Merry Christmas

We had a great Christmas this year. We celebrated with the Wheelers on Dec. 18th. We held the baby Jesus and talked about how each of us feels when we think of Christmas and Jesus Christ. The kids had fun holding the baby. We also talked about all of the names/titles given to Christ and read the scriptures related to the names. Then we opened gifts with them.

Gawbie and Grandpa also had these fun cutouts to pose for pictures. Tyler photo bombed the best shot of the girls.

On Christmas Eve we had dinner with Gawbie and Grandpa. We acted out the Nativity(including costumes) after dinner. Then we used the bell chimes to play Christmas songs. We let our kids open up their new jammies and try them on.

When we got home that night, the kids had to get a picture with Peter, our house elf, before he disappeared off the the North Pole again.

The kids slept longer than we expected on Christmas morning, which was a nice change from years past. We were still heading downstairs by 7:30, but it was better than the early wake-up calls we have gotten before. Camden wasn't awake enough to participate in our traditional kids-on-the-stairs picture, but we forced him into it anyways.

Here they are in front of the loot. Ashley's balloon, by the way, bit the dust on Christmas(it is still inflated, just not floating anymore).

Alyssa was excited to see that the biggest present was for her.

 And here we are before bed on Christmas night.

We were all happy with our gifts and for the special feeling that comes with the Christmas season. If only we could keep up the kindness and spirit of giving all year round. We are especially grateful for Jesus Christ and all he has done for each of us.