Christmas this last year was a little different than most because we got sick and stayed sick right through Christmas, but it was still wonderful! The Christmas spirit filled our home and we were so grateful to be together, to be feeling a bit better, and to see our families.
Christmas Eve!
One of my favorite traditions on Christmas Eve is the nativity scene! I remember doing it growing up and I have loved it as an adult each year. It is so sweet to me to remember Christ on that sacred night.
Grace desperately wanted to be Mary and made such a sweet mother, Parker was a shepherd, Ashtyn and Elizabeth were angels, and Rylee, Oliver, and Jonathan were sheep. The adults filled in the rest of the roles.
Cute little sheep!
Grace was such a sweet Mary 💗
Parker was a great shepherd to all the sheep.
After dinner and the nativity, we detoured to look at some Christmas lights on the way home (there are some that are really decked out on the way to our house from Ben's parents') and then I made the kids take a picture together before changing into their jammies.
After getting into their Christmas pajamas (they get their pajamas after Thanksgiving each year, this year they called them their "matchie patchies"), we each open one gift. It's our tradition to open a new blanket. The girls really wanted a picture in their blankies, but Oliver really didn't want to do another picture.
This year, I made chocolate truffles (for me) and coal, or Rice Krispies but with Oreos (for Ben) along with the sugar cookies for Santa. The coal turned out good (I didn't like it, but Ben did). Then we did our normal Christmas Eve routine (read the Night Before Christmas, set out cookies for Santa and carrots for his reindeer, and sing Silent Night together) before getting the kids in bed.
After the kids were in bed, Caleb and Monson came over to hang out some. We watched an episode of Bones while I worked on the scavenger hunt I was doing for the kids the next day. We wanted to make sure we gave the kids plenty of time to fall asleep before starting on stockings (Ashtyn and Parker know about Santa, but Rylee and Oliver still believe, and I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise either way).
Once our show was over, we started on stockings. One of the things we did was package up some of Ben's old Pokemon cards that he doesn't want anymore for them. It was fun to put them together and they turned out really cute! The kids were way excited!
Parker's stocking
Ashtyn's stocking
Rylee's stocking
Oliver's stocking
Ben and my stockings
Ashtyn made a little gift for me (a washcloth) and wrapped it herself (she said it was from Ben too because he gave her the idea haha). One of my favorite parts of motherhood is so often seeing how loving and generous kids' spirits are.
Christmas morning!
I thought Oliver would be excited about the climbing toy, but he went straight to his pickleball paddle and took some convincing to look at the rest of his stocking.
Rylee desperately wanted an arctic fox, but didn't think she'd get one 💗
Opening presents from Grandma Sue and Papa!
I filmed it since we weren't able to make it in person.
Oliver loved his hammer toy from them!
Opening presents from Uncle Jon!
Rylee made this cute mask for Parker.
Ashtyn weaved together the bookmark for Rylee (it was actually pretty tricky too!).
And Parker made this adorable Pikachu mini notebook for Ashtyn.
Then we opened presents from Liselotte, our friend in Norway!
We cherish our Christmas exchange with her and her friendship.
Oliver loved this car toy from her!
Bluey!
"Mom! Take a picture! I want to remember this water!" 😂
As you can see, Parker was way excited about these Bluey toys!
Ashtyn loved her new mermaid Barbie!
Then we let the kids open their present from Mom and Dad.
Oliver's drill was one of the things I was most excited about with Christmas this last year.
Drilling everything everywhere 😂
We told them it was the last individual present and Rylee was very disappointed, because she really wanted a play kitchen and her present was too small for that. When she opened it and Ashtyn helped her read to look in Dad's office, she said, "OH! I get it!" And ran in there.
Rylee was so excited! I thought it was a cute little kitchen. It took Ben a few hours to put together, but it was well worth it!
Ben gave Parker an extra present--a coupon for modding her 2DS.
This was her face when we told her it was a coupon from Dad, but before we even told her what the coupon was for 😂
Parker got a gymnastics mat.
And Ashtyn got a memory card for her Switch and a gift card to buy games with.
For their final, combined gift, I set up a little scavenger hunt that was inspired by escape rooms. Each clue led them to another puzzle they had to figure out. Ashtyn said it was the best thing ever and I'm excited for the new tradition (it was really fun to set up!).
Their combined gift was a kid-sized guitar to keep in the living room.
After presents, we relaxed and watched some Avatar the Last Airbender (while I took a nap) and then we decorated our sugar cookies finally! It was nice to be feeling well enough to actually do some things with the kids, but I was still feeling sick so we took things pretty easy.
After Oliver's nap, we decided to break up the day and go to his parents' house.
This is Rylee setting up her Arctic Fox for a photo shoot.
After we put the kids down, Ben's parents came over and we watched Klaus on Netflix since they hadn't ever seen it. I was very ready for bed by the end of the night.
Normally we go to my mom's house for her Christmas party the day after Christmas, but we were still too sick for that. They postponed the party for us and we headed out on Friday night instead.
Jonathan and Amanda gave Rylee a little brush and comb set because she loves to do Jon's hair. Our kids love Jon and Amanda!
It was fun to see Luke's family as well and the kids loved seeing their cousins!
Jon and Amanda gave Oliver a box, which he loves putting things in.
Playing at Grandma Dee's house with lots of treats! The kids were in heaven.
I made Oliver take a break for a nap and he was not happy about it.
But he did eventually fall asleep 💗
It was a great Christmas. We are so blessed!
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