Christmas

It always takes weeks to prepare for Christmas and it's over in the blink of an eye. It's fun as the kids have gotten older bc they worry less and less about the presents and have been enjoying the whole season and being together for it all. We have 9am church which meant either we had to get up really early to do Christmas or wait until after church. The kids all voted to sleep in and wait until after church, so I had to cover everything up with sheets so we could still have the "shock" factor that the kids look forward to every year. 

I loved starting the day at church listening to all the pretty music, however I destroyed my back yesterday getting everything ready so I spent the second half of sacrament meeting laying on the floor at the feet of all my kids bc I couldn't sit any longer. After church we headed home, took a few nice pictures, then let everyone change while we finished getting everything ready. After a family prayer we were able to still line the kids up and have them turn around on the count of 3. I did that every year growing up and the kids have loved this tradition.

After opening up the bulk of the presents the kids were able to exchange the gifts they got for each other, then they opened their gifts from Santa. They were all excited for the gifts they got and there were even a few moments of shock...Brooklyn got Nike Panda Dunks that are impossible to find, Brayden got a "Date Idea Box" full of gift cards to use on dates as well as a CarPlay system for when he gets Josh's car in a few weeks (he was sure he knew all his gifts), and Brynlee got a Ukulele and has played it non stop. 

We all made crepes together and spent time with my parents while they stopped by to visit. Later in the afternoon the Ericsons all came over and spent the evening playing and exchanging more gifts. It was a wonderful day and I wouldn't have changed a thing. 

I had forgotten to wrap the gift I was most excited to give the kids lol. So after everyone left I was able to give the kids each a little book with pictures from this past year of dance and basketball. They have loved looking through all the memories. I'm hoping to be able to go back and make a book for each of their past couple of years. We have our family journals (this blog printed into books) but I wanted them to be able to have something a little more personal full of just their memories.