Maybe Christmas means a bit more...

I did not stress about Christmas this year.....I did not worry if someone didn't like their gift, I didn't worry about if the kids faces would light up on Christmas day, I didn't worry about getting out and doing all the Christmas activities. I just made sure the kids knew about the true meaning of Christmas and everything else took care of itself. Amazing how that works. It was a very low key and wonderful Christmas, and yes, my kids eyes lit up on Christmas morning!

The pictures are all out of order, and it is way to much work to switch them around, so this is our Christmas day in random order:

Just look at Gavin's face!

Gage got his bike from Santa

Gavin got a camera for Christmas and spent all day taking pictures, we laid down in bed on Christmas night checking out our new cameras together.
Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without playing board games, and Gage got mouse trap for Christmas, so that is what was played!

Gavin got the gift of a Christmas shave!


Baby Crew's first Christmas...what a cutie


Making Christmas day dessert with Grandma and Grandpa






Christmas morning under the tree




Kennady sat in her pink chair, eating her candy bracelet and watched everyone open their presents. She didn't care to open her presents for awhile she was content with her chair and candy.

Christmas Eve festivities

Christmas Eve is probably my favorite day of the year....it is filled with family, tradition, giving, and excitement. This year did not disappoint. We had our yummy french dip dinner, we played Minute to Win it, we decorated cookies for Santa, we got into our new Christmas PJ's, we opened gifts, and we all climbed into Grandma and Grandpa's bed. Wonderful evening with wonderful company, but it was also very evident that we were missing a few this year! We missed you Jordan and Lacey and Ashley and Bradley!

Here are our minute to win it games:









Decorating cookies for Santa, or in Kennady's case, decorating cookies for her to eat...


Present time!!! Let the chaos begin!!



Now climb into Grandpa and Grandma's bed!!!




AHHHHH, now peace......the kids are in bed, the lights are dimmed, the tree lights are glowing, Santa has come, it is quiet, all is still, what a wonderful feeling! Can't wait for morning!

The excitement of Christmas

We had a Christmas season filled with many fun filled family activities. We also had a lot of talks about the birth of Jesus and serving others. It is fun when my kids can grasp the concept of Santa, but also catch on to the true meaning of Christmas. I think we had a great balance of both in our Christmas this year, and it made very magical.

We spent a unseasonably warm Monday night at Temple Square along with the rest of the entire state of Utah. It was an in and out as fast as we could go trip, but still enjoyable nonetheless.

I like the temple in the background in this picture













We have spent many days making snow angels , below is Kennady's, Gavin's and Jeff's snow angels.







Of course we had to do the annual Gingerbread house.




Our breakfast with Santa visit. Gavin and Kennady would not sit on Santa's lap, and Gage had a note for Santa telling him what he wanted, but it fell through the crack in the floor right before he went to sit on Santa's lap. Gage was devastated. But much to our surprise, he actually talked to Santa and told him that he wanted a bike. Maybe it was a good thing his note got lost.