Christmas 2015

We had a quiet, fun Christmas at home.  Reid took off from December 24th through January 4th.  I honestly think it was the longest vacation time he has had where we weren't going on a vacation somewhere.  It was just and some time at home and it was nice.  The kids loved having him here as did I.  

We have some Christmas "traditions" that we kept to this year.  We read the story of the birth of the Savior in the Bible on Christmas Eve.  This year Kai insisted on doing the read.  That was fun and proud mommy moment.  We also watched some Mormon messages to help set the tone of the night as well as sang some Christmas carols.  After that it was time for bed, and leaving out cookies for Santa.  In the past we have had the kids unwrap their new Christmas jammies and ornament on Christmas Eve, but this year I wanted to wait.  I had been trying to keep Christmas more simple this year which meant less presents under the tree and I didn't want them to be disappointed the next day with not that much to open.  So the next morning everyone had several boxes to open.

This year everyone got jammies and a photo ornament for their tree (each kid has their own mini-tree that they keep in their room and can decorate with their own ornaments) from mom and dad, and then they all got a gift from mom and dad, Santa, Grammy and Papa, Grandma, and then a gift from each other.  It was fairly simple but was just what we needed--good stuff but not too much.

Kai and his photo ornament cube with pictures from our family pictures taken this summer.

Bree opening her present from Santa.  It was a Minnie Mouse set of books with a Me-Reader.

Bree had been wanting a pink watch for over 6 months and when you asked her what she was getting for Christmas that was THE only thing.  Santa came through with a Frozen watch in her stocking.

Finn opening a gift.  I think this one was his Zoomer Dino from us.

Bree got a dress up chest full of "princess dresses" from us.  I had been gathering dress up stuff for her for months to put it together and was proud of myself to find it all second hand.  It's going to be a fun chest for the next several years.

Our princess opening her new jammies (Minnie Mouse for her).

The boys got Light Sabers (and Legos) from Grammy and Papa.

Bree loves the little "fans" at the checkout stand at Walmart and so Santa brought her one in her stocking.  And yes, it will get stuck in her hair if she uses it like this!

After all of the opening was done this was our living room.  Finn and Reid are working on the new Kindle Fire that the family got (we got a great deal on them on Black Friday and were wanting to "replace" the iPad), and Kai working on his Legos.

The kids all got coloring books from their grandma and they have really enjoyed them.  It was fun to see them all want to sit down and color.

That night we had our Christmas dinner of ham and scalloped potatoes.  Bree was my helper in getting everything ready and into the crockpot.  (that is seriously the best way to cook ham and potatoes! If you want the recipe let me know.  I've served it to several people and they have all gotten the recipe and made it at home.  It's a crowd favorite!)

I found this fantastic Italian cake.  There are two traditional Italian cakes for the holidays--one with fruit and one without.  For whatever reason, the fruitcake has been sold in the US consistently around the holidays.  But I have to admit that I didn't even really like that one in Italy.  But this one, Pandoro, was my favorite and had never made it to the states.  At least I had never found it...until this year.  Unfortunately, I forgot I had it and didn't serve it for Christmas dinner.  I found it a couple of days later, so this picture was a few days after Christmas.  Ooopps!

And I'm throwing in this picture because who could resist.  We went swimming as a family on December 30th and then Bree needed a bath to get the chlorine out.  She's just too cute!

After Christmas we had lots of fun just being together as a family.  Reid  got Lego Dimensions as his Christmas gift and so the boys loved playing that with their dad and building the Legos.  We also went swimming at the Miller Athletic Center together so that they could show their dad how much they liked it.  And on January 2nd we took the boys to the temple and walked around and then went back to Park Meadows to make another stop at the Lego store and the Disney store and get a cookie from Mrs. Fields.  There was also a family trip to Costco and some other shopping (I'm sure).  The week together went fast.  I love the end of the year where we have time to recharge and reconnect.  I also used the time to think about the gifts that I want to give to the Savior this coming year.  We have been so blessed.  I hope that we continue to have that perspective and can do more to share those blessings with others this coming year.