Caroling party and Live Nativity

Matt's family gets together with the Peterson family in their ward to do a caroling/pie party every year. We start out singing songs and whoever wants to perform is welcome to. Then we go around to people in the ward and carol, then come back for pie! It's a fun laid back night with good friends.

Lauren, Lindsay, and Michelle sing a song.

Hanging out.

Opal Peterson and Owen watch from the balcony.

Lindsay sang us a new Christmas arrangement she wrote.

The two moms setting up music on the piano.

Mike Peterson always sings "Oh Holy Night" - it's a great tradition!

Owen and Opal had a great time together.

Grandpa Farrell playing Polly Pockets and My Little Ponies with the kids.

Lots of picture taking!

Just before the "sock game". Everyone takes off their shoes and has to stay on their hands and knees the whole time (no standing up). The last person with a sock on wins. It gets pretty brutal.

In the middle of the game... it's a free-for-all....

Matt and Clark gang up on papa Peterson.

Every year the Oakland Temple goes all out to get people to come and experience Temple Hill. There are concerts and speakers and other events almost every night. There is also a live nativity that people from the surrounding stakes act in. My family volunteered to do the nativity last night. You show up and get dressed up in costumes, then act out the nativity about every 5 minutes for an hour straight. It was pretty fun. I'm glad we got to do it.

Kevin, Madeline, and Becca were the three wise men.

Matt, Owen, and I were shepherds.

My mom and dad were also shepherds. This is them acting out "American Gothic", though I just realized that we put them in the wrong spots - my dad should be on the right. :)

There are some smiles!

The whole family hanging out waiting for the nativity to begin.

They even had sticks for the shepherds to hold. Owen loved this pointy pitchfork.

Michael and Hilary were volunteered to be Joseph and Mary.

All of us in the nativity.

Pretty lights on Temple Hill.

Only a few more days till Christmas! We can't wait!