Christmas Day

We were sooooo excited this year to spend our first Christmas as our own little family! Each year of our marriage, James has had to work on Christmas, except for last year, when we were in San Diego for my sister's wedding. So this was our first experience having Christmas all together in our own home. Can you believe that? We've been married for SEVEN years!

We had the added adventure this year of having 9am church on Christmas Day. We told the kids that we'd do stockings in the morning, and everything else after church. We left Santa a note asking him to please wrap their presents so they wouldn't be distracted by seeing them in the morning. He was nice enough to do just that, and load them in Claire's Pack N Play with streamers over the top and a "Keep Out!" sign taped to it all. The kids were so good about leaving all the presents and going to church. We didn't hear one complaint, and they looked so cute!

After church they finally got to open their presents, and much joy was felt by all!

 ^^^Kenley LOVED her mp3 player. I think if James and I had realized how much it would reduce her constant jabbering, we would have bought one for her at the tender age of 3!

Then we headed over to my grandma's that night to enjoy some fun and family time!

 If you note that two of my children are still in their church clothes, don't think I forced them to out of respect for the Sabbath - they just really prefer to stay in them, and do it almost every week. Especially Parker - he LOVES his church clothes. Weirdo.

 My grandma, Gail, and Dave.

^^This is my Uncle Gary attempting to put some microscopic shoes on Claire's Polly Pocket. She's got a way of convincing anyone to do anything for her!

All in all, one of our very favorite Christmases! It was hard to be away from our families in California and Utah, but it was so nice to be together with James and our other extended family!