December was full of party's and all kinds of festivities!
2 ward parties, a formal Messiah sing-a-long at a members home, an open house with some new friends, birthday, family and more friends!
One random night Colby, took the kids to a Christmas party at an office he refers people too. He said it was awesome! There was all kinds of food, Santa, elves, games, etc
I wasn't able to go because I was in charge of a women's ensemble for the ward Christmas show and we had rehearsal that evening.
So when I came home Eden has this little gem on her face!
One of my favorite Christmas traditions growing up was sitting down as a family and frosting sugar cookies together. I tell you what we got pretty detailed and came up with some sweet creations. In fact my brother had decorated one so good one year that my mother kept it for like 5-6 years!!!
So I wanted to continue the tradition with my little family and this was the first year we included the kids.
Eden loved "painting" the cookies.
The timing was also just right that my cousin came up from the Springs for my birthday weekend. So while she was there I put her to work and we made all kinds of goodies! I am so grateful she was there because it was so much easier having the help! I really love having her close by!
Once we have made all our goodies then we make up a bunch of plates and deliver them to people! So I may make a ton, but we never keep it all. We like to get rid of them and share them with friends and family. There is no way I could eat them all myself anyway!
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We started a new tradition this year with Eden. Last year for my birthday I received a wooden manger about 2 ft tall. Whenever, Eden is good or shares or is polite she was able to put one piece of straw in the manger to prepare it for when baby Jesus would come.
(She did pretty good with it. I just wish I would have taken a picture of it.)
Then Christmas morning we brought it upstairs by the big tree to remind us that HE is what it is all about. We hope to develop this tradition a little more as they get older.
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Christmas Eve came and we were having a special visitor. But before our visitor came we had Eden open her 1 gift that we open on Christmas Eve and it was a cute little set of Christmas Pj's with matching robe and slippers.
Not too long after there was a knock at the front door! Who else could it be than......
SANTA! (aka Poopa)
Eden has never had an issue with Santa. In fact she walked right up to one in an airport. But Axel on the other hand....
Never to old for Santa
Axel finally warmed up to him but only if daddy held him too.
They made me do it!
Once Santa left we got out our special Santa plate and mug and left cookies and milk for Santa.
FINALLY!!! Christmas morning came and it was a fiasco?!?!?!
Axel got some new wheels but if you watch the video I think he likes the sounds effects more than the jeep!
So this Christmas solidified it for us. We are going to be doing things much different next year. Colby and I have always wanted to switch things up but just have never taken the initiative to do it. But after this Christmas we decided we gotta fix this. Next year, we are cutting way back on gifts and then create a new tradition for going somewhere that day to give service or deliver
things to others who are in greater need than us.
We want our children to remember that it truly is about giving and not spending ALL DAY opening presents.
We hope that you all had a memorable and Christ-centered Christmas.
From our family to yours Merry CHRISTmas and wishing you a year full of growth and incredible memories.
