Merry Christmas 2014

Merry Christmas!  We decided to cook a turkey for Christmas Eve dinner so that we would have leftovers on Christmas day.  Because of course, I don't cook dinner on Christmas!  :)

Todd was in charge of the turkey and he did a great job!  (Thanks honey!)

I set up the table in Christmas decor and we had my parents and Gina over for dinner.

I don't know why I didn't take any pictures while we were eating, but I didn't...oops.

Here are a couple of pictures before the kids got into their stockings on Christmas morning...yep, Santa came!

We have always started Christmas at 7 am.  Even the teenagers have gotten up.  I have wondered how long that will continue....I'll be sad when the kids want to sleep in on Christmas morning.  So far they still want to start bright and early.  And I'm so grateful for that.  I think it keeps the "excitement" of Christmas morning alive!

  

Even Ziggy got a couple of toys!  (The toys don't last long, of course.  He always finds the squeaker and rips it out first thing).

Then we took turns opening presents....one at a time.  This year we spent about 45 minutes together.  It was awesome.  I've noticed as the kids have gotten older, they are a lot more willing to wait their turn.  :)

Jacob's first present was a Minecraft lego toy.  He was pretty excited about that.

And Dallin got his long-awaited Ocarina.   By the end of the day, he could already play several songs on it.  That kid is pretty amazing!

  Brandon got a whole pack of Old Spice deoderant (his favorite) and Kyle got a Minecraft torch (but that picture didn't turn out)...  :(

Jacob got a Ninjago lego set, a really cool hoodie, a Minecraft shirt, and a model car.

 

Kyle got a couple sets of books (Minecraft and Heroes of Olympus), a Minecraft shirt, a leather crafting pouch, and Brain Storms (a game).  He also got an ipad mini last month for his birthday, and that counted as part of his Christmas too.

(This picture of Kyle is of the gift from Jacob)...

Dallin got a laser grand piano puzzle (3D), a bunch of peanut butter balance bars, an electric razor, and a couple of piano books.

(And this is from Jacob too).  

Brandon got a flute a couple of months ago and that counted for part of his Christmas.  He also got a wallet, some Batman socks, a couple of shirts, and a new book. (And a Pokemon gift from Jacob).

Jacob was so excited about his new jacket!  He wanted the kind that zips all the way up over your head and you can still see...

And Jacob even got me and Todd a present.  Remember last year when I got "World's Greatest Mom" and Todd got a little table-top garbage can.  HA!  Well, this year, I got a blue gem and an elastic bracelet and Todd got a little trophie that says, "#1 Dad."  I guess we're even now...HA! 

And then we got the best Christmas present ever!  We got to talk to Elder Jones!

This year Todd went and got the projector from the church (in the stake offices) and hooked it up to his laptop and then projected Eric up onto the wall of our living room.  It was so awesome!  He was "big" and everyone could see him!

Doesn't he look so grown up?

We sent him a "Link" hat from The Legend of Zelda game and he loved that.  He put it on first thing...

Oh my word!  He is so cute!  We got to talk to him for 2 hours this year.  It was awesome!  He has a new mission president and he told the missionaries, "I don't want to give a rule that most missionaries will break."  So, there was no time limit!  Yippee!

It was an awesome Christmas!  We even got snow!  We hadn't had any snow until Christmas day.  That was pretty cool too!

It was a great Christmas and just like every other year, it was over way too quickly!  Merry Christmas everyone!