Christmas 2013

Christmas was one of the best in my memory. It was so fun to have a baby again. A baby who is more interested in the paper and the packaging than anything she got. I love that. The kids were super excited and cute. I had a special surprise for Brian this year that I was excited to give him and unbeknownst to me Brian had a HUGE surprise for me. It was the first time I have ever got a surprise this big and it was AWESOME!

 Christmas Eve was spent at the Droubays in Brigham. It was fun to be up there for the day visiting. We got home and had the kids open their jammies. Adin got very appropriate Mario jammies. I made Meg's pants this year. I had the darndest time finding anything cute in her size. It was late when I took this picture and Gracie was done. We left cookies, milk and carrots for Santa and it was off to bed.

 We made the kids promise not to come up till 7...6:45 at the earliest. It was 6:45. :)

 Stocking success! Adin wished for a DS game from Santa. He sent his letter off pretty late this year, but was super excited when he got a response in the mail from Santa. He got a new Knex set, a marble run, a HotWheels track, a lego set, a bow and arrow set, another DS game, and a pirate alarm clock. The family got a Wii this year and Adin, of course, is obsessed with that.

 And not sure what that means. This was the first year Meg was in the know. She was just getting to darn inquisitive and we worried that her constant questions would start to ruin it for the younger ones. She was the perfect helper and likes to feel like she is in on it was the older people. She surprised us this year by asking for a lot of toys. For a couple years now, she hasn't been that into any toys and has been more interested in crafts and art supplies. She got a Owl family with a store and a house (similar to calico critters), some littlest petshop, a sewing/craft kit, a big time rush CD, a bow and arrow set, a lego set and a zelf.

 The kids were spoiled and loved helping Gracie with her couple presents. She got a musical piano and this fisher price vanity. She also got a toy boat for the bath and a stuffed animal that has a light and music.

Brian got me the cutest jammies ever. Two of the cutest outfits ever and some cute shoes. I was feeling pretty spoiled. Then, he pulled out a fairly large box right at the end. I opened it having no idea what he could have possibly got. The first thing I saw was the word Nikon. OH.MY.HECK!!!! I have wanted and SLR camera for years, but lately I have wanted one desperately. I decided to start saving for one, but figured it would take quite a few years. Brian picked up a coworkers shift earlier in the month saying that he wanted to use the money to get something special for the kids. Since he did that last year, I thought that was totally normal. After the van fiasco, I figured his plans had changed because he didn't talk about it anymore and I assumed he planned to use the money for the van. Yes, I cried when I opened it. I am so over the moon happy about it. I used my money to buy a carrying case and a book to teach me how to use it. Just on the auto settings it's taking far better pictures than any other camera we have ever owned. So happy! Back before the car fiasco when I heard Brian was planning on using his extra shift money to do something for the kids, I thought how noone ever does anything special for him. I used some money I had tucked away for a rainy day and got him some new RayBan sunglasses. He was totally surprised and loved them. He looks kind of hot in them. :) 

I loved Christmas day this year. I just felt a lightness and a contentment the whole day. I felt so grateful for our little family. I felt so surprised and blessed by Brian's gift to me. It was a peaceful day. The kids kept busy the entire day with all their new things. We didn't go anywhere. I made my first turkey ever and we had a special Christmas dinner. I think that will become a tradition. It was just the most perfect Christmas day yet.