Documenting Christmas

It feels like Christmas was a very long time ago, but I wanted to have it documented somewhere other than my unreliable memory.

This year we tried doing something Christmas-y every day in December leading up to Christmas Day.  Most days were VERY simple like reading a Christmas story or (on Tuesday's when Mark was gone) watching a Christmas movie.  We also took the kids shopping for each other, had a Polar Express night, and made Santa cookies on Christmas Eve.  Other activities (where we managed pictures) included...

...riding the train in to see the lights on Temple Square...

 

 

 

...making Christmas cards...

...and watching The Boy in his Christmas Program.

 

We also watched The Boy receive his Yellow Belt 3rd Degree.  Not very Christmas-y but a December happening none the less.

 

We also had an elf this year to keep an eye on things.  The kids LOVED finding Christopher every morning.  Even Junebug was thrilled to see him and would point and giggle when she'd discovered where he was.  He got up to a number of silly things, but we only remembered to get one picture...

 
With 1:00 church, I thought it might be nice to get the girls really dolled up the Sunday before Christmas

 

 

 

I'm ABSOLUTELY loving 9:00 church now, but I will miss being able to do this!

That Sunday, The Queen started fevering and everyone started feeling a bit lousy.  Christmas Eve was spent stocking up at the pharmacy and with kids watching Christmas movies to try and get them to rest.  That afternoon we managed to make and decorate sugar cookies for Santa, turn on the fireplace and eat pizza in front of The Muppets Christmas Carol.  We went to bed early and exhausted.

Despite the runny noses, hacking, and overall ick, the kids enjoyed Christmas morning.  Amidst wiping noses and attempting to keep germs to ourselves, I didn't take many picture (so sad).

 

No, Junebug was not up yet, and, no, I didn't wake her as soon as the big kids got up.

 

 

 The Queen's favorite Christmas song continues to be I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.  We couldn't help but oblige.

  

Junebug joined us in her own time.

 

 

 

 

We did get out and see family but, alas, I have no pictures for your viewing pleasure.  

The rest of Christmas break was spent resting, taking temperatures, visiting doctors, administering antibiotics, and trying to get well.  By the time we reached the New Year and returned to our regularly scheduled activities, the colds were at a minimum and we're all doing much better now.  We were kind of bummed to spend our break that way, but also glad to have the time to recuperate.

Now we are on to trying to survive the cold and inversions.  Looking forward to spring already!

The stockings were hung...

I just had to show these off before I put them away! My mom, at some point, decided that she wanted to make all of her grandchildren's stockings. They are quite a bit of work and so STINKING cute! My mom is the best!

Christmas update

We had a wonderful Christmas this year and hope everyone else did as well. We started the day at about 6:45 with what Santa brought. The Queen found a purse and The Boy some cars (his favorite, even though Santa couldn't come through on the green pickup truck he requested).
Then it was on to what Mommy and Daddy shopped for. We managed to get our Christmas shopping done by Nov. 2 (personal best), so I had been excited for the kids to open their gifts for quite some time. The Boy received a camera (the kind that can fall down the stairs and land in the bathtub and still be okay), and a remote control Jeep. The Queen opened a doll bed (one my dad made me when I was little) complete with blankets (thanks, Mom) and a new dolly. Both kids love the play food and dishes (they get to cook while Mommy cooks, and that makes everyone happy).
Afterward, we headed to Morgan for some of Boppa's cinnamon rolls for brunch.

"Oh what fun it is to ride in a one-Daddy open sleigh!"
Thanks, Boppa and Diyah!

We finished off the day at Grandma and Grandpa's for Christmas dinner.The Queen's favorite gift was from Grandma and Grandpa, she even says the word, ball -- which is more than we can say for the word, Mommy.

Happy Holidays!

'Twas the night before Christmas...

The children were nestled, all snug in their beds

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.

Happy Christmas to all, and to all a Good Night.

m&n

'Twas the Sunday before Christmas...

Caleb: Those are my presents.
Me: Yes, those presents are yours.
Caleb: I get to open them.
Me: Yes, you can open them on Christmas morning.
Caleb: I take the paper off, and that's how I see what's inside them.
Me: Yep.
Caleb: And that's when the cars come out!

I feel bad he was pointing at a children's digital camera at the time.

mw

Caleb Through 2007

Last Christmas, it was this:



This year, it was this:



In between was pretty good too:



mw