Yes, we did have Christmas!

In reading everyone's blogs about Christmas I realized that you might be wondering if we actually celebrated anything this year. (Because I blog so frequently and all.) Well, we had a wonderful very low key Christmas. I have realized that there is no such thing as the perfect Christmas. The perfect Christmas consists of having my family surrounding me and I could give or take the gifts. Despite all of this, I have kids that still love the magic of Christmas. Christmas lights, Christmas stories, family traditions and, of course, Santa and his reindeer. We even put reindeer food out this year, it worked, Santa made it.

Well, here are some pictures of our Christmas. We went ice skating, the kids loved it.

We got to watch the zamboni clean up the ice.

Hope didn't want this night to end. She outlasted us all.

After we went and got frosty's and fries at Wendy's!

All she wants for Christmas is her one front tooth. Perfect timing!

We also made gingerbread houses, Kate's was the fanciest.

Holy cow, handsome boy! He was dying to have a vest for Christmas,
then he spent some his Christmas money to buy a bowtie.

Just waiting, is it my turn yet.

Sophia asked Santa to bring make-up. That's all. But when I ran over her bike about two weeks before Christmas we let Santa know right away and he pulled through.

Kate got a camera and somewhat of a crazy hairdo!

Nick got a couple of video games. He played them all day!


Kimball got a John Wall jersey and is still waiting for his other jersey! Santa got a late start and the mailman must have been too busy! (Jan. 3rd, it still isn't here.)

I Know Santa Claus is Real!

I am cracking up! My little girls are in their room right now getting ready for bed. For some reason they are discussing whether or not Santa Claus is real. Sophia is saying, "I know Santa Claus is real because I have never seen dad have a beard or a white mustache. You just have to believe or he won't come." Kate is agreeing, "Yeah, dad doesn't have a white beard or mustache." Besides the obvious, mom and dad don't have enough money to buy all that stuff! So funny, I am not fond of having kids think that Christmas is about Santa. However, Santa does make it magical!!

Christmas Favorites

I absolutely love Christmas. I love the smells, the tastes, the sights, and the sounds of Christmas. I love the smell of cinnamon pine cones, Christmas trees, and the smell of cinnamon rolls baking. My favorite foods associated with Christmas are cinnamon rolls, yams with tons of brown sugar and butter, mmmm. I love holiday treats of every kind, but I really like to make and eat dipped pretzels. I also love hot chocolate, alot!!! I love seeing the lights on through everyone's windows and of course those who have them outside. I love going to temple square and seeing the lights and hearing the music. I don't necessarily love the snow, but I love the way it looks on the trees with lights underneath. I love listening to Christmas music. My family isn't crazy about the fact that I turn on Christmas music right after Halloween, but I just have to, its in my blood. I love to listen to Trans-siberian orchestra, Manheim Steamroller, and Jim Brickman. But the old family favorites...Anne Murray, Statler Brothers, and the Chipmunk's Christmas still remind of being a child at Christmas. I just love everything about this blessed holiday. But most of all I love the reason for the season and that is our Savior. How blessed we are to celebrate his birth and remember everything he stands for.