Christmas!!

Each year we go Christmas Caroling with Nedra and Rachel and drop off goodies.  Elizabeth was old enough to go with us and actually sing. We did the same songs and the same order each time (Jingle Bells, Silent Night, We Wish You a Merry Christmas!) and after a couple houses she got it down and was singing along with us.  I love caroling at Christmas time because it brings joy to others and the spirit is felt so strongly through music.

We spent Christmas Eve at the Newson's house and had a delicious meal of prime rib roast, opened one present, laid out our stockings, set out a cookie for Santa and a carrot for rudolph and went to bed.  Well, Elizabeth and James went to bed and I went shortly after (we were all getting head colds) but Ben and Rachel stayed up until 2am- crazy!

The next morning we actually slept in (that is a sign of a sick toddler) and then went out to see stockings together.  I love carefully looking at everything placed in my stocking and knowing that Santa put it there, as a child I always tried to put it exactly the same.  Elizabeth had a different mentality and just wanted to see what was in there so she help the end and shook until it all dumped out all over the floor.  She was very excited (and because of that excitement we didn't get a lot of pictures of her face) and it was fun to see.

 

 

 

Dumping the stocking

 

 After breakfast and getting ready we sat down to open presents.  We open one at a time starting youngest and going up.  Elizabeth loved to pass out the presents, yell at Grandpa that it was not his turn and open her present.  Each gift got a shocked face of pleasure and a hug with the words, "This is just what I wanted!"  She was so gracious and it is definitely more fun to open gifts with a toddler.  The one thing that she really wanted was a pink horse and Santa brought her one; which took her full attention and ruined all gift opening for a while.

A snuggle before breakfast with a "Mom, I don't feel very good!" Poor Kid.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pause to read a book.

 

 

 

After gifts we got to talk to family and play for a while. We then packed up and went to the Stones house with Mom, Dad and Grandma and the Lundgreens.  There we had more presents (we are so spoiled) and had fun opening gifts with our cousins.  There was good munchy food and  Sean, Heather and Dan ended up coming later for games.  It was fun to get skype set up and get to talk to our family and Michael announced that they were going to have another baby! We would have stayed longer but there was a pretty bad snow storm that we wanted to beat home.  It was a great day and it made us realize how much we are truly grateful for.  We have amazing children, parents and families and we are so blessed that Ben has a good job and we have the necessities and luxuries of life.  We are grateful for our Savior and the wonderful holiday season!

Elizabeth got a big doll house from Erica and she loved it.

 

Mom's reaction to finding out Michael and Taylor are expecting a baby.

 

 

 

Grandma Bake sat and played with James for a while. It was adorable and very special.

 

 

Dad got a game about numbers and chance and Elizabeth beat it twice in a row (doing better than Dad did).