My Favorite Part of the Christmas Season

(FYI: this is going to be the longest post in America!)

I've been thinking all day what I loved most about today? Then I realized there's been a whole bunch of things that have been my favorite things this month.

We made Christmas gifts for the kids friends out of their old, crushed crayons. Perfect way to recycle and 100% free!

Aaron read books to the kids and he's about 1000x's better than I am with voices. Even I can't help but to be totally pulled in.

Celebrating cousins birthdays. In this case it was Eliza's. And this is pretty much how pictures look when we try to get 18 month olds in them.

Our beloved fairies returned this year as usual. Hannah was practicing her close up shots of them. And also of our wall of Christmas cards at the beginning of the month.

I caught some first smiles of this cutie!

And I tried really hard not to be too sad when Abby got her first "real" haircut to even out some lovely bangs that Nathan didn't quite get right.

Insert the word "wee" in this next picture by an adorable 19 month old little stinker!

And go ahead and stare all day and imagine kissing this little angel, because I sure can't get enough of her!

The fist day of Winter break from school, Susan, Me, and Mom took the kids to see "Frozen". Um, it's pretty much adorable, but not nearly as darling as when Hannah started singing right along to the theme song in full voice! She kills me!

December wouldn't be December without Grandma's cookie party. I LOVE to see the kids creativity as they decorate those cookies.

I'm more thankful all the time for my parents gentle way of instilling in my kids what really matters at Christmas time. Here's my dad reading a story about President Monson when he was a young boy and the lesson he learned about giving.

I relish in my kids art and their love of expressing themselves in this way.

And today was just about as perfect a day as a day could be. The kids woke up, were totally and completely amazed by the Santa picture we captured last night and bouncing off the wall with excitement at all of their presents. Even though we got little to no sleep last night, we were bright eyed because of their excitement.

And even though Aaron spoils me every year and always goes WAY OVER BUDGET on gifts for me (which of course I secretly love), my favorite gift was given to me from Hannah because it was truly made from her heart. Do I really deserve her love? She asked me many times during the day if I really do like it. If she only really knew how much I do! (I had to crop this picture of me because well, it was just a bad picture). 

We had a relaxing morning. The kids played with their knew toys while I made our traditional Christmas breakfast of Egg-ala- golden-rod. Yum!

Aaron's favorite gift were these HOT jammies from his grandma. The kids were truly confused! I LOVE them!

I don't think any of us changed out of our pajama's until the late afternoon. Aaron was busy putting on puppet plays and target shooting.

And Joe spent most of his day on his tractor saying "bye" to me and blowing me kisses. Seriously? Melt.My.Heart.

At one point during the day I got emotional as I realize how blessed I am. I have this man who I love fiercely and he loves me equally in return. My children are beautiful and thankful. We have been given much and I'm humbled by our blessings. We aren't without trials, that's for sure, but we are buoyed up by our Savior. I've been touched this month as I listened to beautiful renditions of Christmas music and watched Christmas movies that had a purpose to draw me closer to God.
So I don't have a favorite part of Christmas this year. I loved it all.

Christmas Eve

For the past several years we have spent Christmas Eve with just our little family. We've thrown in a couple of trips to California, but it is quite difficult to get out there every year for Christmas.  It's taken some adjusting and creativity to make it still as special as it is when we are with our extended family. But it's given Aaron and I an opportunity to think of traditions we wanted to start with just us. This year, however, we got to include my parents and sister Susan. I must say, it's always just a little more fun when more are involved.

I slaved away all day preparing a nice turkey dinner. Ha! just kidding, I didn't really slave making the meal as much as I did cleaning my house. And it was just the main level that got cleaned. Upstairs looked like a bomb went off! Plus, Aaron prepared the turkey, so really my job was pretty easy as far as the food was concerned. It was delicious! Aaron makes a killer turkey! And moms potatoes are to die for! Yum!!

After a quick clean up of dinner, we bundled up to go caroling to our ward bishop who wasn't home. I love caroling. It's one of my favorite childhood Christmas memories and I LOVED having my parents with us this year so my kids could get a taste of how fun it was for me when I was a little girl. Alas, no one got to hear our angelic voices. (Another big Ha!) So back to the house we came to sugar up the kids as they made their own gingerbread houses. 

I think they each turned out pretty darn cute! 

Holland continues to be our Angel Baby. I don't think I heard a single peep out of her this whole night! She was perfectly content in Grandma's arms. 

And grandpa thinks she's pretty sweet too!

But who wouldn't in those adorable pj's?

The kids each opened Christmas jammies and donned them adorably. And then we read a sweet Christmas book. 

Then it was kisses and hugs and threats of going straight to bed to sleep so Santa could come. And sure enough, right before we went to bed, we quickly went downstairs and he indeed had come!

So we grabbed our angel baby and put her under the tree because she is the sweetest gift of all this year!

And to our GREAT surprise, quite by accident our ipad was left out and it accidently caught a picture of Santa leaving his gifts. 

I think the kids just might die in roughly 6 hours when they awake to see this! Merry Christmas!