It's strange to try and write about Christmas when it was so long ago now. But it has been fun to look at these pictures again.
We began our Christmas Eve in the usual fashion, making butter press cookies for Santa and watching the Santa tracker.
My kids love helping in the kitchen. I hope it's something they always look back on and remember fondly. I know I will.
And later that night we had a "fancy" Christmas eve dinner. I'm not sure I even remember what we ate now. Oh, salad, tomato soup, and rolls, with sparkling drinks in fluted glasses. An essential to fancy dinners at our house.
And later still we acted out the nativity. It was pure chaos and very little reverence. I got angry. Isaac was pretending to "kill baby Jesus." I think he got the idea from reading "The worst best Christmas pageant ever" with Dad, though I can't be sure. What I do know is I lost it. Tears were shed as I just wanted a reverent moment to remember the true meaning of Christmas and what I got was toddler and little boy craziness. Big surprise. Not my finest moment and one that I hope is mostly forgotten by all.
It looks like it was nothing but joy and peace...pictures are so deceptive. :)
Then Nora and Ben opened their Christmas Eve gifts while I had a chat with Isaac and put away costumes. I threatened that Isaac wouldn't even get to open his gift...blah.
And then when everyone was much more calm...he did open his gift.
Nora got cute Christmas PJs and the boys got some new slippers. And after opening gifts the kids got Santa's cookies and milk ready and we read the Brunson traditional "Magic Curtain." Those pictures are in this post somewhere...
Christmas fell on a Sunday this year. I kind of love that. I love the one hour of special Christmas Sacrament meeting and then home with families for the day. But, we had 9 am church. So that meant we had to wake our kids in order to get Santa gifts looked at and breakfast eaten before getting to Church on time. Somehow we managed.
So excited already!
Down the stairs they come.
While one plays peek-a-boo above.
Isaac was loving Santa's shenanigans in putting presents in the train.
Santa brought all the right stuff in stockings.
Nora got Madeline book and doll. She doesn't really have dolls but loves her stuffed animals. I wondered if she'd love the doll since its plush and soft...um...not so much.
And then after church the unwrapping and playing commenced. So fun!
And here are the Christmas Eve pictures I mentioned.
I love taking pictures of the set up after Santa has come but before the kids are tearing into it. I love the peacefulness and the pretty paper and lights.
And back to Christmas morning...heading out to church.
I love Nora's dress. She looks so grown up.
The next day I took some photos of the kids with their favorite gifts.
Nora loved her couch and popper toy.
Ben is a spy with his binoculars and magnifying glass.
And Isaac is king of Star Wars Legos.
It was a good Christmas. Christmas day made up for all the breakdowns of the night before. It was so fun playing games and toys and just being together with our immediate family for a day of fun. I do love this crew of mine!
