Merry Christmas

 We woke up to a wonderful surprise and plenty of presents. The kids said if they weren't up by nine to wake them up but by 8:45 the girls were awake and ready to see what was wrapped under the tree. So we let Liam sleep and the girls started opening gifts. They moved church to 12:30 so we could combine with Huntsville 1st ward so that made our morning a lot more laid back.

The kids have gotten really good at going one at a time so we can see what each of them got. They started with their gifts for each other. I don't take them shopping unless they ask and they usually repurpose or make each other something so that's fun.

Santa doesn't wrap the gift he brings so they can always tell what he brought. Gracie was thrilled with her Lego friends mall kit

Emy got a unicorn hoover board

Hallie got thinking putty

I love how they all wanted to see the details about what the others got. I love when they are friends

Gracie got a guitar. Matt's plan is to teach her because I have no idea how to play

Gracie picked out matching necklaces for each oof them but they each have different colored stones for their birthstone

Hallie has been asking for a vest for a while now so she was thrilled with it and her new phone case and pop socket

The kids have been super into using the heating pad when they are cold with a cozy blanket and Hallie even put one on her wish list.

Then Liam woke up and joined the party. At first he was confused and then he said oh I remember it's Christmas so we can open our presents.

We ate our traditional Christmas breakfast of hash brown casserole and got ready for church. Gracie was playing the bells in sacrament meeting so we didn't want to be late. We got there about 30 minutes early and there were already a bunch of people there. We found a bench and got settle. Kerry and Joy came to support Gracie so that was nice. With so many people in the audience as the meeting went on it got so hot! When it was over we were ready to get out of there. We headed home and Matt smoked some ribs and we ate with Maddi and Matt's parents before they headed off to visit everyone else. The kids spent most of the day in the playroom reorganizing and building their new legos they all got. They were a great purchase for sure. I'm so grateful for this family of mine and all that we get to do together. Im so grateful for our health and the ability it gives us to enjoy life more. I think my only hope and prayer for the coming year is that we stay healthy and continue to get to spend time together doing fun things and making memories.

I didn't love having Christmas be on Sunday. I know I'm one of the few. Often times with Easter we do the fun stuff on Saturday and then use Sunday as the day we celebrate the Savior. It felt hard to find a spot that I felt settled with how the day went. I love having the kids open gifts and enjoying them and just hanging out. I like going to church on Sunday and just focusing on the true meaning of Christmas. I just like when they are on different days. 

Christmas Eve Festivities

 It's Christmas Eve! Maddi was coming to spend Christmas with us because of her work schedule so I wanted to plan something that would be fun for all of us. Growing up we had the tradition of going to one of my aunts houses and having dinner and opening presents before heading home late in the evening to go to bed before Santa came. Unfortunately we all live to far apart for that so isn't an option so I think we're still trying to figure out what our traditions are and I think we have a good one. Growing up near Christmas my mom would always make candy. I don't remember it being a family affair but I decided I wanted it to be so each of the kids picked a candy to make and that what we did on Christmas Eve. Maddi had been talking for month about making oreo truffles so I made sure I had all the things to make those for her candy. It all ended up being so much fun but so much work for sure.

Emy chose fudge so we had snickers fudge

Hallie chose caramel and turtles so we split the batch and did half of each

Gracie chose toffee and did traditional and white chocolate cinnamon sugar

This year we didn't do the present countdown that we did last year since we decided to do fewer gifts and we didn't do Christmas Eve PJs because no one needed pjs. Everyone else had opened a few gifts in the days prior so Emy got to open one as well. All the girls are into the mini backpacks and Emy was so excited she finally got one. I think it looks just like her.

Instead of pjs we opened a family gift

It was laser tag equipment. Then we spent the rest of our evening chasing each other around and shooting. They loved it and this house is perfect for it. They can also be used outside but it's to cold outside currently to do that.

Ok now that we have done all of that we are ready for Christmas to come. So off to bed so Santa can make his rounds.

December Jazz Games

 The games have continued and although it has been a fun thing it has also hard having so many nights away from home so next year I think our plan will be to to buy tickets for everyone to a couple games rather than splitting up so many times. But until then we are having a good time having lots of date nights for each of us. Matt's new habit is during the 3rd quarter order ice cream. Mint and Almond Joy are the current favorite.