Christmas 2022

We were blessed to celebrate Christmas with Nanny, Papa and Aunt Laura. They came to our house and we loved it. 
Oh Christmas Eve we mostly relaxed and waited for them to arrive. 
We did do our traditional gingerbread house smash. It was pretty fun, as per usual. 

After dinner, the sister missionaries came over and we decorated sugar cookies. 
It was really fun and we were glad they came over. We just wanted them to have a semblance of home since it was both of their first Christmas away from home. We sure love our sister missionaries. 

Later, Nanny the "Pajama Elves" dropped off our Christmas pajamas and Nanny read the pajama elves book to the kiddos. 

We said our good-byes to our elves before bed too. 

Oh and Aunt Laura helped Tucker and Benson finish their puzzle. 
They worked hard and finished it in just a couple hours. 

 Then the kids went to bed and the rest of us adults stayed up to chat for a while. 

Eventually we all went to bed. It's weird how excited I still get for Christmas. But it really is so fun to watch the kids' excitement and happiness. 

Christmas fell on a Sunday this year. So when the kids woke up early, we only did stockings. We have 9:30 am church. Stocking are one of my favorite parts of Christmas. I woke up to kids giggling and talking, showing off their goodies and enjoying each other. It was wonderful. 

Tucker was pretty thrilled with his new art set from Santa. He immediately set it up and he couldn't wait to use it. 

 

Then it was off to church. We only had Sacrament meeting and then we got to come home again. I had to get a picture of the kiddos with Nanny and Papa. 

We also took a family pictures. I kind of loved our creams, whites and gold this year. It was a pretty color scheme. 

Church was wonderful and Christ centered. However, the kids would not allow us to linger to chat afterwards. They couldn't wait to open their presents. 

So after church, we all changed out of our dress clothes. The kids put their Christmas PJs on and then we started opening presents. 
My favorite part of the Christmas gift exchange is watching my kids exchange their gifts to each other. 
It's always so cute!

Tucker bought for Benson and got him a squishmallow and some candy. Benson had Bailey and he got her a big squishmallow as well. Tanner had Tucker and got him a really cool car lego set. Then Bailey had Tanner and she got him a new card game called "mantis". 

But really, all the hugging pictures give me all the feels. I  love them!

 

We also finished our "giving manger" and talked about what that meant. 
I'm so grateful for a simple reminder of the true meaning of Christmas. 
I love watching my kids serve and learning the joy that comes from seeing the joy they can bring others through service. 

After the kids had opened all their gifts and we were all done, we gave the kids one last gift. 
We gave them a box filled with scuba masks with a note that said 

"What do shrimp cocktails, snorkeling and water slides have in common?"

Bailey immediately guessed a cruise and Tanner thought for sure she was wrong, but yes! We are taking the kids on another cruise. The entire Herb family is going. We are so excited for this trip. It's going to be so fun!

Nanny, Aunt Laura and I prepared Christmas dinner. Oh and Chris smoked a ham for us. 
Dinner was delicious!

 

We ate dinner and cleaned up and then hung out and watched "Claymation Christmas". 
It was a relaxing evening after a busy day. Between opening presents, making lunch, cleaning up presents and wrapping and then prepping and cooking dinner, we were all tired. But the evening together was just what we needed. 

It really was a wonderful Christmas. We are grateful that Nanny, Papa and Aunt Laura made the drive over to celebrate with us. 
I'm so grateful for the birth of my Savior. I'm so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who was willing to send his son to earth to save the rest of his children. 
I'm grateful for a faithful and trusting Mary and Joseph. 
It's been so fun to read the nativity story over the last week. But I really am excited to study the New Testament next year for "Come, Follow Me". It's going to be a great year. 

Merry Christmas everyone!