Christmas 2013

 We really celebrate all month long, the joy and excitement of Christmas, The birth of our Savior and All the peace and Love that brings to us as a family having a relationship with each other and Him makes life worth living, it is such a wonderful time of the year. This year at the beginning of December the kids and I sat down and made a list of all the things we wanted to do this Christmas Season, We got around to doing most of them and just enjoyed the entire season We did things like go out together and look at the Christmas lights and sing carols, pick two Christmas songs to memorize and sing, We wrote  letters to Santa and visited him at Doug's office, the only TV we watched were Christmas shows, and this year everyday in Dec we opened a Christmas book as our Advent calendar, the kids loved that. The got to ride the Christmas train at the mall with Grandma We made ornaments and decorations We made goodies and took them to friends and sent them to loved ones, we drew names as a family and tried really hard to give something thoughtful to that person, We Watched the Christmas Devotional and made Gingerbread houses We read the story of Christ's birth and learned all about the nativity set, we went to quite a few Christmas Parties and we enjoyed giving to others without their knowledge. Even after all that we still managed to make Christmas Eve and Christmas day stand out! On Christmas Eve the kids woke up to letters and a small present sent straight from the North pole, the letter was from Santa and was to let them know if they made the naughty or nice list, This year was particularly funny, Addy opened hers and helped Audryn open hers they both made the nice list James envelope was sitting there and Addy says " I am not going to touch that one" Why I asked " He may be on the Naughty list and I don't want it to rub off on me"....LOL we were all on pins and needles down to the wire to see if James would make it on the nice list, and he did, but Santa did encourage some change in certain behaviors over the next year before he comes again.... Santa's elf left a microphone for the kids to sing into that changes your voice into an elf voice, it was a hit all day long the kids were occupied, and joyous and not so anxious about opening the presents under the tree. We did Christmas Dinner on Christmas Eve, and then we had a little program where we talked about the real meaning of Christmas, We told the story of Christ's birth Again, and then we talked about the most important gift we would be giving at  Christmas which Is the gift we give to Our Savior it obviously cannot be tangible, but he has a stalking all the same so the kids get the idea. We opened 1 present each, this year we all got Jammies, and new this year we were given reindeer food to sprinkle on the lawn so that Santa would be able to get to our house easier.  It was so much fun

 This year my parents stayed the night, so they could be part of all the Christmas fun with the kids, we so love having them here with us and all the joy they add to the festivities. This year for Christmas the kids asked Santa for skates and skateboards, which they got, I thought for sure they would also be getting broken bones, but they are actually starting to get the hang of it. They are both just thrilled with their gifts Santa brought, we cleared out the garage so they can practice in there.

 This was Audryn's first Christmas she slept through us opening our Gifts and was angry she opened presents before getting a bottle when she did wake up, but she was loving all the Christmas excitement, the music and all the people being around when she was fed.

 No Doug did not get a new bike, the kids did to share, it is like a hot wheels but the back wheels turn in full 360 circles, so it is crazy and takes skill to drive, Addy loves it, Jim likes it if we let him ride it in the house, which only happened on Christmas day.

 Hugs before heading to bed Christmas Eve

 Audryn in her elf giddy up Christmas Eve, she is too cute

 Making Sugar Cookies for santa and singing songs, he is such a happy boy when he is singing and cooking

Addy's certificate of Nice from Santa

Our Tree lit up

 Both kids making cookies, they loved cutting out the cookies but got tired when we frosted them so only half or so got decorated,  more then enough for Santa though

 James and his certificate and the elf microphone.

 How we love Christmas time and all the Joy it brings, we are particularly busy this time of the year with added birthdays, but everyday seems to just be exciting and Christmas eve and Christmas day feel magical and filled with so much love one might think our home would burst, but we just all absorb it all and know that it is truly a wonderful time of the year.