Christmas 2011

Christmas was wonderful this year. Farris was able to take off the days that the kids were off of school so we had a lot of family time, which was wonderful. Too bad we didn't have any snow to enjoy! On Christmas Eve we decided to watch Puss in Boots at the theater here in town. Cute movie, but not a great movie. But the kids loved it and were quoting it the rest of the day. Our traditional Christmas Eve dinner isn't so traditional: we make Ebelskivers, danish pancake balls. My mom learned to make them from her grandma and I sort of learned from her...I still need a lot of practice flipping them! We made two batches and one with peaches and one with pineapple. Next year I think I'll find a recipe for a desert ebelskiver, yummy.
Another tradition that the kids love is the opening of Christmas Pajamas. This year I used our new baby as an excuse for not making them, much less stressful for me!

Abigail loved the gift wrap much more than her new pjs.

After baths we watched Joy to the World, which I love. So beautiful.
The kids decided they wanted to all sleep in the boys room together, thus the better to catch Santa, and had us bring the plate of cookies into the room with them. Santa must have hit our house late, because there was a lot of squirming and giggling for awhile after the lights were out.

We didn't have church until 11:00, so we decided to do stockings before breakfast, then presents, then church, then the long drive to Grandma and Grandpa's house. We decided to simplify presents this year, like Rocky and Stacey's family. Like the Wise Men, we gave three presents. Just not gold and oils. That wouldn't be quite the same in today's world. Instead it was clothes (church clothes for all of them this year), books, and a toy. It was nice to not have the pressure of making sure everyone has the same amount of stuff in their pile. Joseph got the Millennium Falcon, complete with a little Han Solo and Chewbecca.

Caleb is hitting his Lego craze age and was so excited with this set.

At a yard sale with year we found a huge bin of Littlest Pet Shop things. Felicity was so excited. And, yes, we sometimes shop for Christmas presents at yard sales. How cheap are we...

Abigail surrounded by presents. Again, she was more interested in the paper. The kids did a good job each picking out a present for her.

We only had Sacrament meeting for church and our Bishopric did a great job reminding us of Christ and what is really important. The kids behaved fairly well, considering they were keyed up to the extreme.

When church was over we threw everything into the van and headed out. We spent a few days at Grandma and Grandpa Newey's, playing with cousins and eating lots of yummy food. All the adult women (and Abby) hit the after Christmas sales. A lot less craziness than during the after Thanksgiving sales. It was fun to spend that day with some of my best friends, I love my family.

After a couple days we headed over to Farris' mom's house. His whole family was there, so it was great fun. The family party is always a little crazy with plenty of wrapping paper fights in the middle of much unwrapping and picture taking.

Joseph incognito.

Seth, too.

Mustaches seem to be a theme this year. I forgot my camera for my family's Christmas party, and everyone was going to send my pictures of the mustachio adventures from it...but it hasn't happened...yes, this is a hint...I will post them when I get some.

I love this picture of Great Grandma Larsen and Abigail. Abby smiled at just the right time. Rachel loved seeing all the kids being crazy around her. She gets more great grandkids every year, five or six last year alone I think?, but they all adore her.

We came home on New Year's Eve, we even managed to get home before too late so we wouldn't' have to worry about crazy partiers. The kids were excited to get back to their new toys. I was glad to get home to my own bed, even though we had to do the After Christmas Digout. So much stuff to find places for and get put together!

I love Christmas. We're still trying to find the perfect blend of traditions to keep and the ones to toss so that we're not overwhelmed and we don't lose sight of what we need to really have and be at Christmas. I do miss the specialness of the whole season and how excited the kids are about everything. I miss the fun and the music, but I am glad to slow down a little now. It's a nice feeling the day we take the tree down and get the last ornaments put away. It's almost a cleansing feeling to put everything back in it's everyday (hopefully better than) order and get back to the ordinary.
Well, as ordinary as can be at our house.