Christmas

I LOVED Christmas this year.  I loved that the kids were way into giving each other gifts and I loved that we got to go to church on Christmas Day.  It just seemed to set the mood perfectly for why we celebrate this wonderful holiday.

Since we had church at 8am (now 10 am--yes!) the kids got up early and looked, played, oohed and aahed over their stockings.  One of the things they all got was headphones.  Sam has a nice pair and they were always arguing over who got to wear them so this was perfect and they loved them!

 Then they put on all their new Sunday clothes and we headed off to church.  Church was out a little early which the kids thought was awesome until we remembered that Sam needed to stay afterwards and do tithing.  (side note: it was so funny because he prayed several times that no one would turn in tithing so they didn't have to stay afterwards but a las his prayers weren't answered--silly guy!)

By the time Sam made it home the kids were so excited.  So the present opening began and they were in heaven.

 Luke and Kathryn opening their Santa presents.  Luke got a wiggle car (love those things) and Kathryn a guitar.  She says that is the instrument she wants to learn.  I hope she loves it!

 Sarah and Seth opening their Santa presents.  Sarah has been asking for this American Girl Doll for more than a year so she was beyond excited to see it.  Seth is actually quite excited, I just caught him in a weird pose.  That thing is full of Legos which he immediately started putting together and which we helped him organize better the other day (oh my word we sorted by color and between Seth, Sarah, Kathryn and me it took us 3 hours to sort that boys legos.  Crazy!).

 I love to see the kids get so excited especially as they watch their siblings open the presents they gave to them.

Kathryn gave Sarah this kitty and Luke was almost more excited for Sarah than Kathryn.  Cute boy!

 The kids gave Sam a new ice cream book and man have we been eating the most amazing ice cream lately.  They are to die for and I don't even like ice cream that much!

And boy was this boy happy to see this under the tree.  He got water in his last one that ruined the back light and then he broke the screen trying to fix it.  So after 6 months of not having one (I made him wait till Christmas) he was so happy that he could get back to having his emails and calendar from work at his fingertips (and I would guess his angry birds and sudoku also).

I am so grateful for this time of year and I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas also.