Merry Christmas

I can hardly believe that Christmas has come and gone. 
We had a wonderful Christmas and it was so nice and chill. 
We actually got to host Christmas at our house this year and Nanny, Papa & Aunt Laura came to us. 

While I wasn't feeling 100%, we were still able to do most of our Christmas eve traditions. 

We actually did something a little different this year and we had our big Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve. 
We also invited the sister missionaries over for dinner and we had our friend Wyatt over as well. 

Dinner was delicious and everyone seemed to enjoy it. 

After Wyatt and the sister missionaries left, the kids smashed their gingerbread houses and ate the pieces. 

The "pajama elves" came and dropped off the kids' pajamas. 

Then we read the "Pajama Elves" book together. 

We left out some Christmas cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer and the kids made reindeer food to sprinkle on the front yard. 

We also said goodbye to our elves. Well the younger two said goodbye. The older two didn't seem to care that much.  

Then we decided to make some hot chocolate and watch a Christmas movie together. 

The kids eventually went to bed and the countdown to Christmas morning began. 

Christmas began with the kids sleeping in pretty late for Christmas, and we opened stockings while we waited for Nanny, Papa & Aunt Laura to wake up. 

Then Bailey found our pickle so she got to open the first present. 

The kids had agreed this year that we would have a smaller Christmas in exchange for saving some money for our big trip to the Northeast states next summer. 

Regardless, they all seemed quite thrilled with the gifts they did get and it was a great morning. 

 

One of my favorite parts was when we had Nanny and Papa open their gifts and we zoomed all my siblings. I called Sarah and since Joseph was visiting her with his family, we got a two for one. Then Laura called David and so we all talked over facetime together. 

But this picture of the kids with their silly socks is probably my favorite thing from Christmas. 
I don't know why, but it makes me so happy. 

After opening presents we had Christmas morning cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate. 

Then we played and hung out together. 
I made a Christmas charcuterie board at one point and we snacked on that until it was dinner time. 

The reason we decided to have a big Christmas Eve dinner was so we could all relax on Christmas.

This turned out wonderfully and we ate yummy leftovers for dinner on Christmas and no one had to do much cooking.

It was seriously the most chill and relaxing Christmas I've ever had. 
10/10 - highly recommend. 

Christmas is over now and as I'm reflecting over the season, I know I have so much to be grateful for. 
My family and my Savior are the biggest blessings in my life and I thank my Heavenly Father every day for them. 

Merry Christmas everyone!