MERRY CHRISTMAS 2017

THE CHRISTMAS CARD

ANNIVERSARY
We had our 11th anniversary Saturday. Ty's parents were leaving for Arizona on Christmas Eve so we had Christmas early at their house! We were all quite spoiled! The kids got sleeping bags that they are still carrying around with them everywhere and sleeping in them every night! Crystal got a toy sewing machine, Lily reusable sticker scene books, and Jay a transformer from their aunt and uncle! They also got a game, a fun space model kinects type kit (they use them like legos and create whatever they want with them) and socks they can color on from Grandma and Grandpa. Ty got hunting stuff including a gift card to get his license in January... this was super exciting for me as well. Haha. 
Leslie and I went to a bridal shower recently and I leaned over to her and said 'I need one of those' just about every other gift. Haha. And she remembered! So I got a pressure cooker (like an insta pot) and serving dishes! I'm excited! We always serve dinner out of tupperware. Haha! Grandma and Grandpa also got us all a Google Home! We are loving it! Like I said we were pretty spoiled and it wasn't even Christmas yet! Haha. 
Later on in the afternoon we all went to see the new Star Wars. My parents, older brother and his family, Ty's parents, and our family all went. It was fun! Even Jay really loved it! My sister in law had to go out with the baby halfway through. Most babies want to be held by someone all the time, but this kid just likes to be put down on the ground to play. On my way to take a kid to the bathroom, I found her watching the movie from the ramp with the baby happy as can be on the floor between her feet. Haha. It was adorable so I had to snap a picture!
Ty wasn't feeling great (the cold he'd been fighting finally hit him full force over the weekend), so instead of dropping the kids off after the movie and going on a date, we stopped at kneaders for a dessert and headed home for the night. I suppose  celebrating the beginning of our family with the kids was fitting.

CHRISTMAS EVE
We went to church Christmas Eve and Jay was beyond excited when he found out we didn't have any more classes and could go home after sacrament meeting. Haha. After church they sat on the couch in their sleeping bags and watched a movie! They really love those soft minky bags! That afternoon we went to a Christmas Eve Party with my side of the family. Grandma had all sorts of games and presents for the kids (inside those huge stockings). Even the plates for dinner were adorable! We had a really good time with family! Great Grandma and Grandpa gave them each $20 for Christmas! Spoiled spoiled kids!
The kids acted out the nativity story (we even had a 'sheep' this year to sit with the shepherds. lol), and they watched Frosty the Snowman on the projector while the adults cleaned things up! 
On the way home we went down candy cane lane and through a few neighborhoods to see the lights. We have a couple of houses in town that have lights set to music, but there was actually a line of cars waiting for their turn when we got there, so we'll have to try them sometime this week instead. 
When we got home Jingle the Elf had left PJ's for them. I don't know why but my camera didn't save the pictures I took of Jay in his pj's. But I got plenty on Christmas day, so it's all good. Jingle must have known our big Christmas surprise for the kids because they all got Disney character pajama's! 

CHRISTMAS DAY
Santa was good to us this year! I took video of the kids coming down to see what Santa brought, but I forgot to take pictures of them afterwards. Jay got a criss cross crash hot wheels race track, Lily a Calico Critter's townhouse with accessories and 2 critters, Crystal a sewing machine with fabric and accessories. They opened presents from each other and great grandma and grandpa, and just a couple from us... books and a small toy. We took a present for each of them with us to open later at my parents' house. Then we hurried to my parents' house for breakfast! 
After breakfast we read one last book from Grandma (she had done the 15 days of books for each family). At the end of the the book (oh the places you'll go) was a DVD for the kids to watch. It showed pictures of places they had been and at the end revealed that in March they were all going to Disney World!! I took a video of their reaction but it was pretty anticlimactic. The oldest cousin was the only one who really had any reaction at all. Haha. The other 9 kids just stared at us. Afterward when it sank in they were all pretty excited (though Jay said he's most excited for the swimming pool at the hotel... lol). We bought the plane tickets in July so it has been TOUGH keeping it a secret! We dubbed it THE ALAMO just so none of them would overhear us talking about it. All day yesterday I had a hard time talking about it in front of the kids. One would walk in and I'd pause ... then remember it was okay. Haha. Most of us are still calling it THE ALAMO out of habit. Haha. Grandma made each kid a count down to our trip. They get to take a sucker down every day until we leave! Lol. The posters now decorate my living room and dining room for the next 84 days!
The kids opened their last gifts from Ty and I. Disney Backpacks filled with other presents: socks, disney underwear (seriously in december I wrap everything... even socks and underwear... haha), disney outfits. The girls got Minnie Mouse Garmin watches from Grandma and Grandpa!! The older boys got one as well and they were all jogging in place all morning to get their steps in. Lol. Jay got a Hatichimal and has been carrying it around ever since. He loves it! We spent the afternoon with the family and then came home and the kids played with their new toys for 4 hours straight. 
Before we went to bed we sat down together for scriptures and pulled down our white stocking for Jesus. Every year we try to make sure to give Jesus a gift as well since it's his birthday we are celebrating. We set a family goal that will help us follow Him through the next year. And everyone sets a personal goal as well. We write it down and stick it in the stocking. This year as a family we are going to try to keep our home a place where the Holy Ghost can always reside. We talked about ways to accomplish that and are looking forward to making it happen!
I hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas! I know we did!