Christmas 2013

Christmas this year was magical.  Maybe it was because we were at our own home with our own tree, or maybe it was that our kids are little older and were more excited, or maybe it was that we were able to skype with family and have them be a part of our day, or it could have been that our own attitudes and expectations of Christmas have changed.  Whatever the reason, it was a special time for us.  Our Christmas began the night before as we gathered around the tree and talked about the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  After we talked about how the wise men brought gifts to Jesus we then gave our own gifts to each other.  This year we had each picked a name of someone in our family to get a gift for.  It was touching to see the boys so excited to give their gift to someone.  They kept saying, "When do I get to give my gift to the person I picked?"  Not once did I hear them say, "When do I get to open my present?"  We also let them open their traditional Christmas pj's.  This year Daddy had picked out some super cool Ninja Turtle jammies.  The boys loved them!  Emily was equally delighted to have her own pink and purple pair.  The next morning the kids woke up shortly before 6:30 and could hardly contain their excitement.  They were thrilled to find stockings full of treasures and an electric train from Santa.  After opening presents we ate Dave's childhood Christmas breakfast of conference rolls and "real" bacon.  We spent rest of the day playing and enjoying a very relaxed and lazy day together.  Daddy spent most of his day fixing broken toys and keeping smiles on the kids faces.  He's amazing!  We topped the day off with our Christmas dinner and homemade apple pie.  We feel very blessed this Christmas and know that our greatest joys come from our knowledge that families can be together forever because of our Savior Jesus Christ, who's birth we reverence this time of year.  Merry Christmas!