"Why it's Christmas Day" 2010

Get Ready for the Longest Christmas Post of this little Blogs life...followed by two or three more Christmas Posts. Major Major Picture overload...but it is Christmas:) Christmas morning at our House!!! Waking up...seeing the cookies, carrots and hot chocolate are gone...rushing downstairs..and Presents! It's magical. Santa came through and got Elle her Rapunzel beauty set she asked for and Cash's Lightning McQueen that changes color in the water. (In fact Santa got him two since his only request for Christmas, if on the market, was only $2.99) He also made them two pretty neat capes if I do say so myself. Christmas at Christensens was wonderful. We had yet another amazing meal and a great time giving and recieving gifts:) I had to take a picture of that To: Dad From: Dad gift. Without fail there's always a couple of those underneath the tree every year. Along with everything else my Dad gave me some beautiful black diamond earrings...my first pair. I Love him. Christmas was truly magical. I don't feel like I even skipped a beat during this month now that I'm a real true "grownup" because my kids make me feel like a kid again. I love Christmas! A couple of weeks ago I was able to go to my parents stake conference where Elder Holland was the speaker. I've never heard a talk more inspiring and memorable than the one he gave at the adult session. He talked about how you can't have a Bethlehem without a Calvary, and I'll never forget the lessons I learned throughout his talk. I am so grateful for our Savior and for the Christmas season and the extra time it gives us to reflect on his life...Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve 2010

Christmas Eve is my very favorite day of the year...by far!!!(althoughChristmas day comes in a close second.) There's no two other days like them. We did a lot of driving back and forth from families but we're just so grateful to HAVE family close and to spend Christmas with. My Mom was so cute and had planned to do a little service project that night to teach the kids about the true meaning of Christmas. She turned them into little Elves and delivered an anonomous Christmas package to a family. My kids were ENAMORED with the idea and i loved it. Then we had a wonderful lesson from my dad where we all shared our thoughts with each other followed by the traditional nativity with the kids. We opened a couple of "first gifts of Christmas" followed by the kids matching pajamas, but the very best part was coming back to our own house and having our own little Christmas Eve. The kids made frosty the snoman cookies earlier just for Santa...and made sure that I had bought plenty of carrots for the reindeer. We got our note written and a cup of hot chocolate all ready and it was up to bed. We all sleep together that night but Elle and Cash had so much energy and it is tradition at my house...so we let them watch The Polar Express for the 1,345th time this year. Although this time they wanted it in 3D. So funny. -

During Christmas there was a little bit of this.. and a TON of this... Elle and Cash were both SO sick the last week or so before Christmas...We finally took them in the day before Christmas Eve and of course...Elle had pneumonia and and an ear infection and Cash was wheezing and needed his breathing treatments. But not to worry, a couple of antibiotics, and there was still... Plenty of Smiles!

All the Who's Down in Whoville...

In honor of one of my mothers favorite Christmas movies Elle and I thought we'd dress up a little for the family Christmas party...one thing lead to another and everyone wanted a piece of the action. Just love spreading a little Christmas Cheer:)Thanks Kara:)

December Festivities

If I didn't update my blog now by the end of December I'd be in big trouble! (Sometimes I don't like that my blog becomes more of a travelogue then sharing my thoughts and day to day experiences...and I plan to work on that but for now...this will just have to do) I remember as a child thinking the month of December lasted FOREVER!!!!! What happenned? I can't fit in near as many things for my kids that my parents did for me. But regardless we've been able to go to Winder Dairy for Hot chocolate and scones, the mall to see Santa, take a drive to see lights and The Night before Christmas street, go Christmas shopping, Highschool girlfriends christmas get together, Make gingerbread houses, go to the Wimmer Party and visit Grandma, watch Christmas movies all night, more shopping, have our annual Christmas devotional party at our house...and we got a few more things on the calendar to get done in the next 5 days. It's definitly beginning to look a lot like Christmas at our house!!!! ( minus the fact that we have all been pretty darn sick...which is why I posted that last picture..Cash's face trying to smile when he doesn't feel well cracks me up..to sweet.)

Thanksgiving...I love this Holiday. Love that we have a holiday dedicated to what we are thankful for, love the tremendous amounts of unbelievably tasting food, and love that it means Christmas is right around the corner. We had a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving. It started by celebrating with the Christensens on Wednesday. We always have such a great time being in Alpine with them, and Kathy is one heck of a cook...very relaxing wonderful evening. Then Thanksgiving morning we headed over to my parents to watch the Macey's Thanksgiving Day Parade (a tradition for 25+ years) and to help cook up the next amazing meal. My mother outdid her self, but then what's new? This was the first time in a few years that my family was All Together. We LOVED being with them and having Joni's family over and ended the evening by yet another tradition..Jingle all the way. Then next morning it was up bright and early to head to Preston to cut down Christmas trees. This will be an unforgettable year due to the unusually enormous amount of SNOW!!!!! I seriously dragged our 20 foot Christmas tree down the mountain by myself minus the time the Tessa came and saved the day. (Toby was doing the byu utah game which he did a wonderful job at) Being up there with all my Cousins means the world to me. Such a wonderful couple of days....now on to Christmas!!