Christmas eve

Christmas eve is the day I most look forward to. My dad reads

the Christmas story from the scriptures. This year before he

read it he had each grand child tell one thing they remembered

about the story.

We do a Christmas program. My mom writes a new song

each year and sings it. So pretty.

Brady sang twinkle twinkle.

And Macy sang Gift of Love. It's a family tradition we sing

every year at the close of our program and since you can't

hear her a lot of the time, it goes like this:

Little Jesus lay on the sweet smelling hay

while Angels watch from above.

And the stars look down on the sleeping town

where God sent his gift of love.

Shepards out on the hill where the sheep lay so still

heard the angels singing above.

And they trembled with fright at the dazzling sight

where God sent his gift of love.

Fear thou not for this one is the Father's dear son

who is come down to earth from above.

And with joy did they go to the manger low

where God sent his gift of love.

After the program we ate dinner and then..................

presents of course.

My mom got Joe and I a Kitchen Aid this year which I'm really

excited about. Love it so far.

We left about 7:30 and went and met up with Joe's family and

did their traditional Christmas caroling. We haven't been for

about 3 years since the kids were babies so it was fun to see

all the families again. It was a great day!

Christmas weekend and picture overload!

I know extreme, right? I really wanted to get their reaction

on video on Christmas morning so we decided this was what

we would have to do. BIG mistake. I was so tired that night

and finally around midnight I was able to lay down to go to

sleep and I'm sure you all remember the wind that night.

Holy cow. Well, I decided it really wasn't even that. I was

so excited for the next morning and also every time I would

hear a noise on the monitor I would think it was one of the

kids needing something so pretty much I was listening to that

FOREVER! Finally about 3:45 I went and slept with Macy

and just tied Brady's door shut so I would hear him (he

usually gets up first). I did fall asleep pretty quick in her room

which was good since it was 4 in the morning! Needless to say

I woke up at 9:00 and the kids were still out and the first thing

Brady said when he saw his gift from Santa was, "I don't want

it." Uh, ya won't be doing that again next year!

Here's what they woke up to Christmas morning. It looks like

we went way overboard, but most of the stuff on the couch is

stuff from my mom that they opened on Christmas eve. So, my

mom got Brady this John Deere tractor set and that is the reason

he didn't want the train because when he woke up all he could

think about was the big semi and trailer that came with it so he

just wanted to play with that. Macy was pretty excited about

the train and once Brady watched her play with it for a bit he

decided he really liked it too. Macy's favorite gifts were the train

table and trains and her suitcase. At least that's what she's been

thanking Heavenly Father for in her prayers for the last week.

Oh, and her blanky, and blanket, and the Christmas trees. So cute.

Brady loves his tractors and his trains too.

I didn't get many pictures on Christmas morning, mainly video.

I think Brady only opened one present that morning. Not big

on opening things. (wonder where he gets that from? JOE) He

just wanted to play so Macy was happy opening everything. Then

they played all day until nap time. This was the first year we've

woke up Christmas morning at our own house. It was very quiet

and relaxing. I did miss seeing my neices and nephews and their

parents and my mom and dad open theirs, but it was nice all the

same.

On Friday we did game night at my parents house and then

on Sat. we went back over there and went tubing behind my

parents house. Here I am relaxing drinking hot chocolate just

enjoying watching everybody. I figured I better not risk it, being

pregnant and all.

This was the first ride down with the kids. Somebody wasn't happy

with all that snow in the face.

Macy loved it and wanted more............ this is her closing her eyes before they took off. I'm not sure

if she was somewhat scared or didn't want snow in her face.

This is my brother and his wife and youngest daughter.

My brother and the boys braving it down the hill.

Macy was taking a little breather.
So we decided to "force" Brady down one more time to see if he

liked it and hoped he wouldn't get snow in his face again. (I think

that's the main reason he didn't like it.) This is what happened.

And yes he got snow in his face again. (if you couldn't tell)

That's when he wanted in the warm truck. So they spent the

next hour in there nice and cozy with their dora and diego movie.

They were in heaven.This is all of my neices and nephews that were there.

The next night we ended up at Dille's after Joe's brother

blessed their baby in his parents ward. It was fun, pretty

much another game night!

I think Macy is taking after her dad in this one. Joe doesn't

play video games that much because we don't have any of the

new "cool" ones, but he does love them. Apparently so does she.