Christmas this year was unlike any we've had and it was wonderful because of the novelty. We chose to stay home with our little clan and enjoy our wonderful life in Monroe before it is time to move to Orderville. It was a great choice and just what I needed. I've been super homesick for my family since about October. That homesickness hit really hard mid-December. I packed up all of the presents, packages, and letters that needed to be mailed to my family and that night I just cried. I felt like going to the post office was the only Christmas I was getting with my family and when the mailing was over then so would Christmas with them.
Staying at home with my little family helped me to not feel like I was missing mine, but being with "mine". Does that make sense? We weren't spending the holiday with my family or with Thomas', we were spending it would ours and that made things a little easier for some reason. Sure we went to Thomas' folks the day after and it was awesome, but it was nice to be in our own home this year and I treasured ever moment of it.
Christmas Eve started out with an appetizer and game party with our favorite Monrovians - the Carters (CJ from girls camp if you remember). CJ brought the most delectable bacon wrapped water chestnuts and were mind blowing. We ate ourselves silly and then played some Rummikub (one game of which I won!).
The babies played hats, which was hilariously cute. Kimball and CharlyAnne are betrothed Won't this be a cute picture for their wedding reception?
That night we went to our wonderful friends the Jones family (our bishop) for dinner and acting out the nativity. They also sit around the piano and sing Christmas songs. It was wonderful and made me want to learn how to play so that that can be a tradition of our future. I better get practicing.
That night Santa came! He brought the baby a shopping cart, Henry a magna doodle, and Macey a kitty that is a purse and beads. They got a dreamlite to share and some movies too. Certainly they were good this year!
The kids buy each other presents at the dollar store (very secretively) and we opened those on Christmas Eve. Christmas morning they opened presents from us and from my mom who sends them in the mail.
Grandma got everyone a pair of boots! The boys got fire chief boots and May got a gorgeous black pair that are nice enough to wear to church (I want one!). Along with a train, tractors, and a baking barbie. The kids loved all their loot. Thanks Mom!
This is Henry doing a crazy boot dance. He's in love.
Thomas spoiled me by educating me in my dream. I just want a little farm right now. Some bees, chickens, a pig and maybe a miniature cow. Is that too much to ask? I'm well equipped with knowledge to go with my dreams!
Christmas afternoon we got to Skype with Sarah who is on a mission in Argentina This was first time she was allowed to use the computer and not just call and it was so much fun for the kids. When she called on Mother's Day in the spring it was right when Henry fell, hit his head, and needed stitches. I talked to her then in the car on the way to the ER! This was much much more pleasant. She is wonderful, looks beautiful, and is doing very well. She comes home in April which I can't not wait for!
We lounged, played, read our books, and resituated the chickens on Christmas day (after reading the books I figured out a little bit more of what they needed for winter-living and so made some changes right then!)
The next day we drove to St. George where we met Thomas' family and siblings at the Washington indoor pool and had a blast swimming in the middle of the winter. Macey and Henry were big enough and so we took them on the giant twirly tunnel slide with us. They had so much fun and we did it over and over again. The baby absolutely loved the pool and was a fish. He didn't mind the water in his face at all and actually sought out spraying things to play with. I was shocked at how brave he was. It was so fun to watch. We then went to dinner and checked out the Steven's beautiful new house.
The next day the kids opened presents, I got a new head shot taken by my talented friend, and then we went tubing for Sammi's birthday.
Here are the sledding pictures:
The Kennaley's made a ramp and it was so much fun taking flying pictures!
The rest of that day we cooked and cooked in preparation for Marla to bless baby Jack with a dinner to follow. Here are the cousin's playing at the church at the blessing. It was a lot of fun and the food was great.
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We came home and enjoyed the rest of the week with our new treasures.
The baby with stolen things from Henry and his train-
I have lots and lots of memories of post-Christmas crafting and my kids do the same, which I love. Macey got a loom set (I had the same one!) from Grandma Lucy and she did amazing with it. She has also made tons of bracelets and necklaces from her new beads.
Henry got a set of three cars to be painted and he worked hard on them all morning. Check out that tongue in cheek- he's working hard.
Wonderful huh!
Merry Christmas.