Christmas is my favorite time of the year! There is just such a magical feeling in the air- I'd like to think its the Spirit of Christ in the air. We were fortunate enough to be able to spend Christmas with our family this year again. It was a lot of fun because Cyrus got to meet some more of his uncles, aunts, and his grandpa (Papa) and his great-grandparents. Also, Nana (my mom) and his Aunties (Ashley and Amy) got to enjoy him some more. He loved being showered with lots of love and kisses. Here are some pictures of Christmas Eve and Christmas!
Okay, now you don't have to read this but for memory's sake I am going to record some of our family's Christmas traditions.
Christmas Eve is a wonderful night where the family all gets together (and Mom stresses until dinner is done). We have a delicious Christmas Eve dinner complete with smoked turkey, mashed potatoes, fresh rolls, corn, salad, sweet potatoes, and more. The tables are set beautifully with Christmas colors. Everyone enjoys the food and the company. This year we were missing Nate-who is in Taiwan and Nicole who is with her mom in California. After dinner, we visit and then we reenact the Christmas story from Luke. Dad reads it and this year my beautiful baby was privileged to play the Baby Jesus. We made him a little manger and he was surprisingly calm. He must have felt the Spirit of Christmas or maybe even seen some angels in the sky. After we act out the Nativity we all get to open one present. Which we all know what it was-well except for Emma- she had forgotten since last Christmas. Emma is 3 and was so excited to open one present. Her cousins kept saying "Oooh I bet its pajamas" and we kept telling them to let it be a surprise. We opened our presents. Cyrus first (with Emma's help). She exclaimed, "Feety pajamas!" Then Hunter, "Feety pajamas" Then Emma, "I got pajamas. We all got pajamas so far." It continued on and when we had all finished Emma exclaimed, "I got jammies, Hunter got Jammies, we all got Jammies!" She was thrilled-although her jammies were too sweaty so she didn't wear them for long. (She is a sweaty little girl). After the jammies we have our annual picture in front of the tree (although we are a growing family and its becoming more difficult to fit us all in). Then some of the family leaves and drives home and the rest of us visit, read sappy Christmas stories, cry, and watch a Christmas movie. When we finally are ready for bed we read "The Polar Express" and go to sleep-hoping that Santa will come.
Christmas morning, we anxiously wait (not so anxiously now that we like to sleep) for Mom and Dad to come and get us. Then we all run up the stairs and Wow Santa has come. We look at our wonderful treasures from Santa. (Cyrus slept through all this) and we show each other our gifts. Then we eat the most delectable Christmas breakfast ever (how could it not be-when my dads been in the kitchen). Caramel pull-aparts, crescent rolls and yummy sauce, fruit, eggs, and juice. We all want to eat and eat but eventually someone has to eat the last pull apart. With Nate gone the pull-aparts seemed to last a little longer. After breakfast we visit and move our Santa gifts and then comes the real gift giving. Our family watches while someone opens their present and then that person picks the next present. Ashley always gives a present that makes us all cry. This year she gave two. One to Cyrus...a book (that's not why we cried) it was reading what she wrote to him inside the cover. Then she wrote a beautiful love poem for JB and printed it over one of their wedding pictures. She should publish her poems they are so thoughtful and beautiful-true talent!
After all the gifts have been opened we snack on left over turkey, try on clothes (if we got any) and slowly shower and get ready. We then drive out to Kim's house to have presents and eat dinner there. We exchange gifts and then we karaoke our heart out. This year karaoke was a little different without Nate and Noemi there to join in on the fun. However, we still enjoyed Emma singing and dancing. We also enjoyed our annual Goodbye Earl! karaoke!
Then we drive home and visit some more. Sad that Christmas can't last forever!
This year I could have done without any presents because just being with my family and especially being able to have Cyrus with us already is the best Christmas present ever!
