Christmas Night

Around noon Christmas day I started getting a pretty bad stomachache.  It took me few hours to realize it was the stomach flu coming on.  We had plans to be with my family that night but it looked like I wasn't going to be able to go.  As I helped get the kids ready to leave Dan said, "Enjoy your Top Roman dinner."  I burst into tears.  If I wasn't actually throwing up, I didn't want to be alone on Christmas!  So I went along, feeling pretty sick, and tried to stay away from everyone but still enjoy the company.  I'm glad I went.  It's been 3 days now and I'm still battling it a little, but hopefully it will be gone all the way soon. (Fingers crossed.)

The kids really enjoyed playing with their cousins and all their new toys.  I'm glad I went and got to watch it all.  I even managed a few bites of ham and potatoes.

They were excited to open more gifts, too.  That morning, Lacey was in tears when she realized all her presents were opened, so this helped make up for it a bit.

We baked a birthday cake for Jesus for dessert and even had these awesome plates I found last year and saved for the occasion.

  

After the others were in bed that night, Jossy came downstairs to tell us her other front tooth was almost off.  She was determined to get it out.  I had stupidly made a deal with her that if she got both front teeth out by Christmas I'd give her $5.  (My reasons had to do with ortho stuff which ended up not being an issue but I had already made the deal with her.)

She wiggled it so much, she managed to get it twisted sideways but couldn't put it back in place and couldn't get it out. She spent 45 minutes crying over it all, refusing to let us help pull it.  At nearly 10 PM, we told her she had five minutes to either pull it, let us pull it, or go to bed feeling uncomfortable since she couldn't managed to shut her mouth correctly.  After many more tears, she finally let me do it.  It didn't pop right out exactly, but was only a few seconds of pulling.  She was NOT happy over the pain obviously, but in 5 minutes time, we had her smiling again. 

Guess she really wanted to sing a certain Christmas song . . .  or she just really really really wanted $5.

Christmas Is Here!!!

There is nothing quite like the magic of having children in your house at Christmas.  The holiday is so much more exciting.  I was nearly giddy going to bed last night as I thought about the looks of joy I would see the next morning on their faces.  I put so much planning and preparation into making the day special, I just couldn't wait!

Today started with an early wake up call from Alice (more sleep issues with her,) but the others slept til nearly 7:30.  Jossy came bounding in our room saying, "I got an easel!  I got an easel!"  She absolutely LOVES to play school, and she had asked Santa for teacher supplies.  He did not disappoint.

They opened their stocking gifts and took a group photo before the chaos of gift opening commenced.

 

Jossy got a BIG surprise this year.  She's been asking for a real American Girl doll for 2 years now.  We've bought some really great quality knock offs, but the girl's been persistent.  I finally told her how much they were and that she better start saving her money.  We had a bake sale this summer to help her earn it, and she was up to about $40, but still not really close to the $120 price tag.  I found a way to get a good deal on one a couple months ago, so someone's dream came true today.  She was so excited, and has kept Grace with her all day long.

School made gifts are the best!!  Seriously, I love them!  I love seeing my kids so excited to give us something they've made themselves.  Jossy made us a peacock trivet, and Matty made us an awesome golden angel ornament from various noodles.  (Creative teacher award!)

Growing up, my parents always always always took our picture with all our gifts in front of the tree.  It's nice to go back to those pictures and remember, so I've done the same for our kids since Matty was a baby.  

Everyone has loved playing with Lacey's magformers today, but the real winner for her was her stuffed Bing Bong that really smells like freakin' cotton candy!  

I told her I want to steal it from her and eat it while I'm sleeping!

Alice's Santa bear has been a source of family entertainment as well.  

It repeats whatever you say to it in a higher voice.  It's been so funny!

There has been many messes today and a whole lot of playing.  The kids have shared their new toys with each other, which can be so hard when it's brand new to you. (Some have done better than others about sharing.)  I love seeing my kids so happy, but I'm so thankful they know the real meaning of Christmas.  You ask any one of them and they'll tell you Christmas is all about Jesus.  

Christmas Eve Dinner in Jerusalem

This is a tradition we look forward to all year.  We love eating by candlelight, eating simple foods with our hands, and talking about what life was like during the time our Savior was born.

This meal took a little turn towards the dramatic when one of Jossy's wiggly front teeth finally decided to fall out.  You would have thought she was going to die with all the fuss she made.

She finally was able to calm down and smile.  She left not only her tooth for the tooth fairy, but a nickel as well.  I asked her why and she said, "She gives me money, so I want to give her some."  I said, "Oh, you don't have to do that!" She said, "But it's a Christmas present!  I want to!"  Such a sweetheart.

Graham Cracker Houses

I had planned on buying a kit from Costco and doing one gingerbread house together . . . but they sold out before my procrastination clock did.  Who wants to share anyway?!  So we bought a big bag of M&Ms (or "Mini Mini's" as Alice calls them), some graham crackers and a can of frosting.  Fun for all!

Lacey has a "pose" she assumes when the camera comes out.

Temple Square

A few post back I mentioned what a wonderful family outing we had at the pumpkin patch and how rare it was to have that kind of good time as a family.

This was not one of those times.

We went up to see the lights at Temple Square on the last Saturday before Christmas (lots of last-minute shoppers,) right when the Motab Christmas concert was getting ready to start (26,000 concert goers,) and on the last warmish winter day in the forecast (tons of people to see the lights.  Add that to a 2-year-old with a fever, hungry kids, and little girls who refused to wear warm pants and you have the recipe for a very frazzled mommy.

It took 20 minutes driving around Salt Lake to get to the parking garage.  Then 20 minutes in there to even FIND a spot.  Then 20+ more minutes to get out of the car and up to the street.  No one had had dinner, just snacks.  It was sooooo crowded outside!  I've been to Temple Square nearly every year since I was 12 and I don't think I've been in crowds like that before, even on Christmas Eve!  When Lacey had to use the bathroom, we stood in a nice long line for quite some time.

These pictures don't show the tears that were shed that night (not all belonging to the children) over the cold (which honestly wasn't that bad!), the need for snacks, and the crowds.  Just happy memories . . . which I'm counting on being all that my children remember from these outings.  

Candy windows at Macy's

We asked a family to take our picture and in return we'd take theirs.

I thought it wouldn't be a big deal, but it took a good 10 minutes to get one that wasn't fuzzy.

They had NO CLUE how to look through a viewfinder on a DSLR. I'm guessing they had never used a camera before digital ones??  Ugh, I feel old.

 Jossy has a disease right now.  It's called "I can't take a normal picture."

 Getting out of Salt Lake was a whole other ridiculous experience.  By the time we got home, we had been gone 4 hours.  Frozen waffles for dinner. 

Slip Sliding Away

I'm such a Scrooge about the snow.  I hate bundling up kids and cleaning up wet floors forever, dealing with finding matching gloves, and forcing them to come in when they're noses are ready to fall off only to listen to them whine for the next half hour about how limbs are hurting from being outside too long.

BUT. . . it does make my kids happy.  And lucky for them, I love to see them happy.

I guess I'm not a complete Scrooge.  The other night Dan and I were out shoveling our driveway together after all the kids but Matty were asleep.  We finished quickly and decided to do a little impromptu sledding down a few super close hills, just the two of us.  We had so much fun together in the beautiful moonlit snow all alone . . . for all of 5 minutes.  Then we got a phone call from Matty  telling us Alice was awake and screaming.  Turns out she had a fever.  Romantic mood successfully killed.  LOL

Oh, and if you were wondering if a dog likes to sled, I was wondering the same thing so . . . .

The answer (for us) was a big double fat no.  I had to hold her down with all my strength to keep her on just half the hill.