Christmas Eve & Christmas Day

We had a really nice Christmas this year!  We've been waiting 3 years to have my parents home for Christmas and it was absolutely wonderful!   My mom had knee replacement surgery earlier in the month and my dad had been fighting off an infection, but both made it to celebrate with us.  Jon took my dad to the ER for a follow up during the day on Christmas Eve, but thankfully, they were done in plenty of time for our celebrations.

Family came for dinner!  We had all my siblings, my parents, the Cowden's (including Matt & Jack who are back from their missions), the Graf's, Misty's mom Diana, and my friend, Julie.   We ordered 2 trays of Chick-Fil-A nuggets and had sides to go with it.   Super yummy & super easy!   After dinner, we did our traditional white elephant exchange.  There wasn't as much "stealing" as in year's past, but still, some classics.

Everyone is always willing to be crammed into our living room!

 





 Can you tell how excited Jack is?   We didn't end up with this though.   We ended up with this....

 

A goldfish!

Matt Cowden originally opened it, but Kate convinced him that she should have it.

 

After everyone left, we bathed our little kids and gathered them all together to watch the Luke 2 video and read Luke 2 in the Bible.   The kids were more attentive then ever and it was so sweet.  I wanted to keep talking to them about the joy of living the Gospel and following the Savior because they were so cute and were listening so well. 

We put them to bed and waited for the next morning!!

 

I got a text at 6:30 telling me that the Mortensen's, Mike, Pete & my parents were on their way.  I thought we'd have to wake all the kids, but apparently the oldest 4 were all down in the basement with Emily watching a movie.  Lindsey woke them all at 6. 

 

It was so, so fun to all be together!  The kids were calm and sweet and seemed to be thrilled with all their gifts and were sure excited to give the gifts they had chosen & purchased.

 

 

 



Santa was very kind to all the kids!   He gave Emily clothes, new soccer cleats & gift cards.  Lindsey got a nail decorating kit & cake decorating kit.  Jack got a rocket.  Kate got a bean bag chair (a huge one!).  Hannah got a new Lego set.  And Hailey got a Fisher Price Disney Princess Castle, but since Uncle Mike put it together for her, she thinks it was from him.

Jon & I were super excited to give the kids a DISNEY CRUISE for Christmas!  We have wanted to go on one for sooooo long and have waited to save for it for sooooo long and we are finally going!   Yay!

After opening gifts from Santa, we ate a yummy breakfast and then relaxed and slept and played.  Rich & Misty came over and then we all headed to my parents for dinner (around 1:00).  We exchanged gifts with them and enjoyed each other's company for the afternoon.  

Then, we came home, pulled the Christmas tree out of the house and got ready to drive to Oregon the next day (oh, and Jon went to work at 5).  

What a great, memorable Christmas!