This year we were supposed to be in Chicago for Christmas however due to the fact that we would have to buy 3 plane tickets this year and we are in the middle of trying to build a business so money was not plentiful enough for a trip this year. We spend Christmas eve at my parent's home. It was a last minute dinner choice of ham and the works. My brother and his family along with Shelby and Joe were there and of course my parents. It was a nice dinner. Jamie was working at the Goldner Hirsch in Park City all through the holidays so sadly we didn't get to have him with us for much of it.
After dinner we all gathered in the family room and did our traditional nativity. Mom broke out her child nativity dress up clothes and we all performed. Jake and Amber were Joseph and Mary and little Isaac was baby Jesus. Jared played the donkey. Dad, Matthew and I were the Kings and little Zack was our camel. It was so much fun to have Matthew old enough for him to understand a little more what Christmas means this year.
I think Matthew looked so cute in his crown and robe.
Mary (Amber) Jesus (Issac) Donkey (Jared) Jake (Joseph)
Our Angel (Shelby)
Our Shepherd (Joe) and his sheep
Matthew played this role with respect. It was almost like he really believed that Isaac was the real baby Jesus.
The kings asking the shepherds where to find baby Jesus
The king (Matthew) giving his gift to baby Jesus.
After the nativity was completed, Nana looked up online where Santa was. The kids got so excited to go home and go to bed so that Santa wouldn't skip by their house. Once we got home I Matthew and I put cookies and milk out for Santa along with carrots for the reindeer. We yelled up the chimney that Matthew was going to bed and that Santa could come now. Matthew went right to bed.
Christmas morning Matthew was pointed to his big present by the fireplace and he wasted no time opening it. He was so excited to see his new train table and played with it all morning.
He couldn't wait for it to be put together to play with it.
Matthew playing with the train set on the floor before the table was put together. He really loved it.
The table all finished
Mommy worked really hard to make this blanket for Matthew just before Christmas. It is a fleece blanket with Lightning McQueen on the front and Thomas the train on the back. He really likes it and sleeps with it every night.
Matthew gave his daddy a new Belgium waffle maker which flips. Daddy has wanted one of these for a while. I gave him a food processor with a blender attachment (sitting behind him on the couch)
We wasted no time using our new presents. The waffles were great.
My mother in law gave me a poached egg pan. I love these. They remind me of Grammy and Grandpa's house. Grandpa would always make the best poached eggs for us grand kids. They turned out good but never as good as Grandpa's poached eggs.
My parents came over after breakfast and played with Matthew a little. He loved showing them his new train table and other toys. It was fun seeing them.
Christmas afternoon Jamie went to work and Matthew and I went to my parents home to enjoy the traditional Christmas spread. We had crackers and meats and the works. I made a really yummy cranberry and jalepeno cream cheese cracker dip.
The dessert table. I brought a couple cream pies. They were eaten up fast.
While I participated in the annual puzzle Matthew had a blast running around with his cousins all over the house.
One of the best parts of the day was talking with Elder Ben via Skype. He looked good and was so positive. I feel like I was just out on the mission. I can't believe it has already been nearly 10 years since I came home. I was never able to talk via Skype with my family. It was great to see Ben. He is doing so well and we are so proud of him.
Later that evening we had the sibling gift exchange. The kids also received their gifts at that time too. They all had a lot of fun and we got some great stuff from our family.
The next day Jamie got to open the gifts from my parents because he was at work during the exchange. It was great because we got to extend Christmas a little longer.
One of the things Matthew loved the most was a train that goes around the Christmas tree. My parents gave it to Matthew as a gift and he was absolutely mesmerized by it. Of course, his parents didn't love it as much because we spent A LOT of time putting it back on the tracks. :)
After dinner we all gathered in the family room and did our traditional nativity. Mom broke out her child nativity dress up clothes and we all performed. Jake and Amber were Joseph and Mary and little Isaac was baby Jesus. Jared played the donkey. Dad, Matthew and I were the Kings and little Zack was our camel. It was so much fun to have Matthew old enough for him to understand a little more what Christmas means this year.
I think Matthew looked so cute in his crown and robe.
Mary (Amber) Jesus (Issac) Donkey (Jared) Jake (Joseph)
Our Angel (Shelby)
Our Shepherd (Joe) and his sheep
Matthew played this role with respect. It was almost like he really believed that Isaac was the real baby Jesus.
The kings asking the shepherds where to find baby Jesus
The king (Matthew) giving his gift to baby Jesus.
After the nativity was completed, Nana looked up online where Santa was. The kids got so excited to go home and go to bed so that Santa wouldn't skip by their house. Once we got home I Matthew and I put cookies and milk out for Santa along with carrots for the reindeer. We yelled up the chimney that Matthew was going to bed and that Santa could come now. Matthew went right to bed.
Christmas morning Matthew was pointed to his big present by the fireplace and he wasted no time opening it. He was so excited to see his new train table and played with it all morning.
He couldn't wait for it to be put together to play with it.
Matthew playing with the train set on the floor before the table was put together. He really loved it.
The table all finished
Mommy worked really hard to make this blanket for Matthew just before Christmas. It is a fleece blanket with Lightning McQueen on the front and Thomas the train on the back. He really likes it and sleeps with it every night.
Matthew gave his daddy a new Belgium waffle maker which flips. Daddy has wanted one of these for a while. I gave him a food processor with a blender attachment (sitting behind him on the couch)
We wasted no time using our new presents. The waffles were great.
My mother in law gave me a poached egg pan. I love these. They remind me of Grammy and Grandpa's house. Grandpa would always make the best poached eggs for us grand kids. They turned out good but never as good as Grandpa's poached eggs.
My parents came over after breakfast and played with Matthew a little. He loved showing them his new train table and other toys. It was fun seeing them.
Christmas afternoon Jamie went to work and Matthew and I went to my parents home to enjoy the traditional Christmas spread. We had crackers and meats and the works. I made a really yummy cranberry and jalepeno cream cheese cracker dip.
The dessert table. I brought a couple cream pies. They were eaten up fast.
While I participated in the annual puzzle Matthew had a blast running around with his cousins all over the house.
One of the best parts of the day was talking with Elder Ben via Skype. He looked good and was so positive. I feel like I was just out on the mission. I can't believe it has already been nearly 10 years since I came home. I was never able to talk via Skype with my family. It was great to see Ben. He is doing so well and we are so proud of him.
Later that evening we had the sibling gift exchange. The kids also received their gifts at that time too. They all had a lot of fun and we got some great stuff from our family.
The next day Jamie got to open the gifts from my parents because he was at work during the exchange. It was great because we got to extend Christmas a little longer.
One of the things Matthew loved the most was a train that goes around the Christmas tree. My parents gave it to Matthew as a gift and he was absolutely mesmerized by it. Of course, his parents didn't love it as much because we spent A LOT of time putting it back on the tracks. :)
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