Christmas in Lafayette

We spent Christmas eve in Lafayette at Nate's brother Mike's house. Then night before we got to witness Our nephew Asher be baptized.  Then the night with the family, grandma and grandpa, and the Routsongs and us.  It was a full house. Jared and Cassidy had flown in from Provo for Christmas. Madison and Jordan came also. They are at ball state.we enjoyed a fabulous mere and experience our traditional Christmas testimony meeting. Finally we enjoyed opening each other's yes. Each cousin got a gift for another cousin. Then the adults and young adults did a white elephant gift exchange with packages of our favorite things. We had a wonderful time.

Piano Christmas Recital

Jaxton and Cooper were in their first piano recital ever. They hardly seemed nervous. They have practiced and prepared well for the day. Saxton played Carol of the bells and Chant Arabe.  Cooper played Rudolph the red nose reindeer and a Halloween spooky song.  I felt so proud of their hard work and their performance. I know they felt proud too.  They certainly have worked so very hard to be able to play as well as they do.  

Christmas morning

Christmas morning is always so magical. Kids were so excited this year. Jaxton asked for Pokémon. Cooper wanted a garnet birthstone necklace.  Kaylee asked for binoculars. Dawson got a large special train set. Nathan was more pleased with the packaging of his first gift bag. 

Nate's parents grandma and grandpa Frank another stayed overnight with us to enjoy Christmas morning with us. It was magical as always as the kids were so excited running downstairs to explain that the stockings were refilled and Santas sack was filled. Excitement and joy that is so much fun for me and Nate to experience. The joy of childhood.

Christmas Caroling

It has become a tradition that every Christmas afternoon we go caroling at a nursing home where many individuals are lonely during the holiday. Many residents had gone home to be with family but there are also some who don't have anywhere else to go so they remain at the nursing home. I imagine they are lonely and Great when others come to bring joy to them on the special Christmas day. We got a let rather large group together this year and went caroling at the Old folks home that grandma great Martha route son lives. She was not there, she was actually at Christmas with her sister. But we were still able to sing for many residents who were there Christmas Day.  It is even more exciting as the kids are older and able to sing along because they actually know the words to the songs. They can also read the music. I love to have them involved in service projects like this. To bring joy to others on Christmas Day.

Afterward we all read joined together at our house for Christmas day dinner. It was a nice gathering with lots of friends and good food. It is always memorable.