Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas. It was full of little boys, spending time with family, and eating lots of good food!

On Christmas Eve we started a few new "traditions." We'll see if they stick.

When I was a little girl, my grandad would come to town (maybe every other year?) and take us to a fancy restaurant. We really never went to a fancy restaurant other than those times. We would dress up in our fancy dresses and talk about restaurant manners so we didn't embarrass my mom in front of her dad. It was such a fun tradition for me, and we scarcely even take our kids out to eat, let alone trying to make it fancy.

So I exhorted my mom to start that tradition. There is slim pickin's on restaurant choices, but Beehive Grill was open on Christmas Eve, so we went there. Dave reserved us the back room, so we were all by ourselves in there. We dressed up our boys in their "fancy clothes" and we all dressed up as well. The food was great, and it was a lovely atmosphere. It was so much fun, she thinks she'll start it as a tradition as well.

Another thing that we did was go caroling to a few of our friends. I'm not a huge fan of that one, but it is really important to Dave, and I've squeezed my way out of it in the past years, so we did it. It was nice...... sort of.

Christmas morning was a little rocky. I sent Isaac down to bed with a phone so he could call me in the morning when he woke up. Instead, I got phone calls all night long as he woke up at 3 am and consequently Dawson too. I wouldn't let them come upstairs, but then they got hungry, so I sent food down with them. We planned to start our morning at 7 am, but we wanted to wait for Grammy to get here. At 7:30 they still weren't here, and Dawson was on the stairs crying. Finally we let them open their presents, and Grammy, Josh, and Kate came a few minutes later.

Santa brought them just what they wanted. Lego Indiana Jones 2 and Lego Harry Potter for the Wii. And remote control Buzz Lightyears for the babies. They got an air hockey table for the basement (which was given to us by a friend, and strategically saved for Christmas) and beard beanies for the older boys. They also each got a little toy: Isaac- Bakugan, Dawson- Iron Man, Henry- Power Ranger.

The day got a little rocky when Dawson accidentally broke Isaac's Bakugan. Isaac (being extremely tired) lost it, telling us how terrible his Christmas was. Then Dawson accidentally kicked Isaac in the face and Isaac declared it the "worst Christmas ever." I REALLY hate that bratty attitude, I wanted to strip him naked and throw him in the snow so he could really understand the worst Christmas ever.

Another interesting thing to note was that the remote control Buzz was labeled for ages 6 and up. So Dave thought it might be best to wait, and not open up G. Jesse's Buzz. G. woke up later than the other boys and came out to find his brother playing with a remote control Buzz??? He yanked the remote out of Henry's hand and said, "MINE!" So we quickly opened his Buzz and he stood there in the kitchen exercising his thumbs with that remote, and wondering who came up with the 6+ age limitation. He is a smart kid, but come on. Kids now a days are born with a remote control in their hand. He loves his Buzz.

Grammy gave the boys Lightning McQueen sleeping bags, backpacks, and underpants. A little sleepover kit. They can't wait to sleep over there, and ask me about it all the time. We LOVE having Grammy live close by.

At lunch time, we went over to Grandma Stevie's and ate a tremendous lunch of Prime Rib. Everyone was there (except the Alaskans and the Swiss members of the family- we missed you!) After lunch, there was a program which included talents and a nativity. And finally the crowning event.... present opening. **Angelic singing voices***

Isaac and Dawson got snorkle gear and remote control cars, Henry and G. got Woody and Jessie. (I could only find one Woody in the entire Christmas season) Funny stories there. Dawson's present was gigantic. I ordered it off of Amazon (with help from my dear friend Julie!) and it was $20.00. I figured it was an average $20.00 remote control truck. But it is HUGE. A few days later it went up to $60.00, and I realized it was a special truck.... So we were worried Isaac (Mr. Competition) would be jealous. And he was. Until he opened his. His is one of those light up tornado trucks that spin all around. Then Dawson was jealous of him. Uggghhhh!!!! And then I decided there would be no presents next year!

In my older boys brattiness, I told them they were really lucky! Not all kids have such good Christmases. But they didn't believe me. Why? Because Santa goes to all kids, (not just the kids whose parents have money... or credit). I rolled my eyes, and threw up my hands. How can I argue with them?

Henry and G. were delightful, and thrilled with their presents. G. loves his Jessie doll, and has clutched her as he goes to sleep at night. When he can't find her he says, "Er Jessie go?" And Henry loves his Woody doll.

And Dave and I got the best presents of all. From my mom and Kate we got a gift card, and a gift certificate for a weekend away (babysitting). And from Lauren, we got a La Caille gift certif and a night of babysitting certif. Wow! Does it get much better than that? Babysitting by those who love your children, is one of the very best presents. Oh yeah, and I'm leaving them the babies in January while I go to Disneyland. Just for the days, but still, very valuable.

And from Gordon and Stevie we got some cash, which we purchased a new picture of Christ to hang in our home. We have wanted to get it for a few years now, and we love having it. (So does G. who points to it 400 times a day and says "Jesus" and "I yu Jesus" (love). He also loves the Bauple, or temple, and he tells me about that 400 times a day too)

It was a wonderful Christmas full of gift giving. We did manage to fit the Savior into it as well. We did our nativity as well as read the Luke 2 passage. Dave gave a talk in church about how you cannot separate Bethlehem from Gethsemane. How we are really celebrating the birth of a baby because of what he became and what he did for us. That dwelt in my heart throughout the week, and made it a more meaningful Christmas for me.