Monday, December 28, 2009

Christmas 2009

Christmas for us this year was bitter sweet. Cameron is still out of work and so we didn't want to spend a lot on presents and we didn't have to. We had a bag of gifs delivered to us from "the knee high elves," for the kids and a gift certificate to Applebee's for Cam and I. We were very grateful. We had family also help us out by buying gifts for us to give to our kids. WE have been very touched by the kindness shown to us and hope to be able to return that kindness daily.

We had a great Christmas Eve with my family. We read the Luke 2 by candlelight and Austin and Greta played some christmas songs for everyone on the piano. On the way home the kids searched for Rudolf's red nose. They found it and it followed us all the way to our neighborhood.

We set out treats for Santa and carrots for the reindeer. The kids all slept together and anticipated Christmas morning. They woke up to too many presents, it was a little crazy.

We started the morning out with putting our baby Jesus in our service manger. I think this year was the softest his bed has been. Our kids did such a good job at being service oriented. They really thought hard on what to do for one another.

Then we started opening presents. Austin and Greta got their K'nex from Santa that they were hoping for. And Alina miraculously got the wedding barbie she wanted so badly. That barbie was sold out everywhere so I had to tell her that I wasn't sure if Santa would be able to bring it. She kept telling me she knew Santa would bring it and she was right. Thanks dad for giving Santa a tip on where to find it ;) And Olivia got a new binkie, toys and some snacks. That girl loves to eat.

This was the first year we had the kids use their own money to buy for each other. We took them to the dollar store to spend $3.00 each and they had a lot of fun doing it. It was exciting for them to watch each other open the presents they picked out.

We had a somewhat rushed Christmas morning because my brother Ryan on his mission in Peru was calling home that morning. So we rushed out there to talk to him and open even more presents.

It was a great Christmas. The kids were happy, we are all healthy and we have each other. That's what matters most and I'm grateful to know that.







I told all of the kids to pick their favorite present and I was very surprised to find what they picked. Austin picked his Hulk Abomination Blaster nerf gun (the gun is really cool), Greta picked a recorder that Grandma and Grandpa got for her, Livvy loves her new bike from Nana and Papa, and Alina picked a piece of paper she colored on.




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