Christmas is love...with all the trimmings

Christmas -- it's honestly not my favorite holiday. I do love the season, I love the music, I love the spirit of giving, I love that we get to see extended family more.

I don't the greediness, I don't love the stress of making sure I didn't forget anyone and the guilt when I do. I don't love the cold I get every year right afterward because I'm finally able to relax. I don't love the lists and lists and lists I make starting in November for food, gifts, calendaring etc. I don't love the discussions about what family is going where and why and how it's all going to work out. I don't love the dishes. I don't love that I'm usually too busy buying, cooking, and cleaning to take pictures. So, thanks Philip for these pictures.:)

But, above and beyond all of that -- I LOVE that Christmas helps the world to remember our Savior. He, that gave us all that we have. It's an act of faith to believe in Him. It's faith that keeps us moving forward, toward our goal of returning to Him. It's faith, charity and love that make this world a wonderful place for all of us. At this time of year many of us seem to try a little harder to have these attributes. I, for one, will take peace and happiness in the world anytime I can get it. I am very grateful for the faith I have in Him and the knowledge that one day, after I have done my best here on earth -- I will return to Him and my Heavenly Father.

Christmas Eve, for us, has always been the more spiritual side of Christmas in our home. We have a nice dinner, read the Christmas Nativity out of the Bible, sing Silent Night and remember the birth of our Savior. This year we got to act out the Nativity. Pretty great acting if you ask me. Libbie was in Heaven as Mary.

Of course, as much as I love the true reason for the season -- the "trimmings" are pretty fun too.

Christmas Day we open gifts, eat a yummy breakfast of tamales, eggs, bacon, and orange rolls, head to a movie(this year we saw Bedtime Stories -- great movie!) and eat Papa Johns Pizza for dinner. We had a great day!

This year we decided to start a new tradition. We give each of the kids 3 gifts, just as the Wisemen gave to Jesus. We give them 1 that they need, 1 that they want and 1 that is special.

Santa left a treasure hunt for the kids to find the Wii.


and Papa Sweet is getting pretty good at boxing.


Mimi and Gavin learning how to use the loom she got the kids.


Paige got snowed in up in Montana. Her flight didn't get in until Christmas night. Here she is opening her gifts.

We were so happy to have them all here and to have a very Merry and Safe Christmas.

Merry Christmas & watch out for the New Year --where does time go?