Merry Christmas!

 

Our Christmas Day:

(pictures coming soon)

Today was amazing! It was a perfect balance between gifts and fun, but also sweet and spiritually uplifting.  I LOVE having Christmas on Sunday because it puts the day in perspective when you leave all your brand-new toys at home and go to worship the Lord! Then of course you get to ponder for some time about the true meaning of Christmas. I loved the program, especially this year, with beautiful thoughts, scriptures and, of course, hymns.

             William and I were both grateful that the kids slept in til 7:30 since we got into bed around 2 a.m.  Normally they are up by 5:30 and it was the first time all four kids have slept in- EVER.   So we started with our traditional “prayer on mom and dads bed,” then “picture on the stairs.”

We went downstairs and emptied the stockings.  In our family there is a small gift that sits next to the stocking and Ava’s was a piggy bank, later when she was asked what she got for Christmas, that is the one thing she could remember!

         Then we opened gifts.  To keep spending and expectations at a reasonable level, and make planning easier, the kids know to expect four gifts: Something to wear, something to read, something you want, something you need.  Honestly it ends up being some books, whatever clothing is needed, and more like two fun gifts.  This year Ava got a bike and squinkies, cam got a nerf gun and dress-ups,  Bennett got blocks and balls, and Pierson just got a single present (a $2 yard sale toy) but he doesn’t really care!

I feel like it was the perfect balance; they didn’t get too much, but just enough to feel very blessed and satisfied!

            After opening all the gifts I asked the kids if Santa ate the cookies they left for him.  Sure enough, the cookies were gone and there was a short note and a picture of our toilet!  What?!?  Why did Santa leave a picture of our toilet?  I don’t know!  That’s weird!  Lets go look at our toilet.  Then on our toilet was a picture of the fridge…. The scavenger hunt lasted about 10 minutes, and ended in our basement where there was a brand new 8 foot trampoline!  So ok, yes, it was a big Christmas.  But I have a feeling this trampoline will save my sanity while we are stuck indoors over the winter.

             Anyway, it was just a wonderful morning.  Following church we traveled to my grandma and grandpa Anderson’s place for the waffles, eggs, bacon, and orange Julius they prepare each year.  Yum!  Then we visited my sister and enjoyed some more family time.  Awesome day!! Hope yours was just as great!