Backing up to Christmas

I know you have been waiting with baited breath (where does that phrase come from?) for this post- all about our December.

Christmas is one of my most favorite times of year.

 I love decorating, I love the colors,

I love finding the perfect gift for people, I love the traditions.

On the night of the 5th, as normal, St. Nicholas visited us.  This time he brought a note from Santa Claus, saying that he had received the children's notes and was working on getting them the things they wanted.  Also he explained that his 10th cousin several times removed aka St. Nicholas was borrowing his sleigh this year in order to make it to all the European families scattered throughout the globe.

Each of the children received some candy, a book and a little toy.

Our Ward Christmas party was fun.

  Max is the only one that will go and see Santa Claus now (sad face).

Christmas Eve, I had to work, but Rob's Mom and Step-dad were with us, so they made the traditional clam chowder dinner.  After I got home we ate and had our traditional retelling of the birth of Jesus with accompaniment from Emma, Mom and Joseph.

I was the angel this year.

The kids opened their pajamas and left out a plate of cookies that they had finished while I was at work and root beer- Santa is too nice to say he doesn't enjoy warm milk, but we know better.  Root beer is always a crowd pleaser!

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

Christmas morning the kids all pile in our bed until we decide to let them out,

but they always have to wait a little longer on the stairs

 while Mom gets the camera.

The children have always gotten a quick note from Santa, but this year he wrote them an entire letter.

(Someone has been reading Letter's from Santa Claus by J.R.R. Tolkien!)

It was a good Christmas with lots of good stuff

Joseph found one present tied to Rob's still floating birthday balloon.

Max really, really wanted a nutcracker.  I'm not sure why, but he never forgot to mention it when someone asked and he looked at them at every store we went to that had them.  

Heaven's help us- now we have all kinds of guns in the house!  Sam starts his gun safety class in January.

 and way, way too much sugar to consume! 

 I gained about 4 pounds!  Good thing for New Year's resolutions!