Christmas is Here!

Christmas Eve was at our house this year with my side of the family. We had our traditional pizza dinner then opened presents. 

Our kids were way beyond excited.

After the party we headed to Terry and Craig's house for the last part of their party. The kids were in the middle of opening presents when a special visitor stopped by...

Santa and Mrs. Claus took some time out of his busiest night of the year to say hi to all of us and deliver a special present.

Then we took what seemed like a million pictures to get every group picture possible.

Then we invited Santa to participate in our traditional Swedish dance in the street.

Santa told us how much he enjoyed learning about our family traditions, but it was time to get going and delivering presents to the rest of the little kids. He told our kids if they went to bed soon he would deliver some more presents to our house that night.

And he certainly did!

Christmas morning the kids woke up and were ready to see what Santa brought them.

I made them take the traditional picture on the stairs (traditions... I'm a sucker for them).

When the kids saw their presents, they ran towards them. Kayla saw her bike and said, "oh my heck." Kayla got a bike, Tinkerbell doll, a puzzle, a book, a game, and crazy sand.

Caden was so excited about his toys too. He got a Thomas the Train set, a Jake the Pirate remote control,  a gun, a book, a game, a puzzle, and Crazy sand.

Brynnli was super stoked about her gifts. So excited, in fact, that she fell asleep in the middle of it. She got a vanity set, clothes, a book, and crazy sand like the other kids. 

After the kids opened and played with their gifts from Santa, we opened gifts from each other. We gave Brynnli a savings account (I know, we're real exciting over here). 

And the kids got clothes from us.

The kids were being super cooperative, so I took advantage of the moment and made them hug each other.

Do you know how you can tell if you had a good Christmas? The mess after. Judging by our mess, I would say it was a great one!

And this sweet little girl loved her first Christmas (even if she did sleep through half of it).

Before we headed off to our family party that day, we had to take our traditional picture in front of the piano/ Christmas tree. This may have been my favorite picture of the holiday season.

We had our party with the Evans family, and sadly this was the only picture I took, but it's a cute one! This is Great Grandma Bonnie with Brynnli

That night we came home and the kids spent hours playing with their toys. 

I absolutely loved this Christmas because our kids truly believed in the magic of it all. It was so fun to see Christmas through their eyes. And, it was extra special because it was Brynnli's very first Christmas. Love, love, love this time of year and the many chances we get to spend time with our family and friends. 

Till next year!

Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time

In the last few days before Christmas we tried to cram in as much Christmas fun as we could. We started out the night by going around to different houses and neighborhoods to look at lights. Then the cemetery by Winder Dairy has an event where they put lanterns all over the cemetery, so we checked that out, too. 

After that we came home and decorated gingerbread houses.

The Sunday before Christmas we got together with the Jones family and Terry and Craig to open presents. We made ornaments from the kids' hand prints and gave it to them along with their gift.

All of the kids got matching Utah Thunderbird hats.

And the kids got spoiled with A LOT of gifts.

We had dinner and then put together some puzzles.

We've also had fun figuring out where Kitty the Elf was hiding every morning. We've found him in some unusual places... but like I tell the kids, everybody poops.

He played with the kids' Legos and built himself a pretty sweet tower.

He entertained himself all night long trying to figure out the kids' puzzles.

And on December 24th, he left us a treat for Christmas morning with a note:

Makayla, Caden, and Brynnli, 

I played with Legos, puzzles, and dolls

Sometimes I even sat on the walls. 

I loved the party with Minnie Mouse

I even slept on you gingerbread house. 

At night I went back to the North Pole

and told Sants if it's presents or coal. 

A bike and Jake the Pirate, you say, 

for Brynnli, Santa knows the way. 

Because I love you very much

I brought you Cinnabuns for Christmas "lunch"

Hot cocoa helps to wash it down

Put in marshmallows and watch them drown. 

I love you more than you will know;

it is so much fun to watch you grow!

I'll countdown the days until next year; 

only 330 and I'll be here!

Love, 

Kitty the Elf