Christmas 2024!

Christmas was wonderful for our family this year, especially after last year when we felt so sick for so long. We loved spending time together and with family, soaking in the holiday feeling.

We started Christmas Eve morning with cinnamon rolls, bacon, sausage, and eggs. I love making a big breakfast on Christmas Eve that we can have leftovers on Christmas. 

Then we spent the morning relaxing. We watched Christmas movies, made food, and played. We were going to play Switch in the afternoon, but Ben's cousin texted him about playing pickleball. Oliver was napping, so I stayed home with him while Ben took the girls over. They had a blast, and it was nice for me to have the house to myself while I finished up Christmas preparations and clean up the house. 

Our Rice Krispie Treats that were supposed to look like coal haha

Christmas!

For Christmas Eve dinner, everyone brought soup and breads and we kept it simple (we had a bigger dinner with Ben's family on Sunday). It was all super yummy!

Then the nativity! The nativity on Christmas Eve is my favorite tradition.

Dalin was Samuel the Lamanite for us.

Dalin was also the donkey. 

Parker really wanted to be Mary this year and Oliver really wanted to be Joseph 💖

Parker had a whole idea of how it was going to go and it was so cute.

Rylee, Elizabeth, and Ashtyn were shepherds (the twins were the sheep).

Navy and Grace were angels.

We had Monson, Ben, and Koy be the wisemen.

When we were done with dinner and the nativity (as well as Hannah playing the violin and some present exchanges), we came home and opened one present each--a new blanket. Snuggling up in pajamas and a blanket, we read The Night Before Christmas and sang Silent Night. Then we set out stockings and got the cookies, milk, and carrots set up for Santa before bedtime! 

After giving enough time for the kids to all settle down and be asleep, Ben and I set out stockings and went to sleep ourselves (it was still after ten, but we did pretty good). We didn't get a great night's sleep though and I woke up very early (it's always the case for me on Christmas XD). 

Christmas morning magic with kids 💖

Every year, we do a Christmas exchange with a friend in Norway. The kids (and Ben and I) loved the presents she sent us!

Opening gifts from my grandparents 💖

Oliver was so excited for his big farmer tractor that he could ride on!

Rylee really wanted a Gwen Stacey costume, but Ben and I wanted one that was easy to get in and out of (been there done that with ones that are a huge pain), so this was perfect. We also surprised her with a potions kit, and she couldn't have been happier about it. 

Ashtyn picked her present out and was super excited to get her rock tumbler going!

Parker had actually picked out a different gift, but when I saw Kindles were on sale, I asked if she wanted me to surprise her and she said yes. She was so surprised! After opening it, she was so happy that she started crying and said, "Ever since I learned to read, I've wanted a Kindle." 

To get their final combined gift, we sent the kids on a scavenger hunt to find it (we did it last year too). Rylee still wasn't interested in it, but Parker and Ashtyn had a lot of fun with it.

They loved their gift this year--a kid couch that you can also build with. 

The kids' most used gift was probably the magnetic marble run Ashtyn got 💖

After opening presents, we enjoyed our gifts, got some breakfast, and got ready for the day. 

Then we went over to Ben's parents' house to hang out and let the kids see cousins for awhile. 

We came home for dinner and to put the house back together some. The kids played some Switch games with Ben and with each other. Then Ben's cousin came over to play some pickleball and I spent the evening. While the kids continued to play Switch, I packed for our trip to West Jordan and started taking down Christmas stuff (we finished the day we got home). 

It was a magical and joy filled Christmas!