It’s the most wonderful time of the year!
Seriously!
I love Christmas. I love that Micah loves it as much as I do. I love that my kids are really starting to get it. I love the presents, the service, the music, the family and especially the 1,440 minutes I get to spend celebrating the actual day. And get this — we do Micah’s family’s Christmas on Christmas Eve day — so we get to double our pleasure. It works so well for us so that we don’t feel rushed back and forth, and can just sit and relax with both of our families.
This year, I had a realization. I am blown away at what my mom does for Christmas. Talk about a lot of hard work — and some serious organization. This year, she sent boxes to Seth, Shem, Nathan, Ashley, and David (plus respective families). Those boxes included presents galore that all had to be bought, wrapped, organized and shipped. Then she started in on the Christmas in California. Then there are the meals she prepares. The rolls she makes. The countless nights of wrapping. The thought that goes into what each person would really enjoy. It is mind blowing. It is no small fete, and yet she handles it with grace year after year. And yet — she never disappoints.
So our Christmas started at the Denisons where Navy showed up with a beautiful big red bow that was camouflaging a wad of gum in her hair. Apparently, she went to sleep with gum in her mouth, and when we were running late — I definitely didn’t have time for gum removal. We had delicious food that Micah and his mom prepared. We then did our annual gift exchange and gift giving. The kids were excited to get their presents, and Scout got in the “where is my next present” mode. (We had a little talk about that one later.) At about 7:00 the kids were running on fumes, and we headed back to our house for our Christmas Eve festivities.
It started with P.J.’s. How cute are these two in their matching striped pajamas. And amazingly enough — My mom got these outfits from two different places about two months apart.
My mom changed it up a bit for the girls this year, and got us all matching robes. Tristen turned for the picture — because she didn’t listen to my mom and get ready for the evening. Thank goodness she painted her nails a few days back.
We then did the cousin’s gift exchange. Scout got tons of cute things from Trey - but the cutest was his homemade memory game that Trey did completely on his own. He is the nicest boy you will ever meet — and Scout adores him!
We then put the kids to bed and did the sibling’s gift exchange. I had Brook, and I went practical this year and gave him what he wants most — a shirt, a fan and a pterodactyl. (All folding work was done solely by me.)
Tree gifts.
Translation — they are usually great things in small packages, and they are highly coveted amongst the family.
Then the boys brought in all of the presents, worked on a few things that needed to be put together, and headed off to Harbor House for their annual Christmas Eve shakes. (How cute is it that Shem started the same tradition with Landon this year in Colorado, and Seth made them at home for him and his boys.) While they were gone, all of the girls sit and watch me as I perfect the above masterpiece. I had three trees to work around this year, but I was up to the challenge. (Obviously — look above!) Afterward, Tristen picks out a gift for all of the girls to open before the boys get home. Once they got home, they hung out for a while and then hit the sack — but not Micah. Micah was a trooper, and stayed awake for his comedy hour. He demanded that I open my gifts, so Tristen, Megan and my mom stayed up with us as I did.
TALK ABOUT SPOILED!
You should have seen my loot this year. He went to heaven on earth — AKA the business Costco in Vegas and loaded up on restaurant supply stuff for me. So if anyone is looking for 500 mini umbrellas to put in your drinks — I’m your girl! Or does anyone have a chill and need a hand warmer? Guess who has her very own entire box of them. Eat your heart out everyone who reads this! I was seriously SO stoked when I got it all, and my mom, Megan and Tristen were dying over how excited I was. Or they were dying at Micah who literally became the most hilarious person you have ever heard for that hour in the wee hours of the night. We finally headed off to bed at about 2:00, and hit the sack hard!
The next morning, the kids got to open their stalkings. Notice they look more like overstuffed sausages than stalkings. Now you might remember that I had nothing to do with these. In fact, not only did Megan bring extra loot…..this year, she actually shopped for them and what they would want. I told you she was my secret elf! The kids were in love! But not as in love as I am! Thanks sister.
As fun as everything is on Christmas…..the thing that is at the top of the list is the COUSINS! Scout and Navy are infatuated with them!
Can you believe that Micah wasn’t done the night before? My main man surprised me with exactly what I asked for — poster paints! I told him I wanted the same kind I used in high school…and lucky me! (Let’s be honest — I actually sent him the link and list of colors I would prefer.)
I came across this Lladro a few months ago, and I knew it would be the perfect gift for my mom who is impossible to buy for. It was from Scout — our future missionary. And great things must think alike because what did I open this year — two Lladros from my mom!
What would Christmas be without a few joke gifts. My mom has no part in these, but Tristen and Seth and I love this stuff. This year, I got to open Tristen’s nasty hair, (black hair being my phobia) and I literally threw up in my mouth when I saw it. How nasty is this. I can barely type as I know this is on my computer screen.
Scout got a load of movies this year. I got him this set of famous Americans movies that are awesome. I have already read to him about some of these guys, and he loves him a little history.
The kids loaded up on Ski stuff this year because we have a big ski vacation planned in January.
Tristen was the hair dresser of the day. She woke up to get Sissy’s gum out of her hair. Then, she went and washed her hair and brought her down as Cindy Loo Who. Then she took Scout and did his hair as Mr. Loo Who. After my mom couldn’t take it anymore, Tristen went in to wash Scout’s out and fix Icka’s hair again. This time she came out as a Utah native. I was dying! And so every single picture this year (minus the ones where she had gum in her hair) are hideous of my girl. But who cares — it’s not the hair the makes the person! Right?
We took a break for dinner, and Sissy took turns eating off of everyone’s plates. Don’t you love this girl who has been told a thousand times to not get on the table — and she does it without flinching. At least Scout would look around to make sure nobody was watching. Sissy is unapologetic. Merry Christmas Siss — this time you don’t get in trouble.
It had been a long few days for my kids, and Scout broke at about 6:00. I talked to him and said that he was tired and might need a rest. He immediately got it together and said, “Mom, I am ready to play with my cousins” in the happiest voice he could muster. I sent him on his way, and he was happy the rest of the night.
Icka got her very first tree gift this year.
She finally is in sync with her aunts and cousins and has her necklace. She loves it, and is “soft” with it. And when I took it off of her, she came to say, “Where my necklace” as she pointed to mine.
And finally — Micah asked where his tree gift was all day long. So he finally got his at the end of the night. WOW — what a gift. He just might have gotten the best gift of the day. At least Bryan Brockbank thinks so!
———-
Merry Christmas.
Thanks everyone who made our year great!
———-
Oh — and did I mention that I got a sweet new real-deal camera this year?
I’m sure you already knew — based on my fabby pictures!
| DESIGN BY