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Christmas Day 2014

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We ended up with a beautiful, white Christmas. 

This picture is from the Sunday before the week of Christmas.
The week went by pretty quickly with the whole Smith clan in town. We ended up sleeping at Rand & Savannah's house while they were out of town to free up a bedroom here. Sleep is important and already difficult enough with a packed house & toddlers. We have never been with the Smiths for the holidays so it was a nice change. It doesn't matter where you are, the holidays always seem to surround food and that is one of my tip top favorite things. Connie has been doubling portions around here and I have developed a food baby. BBQ pork sandwiches w/ potato salad Christmas Eve and then ham & funeral potatoes for Christmas with pumpkin pies if you were curious. Here is Lexi eating the potato salad:



As far as Christmas morning goes, I took a picture of all the grandkids on grandma & grandpa's bed in their pjs. I just really liked the idea and eventually want to have the Christmas pjs as a family tradition. Mr Smith looooves traditions (not) but I do. I love the idea of singing carols by the fire, baking cookies for Santa & reading a new Christmas story in new, comfy pjs.




Any who - Lexi still didn't know who Santa was this year. And definitely didn't want to sit on his lap, BUT she was interested in tearing open presents. And all the grandparents out did themselves in our eyes, but that will always be the case.





Alexis's big gifts were the cash register from the Smiths & the grocery cart from the Loopers. But she also got clothes, books, movies, finger puppets, kitchen pretend play, block set, stackadoos & a Bible quiet book.

Mr Smith got a couple golf shirts, a T-shirt & drill bits, a sweater-jacket, Joseph Smith Papers book & his favorite mints, Cafe Rio gift cards, freeze dried strawberries & cash. He also has a solar radio/flashlight I got him with store credit coming his way.

I got some winter shirts and sweaters, gloves, a new pair of work pants (all early), an all-in-one hand food processor (essentially), first aid kit, bare minerals make up starter kit, winter socks, moccasin slippers, brown boots, blanket & bath rug.

I always enjoy the photos the most though! I was a little late with creative or personal gift ideas this year (I hate it if they are less than that), but I have some creative thoughts going into next year that I'm excited to work on for both grandparents. I'm hoping to start the trend now that gifts are more the exception than the rule with all the siblings and cousins because if this year was a little crazy, I can't imagine the years to come! Although it is fun to find something that fits someone so perfectly, and I think it is a good thing to get involved with (thinking about others). I want my children to find more joy in sharing and giving than thinking about what they want. I love the idea of 12 days of service. So who knows what traditions will form in the future, what decor we will put up, gifts we will give & receive or who we will be spending the time with, but if anything, I want us all to realize why we celebrate Christmas! Jesus is the Christ and the most important gift of Christmas.
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