Love Always: Christmas

Christmas was wonderful this year. It was nice and low key. We just stayed home, hung out and relaxed. With life as busy as it is I relish in the moments to pretty much do nothing. We changed up our Christmas eve tradition a little bit. Our usual tradition is to get take out and watch the polar express while we eat and read the story of Christ's birth(this includes the story from the bible and watching a snippet of the "Joy to the World" dvd where it shows what was going on with the Nephites during Christs birth.) and reading the Night Before Christmas. Growing up in my family we would read a story called, "Why the Chimes Rang" on Christmas eve. In my own little family we read that story but usually the night before Christmas eve. This year I wanted to start doing it on Christmas eve like the tradition I had growing up.

So, we changed things up a bit. We decided to read the the scripture story before we went to get our food. Tyson's family usually comes briefly on Christmas eve and I wanted to do the most important part before people came. The kids get more excited and hyper as the night wears on. Of course that excitement is to be expected. It worked wonderfully to do the Christmas story when it was just us and they weren't as crazy yet. The kids were more attentive and we could feel the spirit.

We did the rest like we usually do, ending with reading "Why the Chimes Rang". It was a nice night. When the boys went to bed I told them we wouldn't go downstairs before 6:30. I know, I'm a mean mom! Matt came in our room several times throughout the night. The first time at 3:45. What?! That was way to early. He was more anxious than all the boys. We had to wake Kellen up and they all came and plopped on our bed while they waited for Tyson to give the okay to come down. My dad would make us wait forever, at least it felt like it. It's part of the tradition. :) Everyone loved there gifts and it was a fun day.

I can't believe it is already come and gone. Bring on the new year!