We had such an amazing Christmas, filled with laughter, friends, and family, topped with the warmth of His Love.
Giving
On Christmas Eve, we made a new tradition of GIVING. We busily assembled and dropped off little bundles for the kids’ neighborhood friends. Between scouts and school, Tanner has gotten to know quite a few friends! I picked something simple Tanner could do – he filled mason jars with M&Ms, attached this Christmas M&M poem, and made name tags for over a dozen friends. I’m not very creative, but I can copy really well :)
The best part was delivering them to the friends home. The kids ALL wanted to help, even Rylee. As we were getting out of the car, Brooke saw some decorations on the lawn, and yelled ahead, “Tanner – Look out for the REINDEER!” as if it was about to take off right in front of him. She is SO funny. As we delivered them, it even started to snow! Yes, Christmas is a magical time of the year.
Brooke insisted on making some for her 2 best friends – Scarlett and Quincy. Later in the day, she came with me as I dropped off more goodies of home-baked yumminess. Growing up, I was always my mom’s elf—one of my earliest Christmas memories isn’t opening gifts, but helping her with all the wrapping the night before. So…I hope Brooke continues to the tradition and loves to be my little elf!
On Christmas Eve night, we had a few close friends over, Zach and Sara, along with my parents and brother Brendan. Usually we get together with our HUGE extended family, but this year it worked better for everyone to only get together on Christmas Day.
And by those SMILES, the kids LOVED all the extra attention!
The Muppets Christmas Carol came highly recommended so we watched it together. We loved it – all the cute songs and the Muppets kept us laughing, even during the scarier parts with the ghosts appearing.
By far the highlight of the night…was a SNOWBALL FIGHT!
One of Anthony’s fondest memories as a child was “sock wars.” They’d start a snowball fight in the family room with tons of socks balled up together. Well – it’s about time we pass the tradition along to our family.
Everyone was throwing snowballs…everyone!
Brendan would hoard them – then throw them like a bandit!
And I’m not sure who…but someone stuff Rylee’s shirt with snowballs in exactly the right places. She was laughing and grabbing at them…it was HILARIOUS!
Nothing can really capture the evening…
This idea came when I found cute packages of snowballs on clearance. Next year, each kid might also get a pkg of socks along with their Christmas jammies – so the epic SNOWBALLING can begin.
The Nativity
We watched a Bible Video of the Nativity here and then re-enacted a simpler version from Luke Chapter 2.
The props were minimal (this is where the extended family helps out!), not that Brooke would have worn it. But it was cute and adorable none-the-less.
Pregnant Mary and Joseph travel on a donkey to Bethlehem.
And the Innkeeper looks a little too happy about there not being room in the inn – but offers a lowly stable instead.
And it was there the Christ-child was born.
And the Angel appeared to the shepherds, saying “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”
And I’m obviously not a good shepherd cause my only sheep was trying to hide :) 
And the star appeared in the East.
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
We sang our favorite Christmas carols, in which Tanner stayed in character and BAA-ed the entire time.
In the hussle and bussle of the Christmas season, I hope you have had time to reflect on the Savior life’s and teachings, on that Holy Night years ago. One random day running errands with a car full of kids, tears were in my eyes as I listened to “O Holy Night” on the radio. I promise you there is a calmness and joy that only HE can bring, for he is truly the Prince of Peace. I Love Him!
The kids then hurried off to bed, but not before taking a million pics, hoping for one cute one!
Tanner happily declared, “I can’t WAIT for Santa to come!” which then caused Brooke to be alarmed, “But I don’t like him. I don’t want Santa to come!” She hasn’t been a fan…all season long.
While the kids went to bed and “visions of sugar-plums danced in their head,” we played a few games with just the adults. We tried to play COUP, but my mom quickly declared she didn’t like it and we needed a new game. Instead, we played cards – something I knew we’d all like. We played “Up and Down the River” and the boys kept joking how they were playing for $$$, with Zach being a professional and all. Finally, my mom blurted out, “We’re not playing for money, we’ll play for NUTS!” To her credit, my dad happened to be cracking a bowl full of nuts right next to her, but still, we couldn’t stop laughing, all night long. Good times, good times.
Then it was time let the “elves go to work” and find all those gifts hidden away. But next year, Santa may need to re-locate his workshop from my closet and the basement…cause someone peeked and saw something they shouldn’t have!
Tanner told Anthony he knew for SURE he was getting a Nerf bow and arrow. I thought it was cause that’s what he told Santa he wanted – and he definitely BELIEVED Santa would pull through for him. Yet on Christmas Eve night (when it’s clearly too late)– Anthony told me Tanner was in there playing and saw the package **sigh**
But the elf should have learned her lesson from last year not to wait til the last moment to wrap presents, considering I spend Christmas Eve in the ER until 3am with the worst gall-bladder attack. At that point, I was grateful to just be alive, and didn’t mind wrapping at 3am.
Health is a beautiful gift, and thankfully, we were the healthiest we’ve been all Fall leading up to Christmas. We miraculously escaped the flu and stomach bugs, and I’m pretty sure the rest of KC, and my extended family FOR SURE, was not as fortunate.
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!!!
