wagon at the Battalion and let them sit in the front of the wagon.

Christmas Eve day was spent preparing food for Christmas Eve.  Stacie, Anna, and Grandma cooked food all day, while the boys went to see the carrier ship Midway.

In the evening, we had a nice dinner with the sister missionaries (Sister Stakkeland and Sister Serrato) who sang a nice Christmas song for us.  We had also invited two of our branch members (Colin Henderson and Odko) over, as well as a senior couple (Elder and Sister Barlow).

After dinner, we had a talent show.  The children sang a Christmas song and Jacob played the piano.  

Then, we had the nativity, with Owen as "Joseph" and Anna as "Mary."

Stacie was the angel.

Jacob was a shepherd.

Colin and Odko were wisemen.

Grandpa Dick was the innkeeper.  Here is the whole group.  Elder Barlow entertained the boys with a glow- in -the -dark soccer ball.

The lineup on Christmas morning.

Owen surveys his goods.

Anna seems pleased with her gifts.

Jacob loved his electric circuit kit.

Matt enjoyed everything.

Stacie had fun with Anna.

The day after Christmas is the busiest day at the San Diego Zoo, so we went that day.  We didn't know it was the busiest day.  It was very crowded, but we still had a fun time.  

Anna's happy.

This baboon was very entertaining.

This pretty colored bird was fun to watch.

Not sure what this is.  Maybe an Owen baboon.

Four gorillas.

Anna and Grandma had fun making a family out of playdough.

Matt and Stacie were able to go to a session at the San Diego Temple.  We brought the kids later so we could have pictures taken. This is a great little family we love.

What a fun Christmas holiday we had together.