Christmas 2010

This year we were very lucky to have Grandma Adair come to Utah to spend Christmas with us. Every day that she was here was filled with puzzles, games, and good old fashion grandma fun!

We have never spent Christmas Eve all by ourselves before. We have always gone to either Grandma Adair's, Grandma Haws', Uncle Jay's or Aunt Bette's, but never by ourselves. So this year was different! We don't have any "all by ourselves" traditions! So we did a lot of thinking. What do WE want to do?

On Christmas eve WE watched "A Christmas Story", WE ate a candle lit dinner of ham and funeral potatoes. WE read "The Night Before Christmas" and the story of Jesus' birth in Luke 2. WE had a birthday cake for Jesus where we all sang happy birthday and blew out the candles together. WE opened up our Christmas pajamas and one present from a sibling. WE sprinkled the yard with oats and glitter for the reindeer. And WE set out one slice of birthday cake and a glass of orange juice for Santa. And then WE went to sleep! Well sort of! Some of the children had a hard time falling asleep and drug the night out until around 1:30 in the morning when finally their little sleepy eyes gave up and they drifted off into dreamland!

Surprisingly enough Ethan was the first one to wake. Our little teenager who all Christmas break long didn't grace us with his presents until noon at the very earliest... HE WOKE UP! Could it be his excitement and joy to touch and hold his very own ipad? No, he says he just had to go to the bathroom!

Santa left each of the kids one present and a stocking filled with lots of fun candy and things.

Reagan got a new bike! And a stocking filled with girl things!

Talan got a new bike too! When he first woke up he wasn't so sure what to think or how to act. Once everyone was up, he warmed up and really started to enjoy Christmas morning. He took more than several laps around to house.

Bradon got an ipod touch! Who knew that Santa brings gifts like that. David and I had told the kids that ipods were to big to ask for.

And Carsten got one too! You can tell by the look on his face that he couldn't hold his excitement in. He was so happy it was bubbling out all over!

On Christmas eve Talan fell asleep before it was time to open presents. So we opened his pajamas for him and put them on him while he slept. So on Christmas morning he got to open his gift from Bradon. Bradon had made him a handmade box to wrap it in.

IRON MAN!
Talan loves Iron Man!

After everyone enjoyed their gifts from Santa it was time to open the presents from underneath the tree. Reagan had the perfect plan like any real good teacher would. She decided to make little slips of paper with each of our initials on them. She put them in a elf hat and then drew one initial out at a time. once all the initials were drawn she put them all back and started again. It worked out great! No complaints and everyone got to enjoy watching each and every gift be opened!

Reagan got an art easel. Dry erase board on one side and a chalk board on the other. Now she can be more like a "REAL" Teacher! She also got a pillow pet.

Carsten knew what this one was! He said he knew what it was because of the shape of the box. A snowboard! He also got snowboard boots!

Bradon got a Diablo! He had seen this at his cousin Justin's house in Washington at Thanksgiving. He's been wanting one ever since. Unfortunately he doesn't like the sticks it came with so he's now in the market for a new pair of sticks. Bradon also got snowboard boots to go along with his 5th grade ski passport book.

Grandma didn't expect anything, but that's not what she got!
She got all sorts of gifts/"expressions of love"! How do you give to someone who gives so much yet wants for nothing? You start her gifts off with a letter from the heart!
We love you Grandma!

Talan got a tractor or in Talan's language, a fatcow! He also got a train from Toy Story 3. He really wanted a train! Every present he opened he would say, "Train?" And then finally, it really was a train! Grandma Adair made him his very own Buzz and Woody blanket. He loves it! You know, having an almost 3 year old at Christmas time is priceless! Their excitement and joy is perfect!

All that David asked for this year was this basketball backboard that mounts to a door. He's always thinking of the kids. But he also got a Blue Ray player, a movie to play on his new Blue Ray, and a Family home evening board. That sounds like a funny gift for a man but he's always saying that we need one of those!

Reagan got these cool high top shoes from Grandma. Reagan absolutely loves shoes! And clothes, and jewlry, and anything girly... But shoes I think are her favorite!

Ethan is funny! He didn't ask for anything but an ipad this year in which he saved $400.00 for and only wanted Santa to make up the difference. So when I saw this "little green man" I just had to get it for him. And what do you know, HE LOVES IT! I'm not sure Ethan will ever outgrow action figures or cartoonesk like things. I think it has something to do with the right side of his brain.

I also got a whole slue of things. A new griddle, 2 hand mixers, a down comforter, an outdoor volleyball set and a candle.

It was a wonderful day had by all!
Merry Christmas!