Christmas was a lot of fun this year. It is so magical when the kids are believers. It was also so much fun planning presents for everyone. For the kids, for Nate, for cousins and extended family. I really enjoy that part.
This Christmas, like all other Christmases, we spent Christmas eve ease down in Lafayette with Nate's family. We spent the night and then spent all of Christmas eveenjoying each other's company. On the 23rd we went bowling together at Purdue University. It was a first for Kaylee and Dawson. It had been a very long time since we have gone bowling with Jaxton and Cooper. Everybody had a very good time. I think Cooper won his game!
Christmas eve we had our annual family testimony meeting followed by massive present opening. That cousins exchange presents starting with the youngest and on at. The teenagers and adults did our annual favorite things exchange. I brought jewelry for my favorite thing and I got it back in the end! Nate is so good to me and we work together to get the presents we want. We said goodbye and headed home for our own family Christmas eve. We watched the nativity with the kids and read this story in link of the first Christmas and baby Jesus. The kids were sent off to bed and they could not get to sleep quick enough for fear that Santa would not leave presents if they were still awake.
Christmas morning was just magical. Santa did come. He Brett the presents everyone had been asking for and their stockings were full of breakfast goodies. Jaxton got a giant Lego set. Cooper got his long awaited remote control monster truck. Kaylee got her doll that looks like her. Dustin got a new year toy set. And that's all night and got some spoons and bibs so he can eat more solid food. The rest of the presents under the tree where fun to open and enjoy. All the kids got books to read and power toothbrushes. Jaxton got more Legos, Cooper got a camera, Kaylee got lots of kitchen supplies, and Dawson got Duplo legos. Nate got me a cricket! I am very very excited. I got him a weight set and stand to start his home gym. The kids exchanged gifts to each other, we opened more gifts from Utah family, and it seemed as ifthat presence would not stop. It was just magical. Dustin was a little bit overwhelmed by the craziness and excitement.
After a while we went caroling like we have been going every Christmas day for the past two years. We went caroling at a retirement home where many individuals are lonely from their families on Christmas Day. I hope that we were able to sing for then and Bring them a bit of joy on this Christmas day while they are probably missing their loved ones. The kids know more and more Christmas songs and it is very fun to have them get involved in the singing.
What a joyful Christmas day.
