Merry Christmas! (one month late!)
I'll skip over the part where I explain how bad I am at this whole blog thing.. and go right into the festivities.
Ben met Santa for the first time at our ward Christmas party. He didn't really care either! He was too busy watching all of the kids fighting for a place in line.
Much like last year, Sarah didn't care for Santa either. Wouldn't even look at him. Then again, she rarely seems excited to see anyone. She is my "angry" child. She's pretty much content to sit around and glare at you. Hopefully this is just a phase, if not, we may not survive her teenage years!
That brings us to Maddy. She didn't hesitate to tell Santa EVERYTHING on her mind that day. From what she did when she woke up to that very minute. Plus what she wanted for Christmas. At least one of my children gave him the time of day!
This was our Christmas card picture. Ben looks so much older than he is... I can't even believe it! Thank you to Grandmama and Granddaddy for the awesome pj's. My kids are cute, but they are even more adorable in matching jammies! I grew up with the tradition of recieving Christmas jammies on Thanksgiving night, and of course I want to keep that tradition with my kids. I was having a hard time finding some this year, so I am very grateful for my mother- in- law, and her ability to bargain shop.
I take the kids to the library for story time every week. I started back when Maddy was 10 months old! So pretty much everyone there has seen Maddy grow up, followed by Sarah, and now Ben! They have holiday parties for pretty much every holiday, it's pretty fabulous. The girls enjoyed themselves during the Christmas party this year, and even got to make reindeer hats.
Christmas Eve was much like Thanksgiving. We spent time with both families. We started out with Joseph's family, then finished the evening with my family.
The girls got to make gingerbread houses out of graham crackers. I helped Maddy put hers together, but horror of horrors!! It fell down, almost immediately! She was angry to say the least... Sarah on the other hand, she didn't even want to make a house. She just wanted to eat the candy! 
When we got back to our house... it was LATE! We needed to get the kids to bed so we could set out the gifts. I put Ben down on the floor so I could go get his PJ's and when I came back, this is what I found. Sarah, actually being nice to her brother, and keeping him company! He seems pretty happy about it too!
The day has finally arrived... Christmas Day!! The kids had WAY too many gifts. I guess that's what happens when you go to second hand stores, and you start shopping in September. 1) you forget what you've purchased 2) The money goes farther, so it doesn't seem like you're spending that much, therefore... buying too much. Well, I need to keep a better list of what I bought. (A goal for next year) The goal was to have a Santa gift, and three gifts under the tree for each child. When it came down to wrapping presents, it ended up being 3 for each child, plus 3 or 4 gifts for "all of us". Just to make sure it was even! I think the girls enjoyed themselves though! They got a really neat play kitchen, with new foods (they already have play food) and dishes too. (I got a GREAT deal on Craigslist!) I didn't think Sarah would be that into it. Boy was I wrong! She loves it so much, more than Maddy even.
Sarah, My crazy hair girl (the red eye really adds to the craziness!)
Ben, enjoying the new truck he found in his stocking
Sarah was in love with the microwave... it makes real sounds when you push the buttons.
Ben got a plush tool box. Great for chewing on.
Maddy and Sarah LOVE the window on this kitchen. We play restaurant, and the waitress picks up the orders at the window... it's great!
Ben didn't care about opening the presents, as much as playing with the bows on them. It could have entertained him ALL day!
I love this Melissa and Doug role play outfit...I love it even more knowing how much money I saved on it!
Like the day before, we spent some of Christmas Day with Joseph's family, and some with mine. It's crazy to say the least... but fun. Maybe next year we should try staying home! I bet I wouldn't feel so stressed out!
I'm grateful for family living so close, so that I don't have to be without them during the holidays. Something I know not everyone gets to do. I'm grateful that we have this time each year to reflect on the reason we celebrate Christmas.
I was eating cookies one day when Maddy asked me if she could have another one herself. I told her "Sure!, eat as many as you want!" and she looked at me in a puzzled sort of way, and said "Why?" (I don't normally let her have more than 2, and she KNOWS that.) Well, I said "Because Christmas is for eating cookies!" She looked at me and said "I thought Christmas was about Jesus' birthday?" I instantly felt horrible, and had to explain myself. I'm glad that Maddy corrected me, and reminded me of how easy it is to forget what it is we're celebrating.
