Friday, December 28, 2012

Christmas Comes to Town

After a lot of build-up on the true meaning of Christmas and baited anticipation for Santa's arrival...Christmas came to our home! :)

Presenting:
Our Little Christmas 2012

The festivities commenced on Christmas Eve where we added a couple of new traditions to some our old tried and true ones.

Old: Opening 1 present each on Christmas Eve (usually Jammies)
New: Opening gifts from siblings!  

Our kids are beginning to get to the age where they can purchase meaningful gifts for each other and we didn't want the excitement of those well-thought-out gifts to get over shadowed by other ones.  So we decided to give them their own time to shine. :)

I am SOOO glad we did this...the love they felt from each other was palpable.  My heart just about burst. :)














Morgan made these blankets for her siblings.  She picked out the fabric and did most of the tying.  She worked really hard on these.  We were so proud of her and how much she gave of herself to bless her siblings.  Plus she LOVED doing it!

After this, we had the kids gather around the fireplace on their blankets, while Dad read the real Christmas story in Luke 2 - while the kids placed the appropriate characters in their places.  This is an old tradition.  It ends with Dad bearing his testimony of the miraculous birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  How grateful I am for both of those men, a faithful husband and father, and my personal Redeemer whose birth we celebrate.





Followed by a NEW tradition...singing carols by the piano!

Only 3 actually since Morgan and I could only play a couple. :)  This should be better next year, but it was fun to start it regardless...as soon as I figure out how, I will add the video of the songs to this post. :)



Our songs we sang - Away in a Manger, Silent Night, and Christmas Comes to Town.

We had a very white, snowy Christmas this year, and we ALWAYS track Santa on the doppler. :)


This year however, we added a mini-game night with the older kids to the mix, when the little girls were nestled and snug in their beds.



In addition to the normal prep for Santa...


It was a peaceful, Silent Night, and we woke up to this:


Santa treated us well to say the least.






We spent the rest of the day lounging and playing with our new toys...me included. :)






We also tried out Jake's new snowboard and did some major sledding.  Here's proof. :)



Then more playing...



As night fell, we all sat down to a delicious Christmas feast - catered by Dad. Ham. Twice-baked potatoes. Asparagus with Hollandaise sauce.  And part of Dad's Christmas gift - Trader Joe's Limeade.  Yum, yum, yummy.




To say we feel blessed is a bit of an understatement but that word is just the perfect description.

How grateful I am for this Christmas and the greatest gift of all.  The Son to the us, from our Father in Heaven.  Merry Christmas!

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Christmas Party at Grandma's House

Each year we head up to Logan for the Annual Dodson Family Christmas Party!  It is highly anticipated because Grandma Dodson is known for her divinity, fudge, and presents! :)  

This year we did things a little different.  We usually have this party in the evening with lots of build up and Santa usually arrives.  However, due to busy work schedules by the adults and Santa, we decided to have a mid-morning get together instead so that all could be there.  After all, isn't that what Christmas is all about?  Being together?

So early in the morning, the kids woke up, we plopped them in the car, and headed up to Grandma's.  Jammies and all.

When we arrived, the air was thick with anticipating children ready to open up their gifts. :)






Although some don't look it, they were very happy and excited. :)

Here I am playing director while Trev played photographer...

Grandma wanted my little sister, Jessica, to open her big present first and for all the kids to watch.  So this is me leading the youngsters in a lovely acapella rendition of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" trying to get them to settle and pay attention. :) 




I love Morgan's "I'm way too grown up for this" face.

And why was my mom so insistent on everyone focusing on my little sister and the first gift of Christmas??  Because she wanted to soak up this reaction...






What was the present you might ask??  JUSTIN BEIBER CONCERT TICKETS!!!


To say Jess was excited would be a total understatement. :)  


After seeing this present, the young ones could not be kept at bay so I started passing and present pandemonium began. 














Trev, me, and our kids absolutely LOVED all our gifts!  Thank you everyone!  I have the best family.  Truly.


I have to share one last picture...doesn't this just sum up a perfect Christmas when your a kid?  




Jammies and Chocolate-Stained Cheeks.  Come on...doesn't get much better than this. :)