Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

This Christmas has just been so Sweet. There has been some special experiences that I have shared with Mike and the girls that have helped me to realize what is important. I have always known what is important but this Christmas confirmed this to me without any doubt. I was thankful.

We have had many opportunities to feel the True meaning of Christmas this season. Everything we did this year. We did as a family. Nobody was missing and we all took part in it. We started by putting of the lights on the house and around the yard. We didn't go all the way to the top of the 2nd story. Mike refused to hang from the roof this year.. You start to look at things differently and question if you can still do them when you get in your middle 40's...

With going to school full time I didn't have alot of time to decorate the house. I came home and Ashlee and Emalee started hanging the garland on the banister for me. I thought that was thoughfull that they wanted to do that.. So when I came home from school we worked together to get it done.

Christmas Eve was at our house this year. The girls and I made the yummy Ham and Cheesy Potatoes. And my sisters brought so much food. We ate a few times that night. Here is Jason enjoying the food..

The table was set by Haylee. Ashlee made all the name cards as wel..

Carla and the kids read a story of the Three Tree's. They had props and all.

The cast and crew of the NATIVITY STORY.

We had a fun evening. We realized that it was almost 11:00 that night and we still had plenty to do in our own home to get ready for the morning..

CHRISTMAS MORNING

Every year I have a picture of the girls dashing out to see the presents. We make them wait upstairs until the scene is set downstairs... Haylee is always the first one as I'm sure you can tell.

I realized after most of the presents were opened that I didn't take pictures.. So I started snapping some shots.

I love this picture, Even Dude, our dog was around to help open presents.

I have to say that I'm so glad that Haylee is 11 years old and still loves to play dolls. She loves toys and things to create. This child amazes me with her excitement of life...

Ashlee and her checker sweatshirt from Tilly's she wanted...

Emalee is a Twilght and New Moon Freak... So she loves her movie books with awesome pictures to look at.

She also loves her girly bling bling jewlery

And of course, The girls have been wanting Band Hero. So they can sing all the Taylor Swift songs. This is a pretty fun game. I like to play the drums...



What was best about Christmas this year is the opportunities we had to feel the spirit of Christmas. Haylee was in her first Band performance. She played the flute. She is loving this and I hope she continues to develope this talent.

Jason and Allison's ward Christmas Party was so nice. Jason was in charge of the entire music program. There Bishop wanted a spiritual feeling. He made that happen with music and songs and choirs and scenery. Jason also sang one of my favorite songs from the Forgotten Carols. "The Inn Keepers Song" Let him in.. He did a great job it brought me to tears..

Emalee and Ashlee sang on that Christmas Sunday with the Young Women and Young Men Youth Choir. It was great to see my beautiful daughters singing at church.

The youth also went on a hay ride. The packed this pull trailor with hay and all the youth drive around the loop singing Christmas Songs to homes in the neighborhood.

We all had a great Season and now It's all over and the deocoration are put away. Now we need to continue to remember these special feelings of doing everything together as a family.