Christmas Photos 2008

Christmas is about many things.  Of course, the true meaning of Christmas is a celebration of the birth of the Savior, Jesus Christ.  This meaning, though the most important, is often the most overlooked.  I would guess that the two things most thought of around Christmas time are Family and Gifts.  I believe we should taper back on the gifts.  It is so fun to give gifts, but with the emphasis evolving to gifts more and more each year, I see too many kids seemingly remembering nothing but presents and others getting so tied up in the gift giving (it seems weird to suggest gift giving is anything but good) that they forget to celebrate the holiday altogether.  Family is a great focus around the holidays and causes me to reflect on just how blessed I am.  I miss being close to my family around the holidays.  I miss celebrating Christmas the "Trosper" way with all my family's traditions.  I am, however, blessed to have great in-laws.  We are a close bunch and I am lucky to have the in-laws I do.  (There are many in-laws I would not want to have).  While it sucks that there are no Trosper family pictures in my Christmas blog entry, I am glad that there are Ostler, Wilson, Scherer, Cornelius, Kelley, Reed, Peirce, Salas and Baker pics.  Here are a few.  Enjoy!

We had a Christmas Eve party with the family.  There were several prizes given.  The prize for the most festive holiday outfit went to my nephew, Cole Reed.  He came as a Christmas present.  I came dressed with a bunch of ornaments.  

L to R: Cole Reed, Jakey Reed, Sarah and Olivia Kelley

Now that is a present I would like to unwrap!

L to R:  Amy Salas, Jenteal Peirce, Molly Reed and Sarah

Jessica Baker

There were two prizes given in the gift exchange (other than the gifts you chose).  One was for the gift least wanted.  This was our winning effort ~ a diaper in a plastic bag with a $1 bill.  Jessica picked this gift.  The diaper was made to look as if it had been used, but it had not.

The other gift exchange prize was for the gift that was wanted the most.  This is our winning effort.  It traded hands the maximum times.  It is an ipod box that Sarah shrink wrapped to look brand new.  Inside the box was a sucker and a note that said, "SUCKER!!!!"  Aaron Baker ended up with this seemingly great gift.

We wish you all a very merry Christmas and a most prosperous New Year!

Leah and Grandma Ostler

Taylor and Aaron Baker

Vern and Kate Wilson

The Newlyweds ~ Amy and Jaime Salas

The greatest present a Mom and Dad could ever ask for

Two Christmas Beauties

This shirt was a gift from Caitlin

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

"YEAH!!!!  It's Christmas Morn!"

I thought this little angel ornament looked like Leah

We got a lot of presents.  Jim, Samantha and the girls gave us this statue of a Father, Mother and a baby.  We like it.  We thought it kind of looked like an Oscar, so here is Sarah giving her acceptance speech.

Jim and Samantha gave Sarah and Leah these matching silver bracelets with their names engraved on them.  This was a nice gift that made Sarah cry.

Me hanging a USC candy cane ornament...Thanks M&D

My little Santa's Helper

Cole Reed opening presents

Joshua Wilson and Aunt Lisa Cornelius

Sarah and Dustin Ostler with Leah and their son Carson

She is such a cutie

Leah with Grandpa Ostler

Uncle Vern and Aunt Kate

Amy Salas and Leah

Lisa and Tim Cornelius

Mom and Dave

Elijah opening gifts.

We hope everyone that was not with us this holiday is safe and happy.  We pray that each of you remember the meaning of the season and that we all strive to keep Christ in Christmas and in life year round.  

With Love,

Marque, Sarah and Leah