The Christmas Post

We had such a wonderful Christmas this year! I was so glad to be in Utah near both our families! As we watched all the news about how horrible the delays were for traveling we were SOOOO grateful that we were not traveling anywhere this year!

For Christmas Eve we went up to my parent's house for dinner and a little program. We set the table with some of my late Aunt D'Ann's special Christmas ornaments. As kids we used to help her decorate her house for Christmas and we all have great memories of spending that time with her.

My Mom made a fantastic meal of ham, twice baked potatoes, carrots, and the most fabulous broccoli I've ever eaten!

After dinner we dressed the kids up and did a little nativity. Big Boy and Miss H played Joseph and Mary,Cheeks was a shepherd (although he looked more like a Nephite!), Mr. A was all 3 wise men, Todd was the angel, and Baby M was supposed to be Baby Jesus, but slept through the performance, so a stuffed animal substituted. It was definitely the highlight of the night. The kids were so funny. Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem, then rested after their long journey. The shepherd was NOT happy to be there. We tried to recruit Dexter (Todd & Kara's dog) to be a sheep, but he wasn't having it. And, in the end there was quite the scandal when the wise man kissed Mary! It was really cute and we all had a great time!

After the production we opened a few gifts, had some dessert, then headed back home. We had the boys open up some new pajamas (Lightning McQueen of course!), then sent them off to bed. They were so excited, we could hear them talking and laughing for quite a while afterwards.

Shafer and I stayed up until around 1am watching Elf and fixing things up nice for Santa to come. We were worried that Big Boy would get up and see the presents before he came into our room, so Shafer set up a little booby trap on the boy's door. He hung a really loud bell on the door handle, so when it was opened the bell would fall. Then, for good measure we stuck Baby M's bouncy chair in front of the door so they'd have to get past that!

I was really surprised Christmas morning when I was awake well before the boys woke up! My parents drove down early to be here and we sat around talking for about a half hour before the booby trap went off. I went in the boy's room and woke up Cheeks (he can sleep through anything!) while Shafer got the camera ready. The boys were bouncing off the walls, it was great! They were so excited to see the tree surrounded by presents and a little car track all set up in front!

Big Boy couldn't open the presents fast enough and he was the first to be finished with his presents. Cheeks would have been happy with one present; he had a big stack waiting to be opened by the time the rest of us were done. Big Boy was happy to help open everyone else's presents!

Baby M had a great first Christmas. He enjoyed playing with the bows and wrapping paper, and watching his big brother's play with their toys!It was definitely a McQueen Christmas. At one point Cheeks was wearing his McQueen PJ's, with McQueen slippers, with a McQueen bathtowel on his head, holding a Cars car, and standing on a Cars rug. We sure gave a lot of money to Disney this year! Our new years resolution is to stop buying Cars cars for the boys!

After breakfast my parents headed back up North in the big storm to see how Christmas morning went at the Buckley's. Thanks again for spending Christmas morning with us, it made it so fun!Baby M was all tuckered out by the time my parents left!
We spent the rest of the morning watching new movies, playing with new toys, and getting dressed in new clothes; it was lovely!

That afternoon we headed up to the Goulding's house and witnessed the aftermath of a Christmas hurricane in their house! Ray and Leslie along with Cade and Ashley spent Christmas at their house, so there was quite the pile of gifts! The number one present of the morning was the complete Rock Band set up including the game system to play it on! Needless to say, we had a great afternoon working on our awesome skills! Shafer stole the spotlight with his rendition of a Beastie Boys song, it was SWEET!!! My favorite is the guitar, so fun!

We had a wonderful Christmas! I so enjoyed being the parent and watching how magical it was for my kids!