The Christmas Post

You know the awesome thing about getting a new camera? You get a new camera that you've wanted for years that takes amazing quality pictures, that you don't have to hold the batteries in as you take pictures. You know the bad thing about a new camera? Sometimes you don't know how it works and you accidentally delete all the pictures you took of Christmas Eve, Christmas day, and your sledding adventures. Yup. We did that. I'm still feeling that loss. We had some real keepers of Miles and Gwen being the most solemn Mary and Joseph for the family nativity, opening presents and smiles on sledding hills. I guess it will be ok because with the new camera, we took SO many pictures over the past couple of weeks. We wouldn't want to over-do it now would we?

I should have done better at posting regularly through the month because now I feel like I need to document every single detail from December, and I can't possibly remember them all. The kids are at such a fantastic age. They loved helping me pass out neighbor gifts and decorate Christmas cookies. They cautiously loved seeing Santa both at the ward party and at our joy school party. That's about the time Miles told Santa that for Christmas he wanted a magic white car that flies, then turns into another car, then turns into a light saber, and then back into a car. (We told him the elves probably couldn't make it, but, thankfully, he ended up being ok with that.)

Christmas eve, we spent with the Garners eating the traditional broccoli and cheese soup with rolls, singing Christmas songs together and reenacting the Nativity for the first time. When we came home, we found that the Elves had left us cute new Christmas pj's, complete with slippers, and they both got their keepsake book for the year. We left a cinnamon roll out for Santa and called it good.

We decided on a new Christmas tradition this year. Dad gets up and makes a fire and breakfast! What a great tradition, right? We had our traditional German pancakes and grapefruit and made the kids wait until we were all done eating before we could go and see what Santa brought. (A torturous tradition from my side. :) Miles' favorite gifts were a mini etch-a-sketch and Buzz Lightyear! Gwen's favorite gifts were her princess tea set and her dress ups, her favorite pastime these days. Then we went and opened presents at Grandma and Grandpa Garners, and later that night, we went and opened presents at Scottie and Lisa's house! We have some pretty fantastic neighbors who pretty much out-did Santa this year. They had a whole pile of presents just for Miles and Gwen. They were spoiled with art supplies and customized, homemade blankets, and then they gave Miles and bike. Yep, a bike. They gave Gwen a baby doll with bottles and diapers and she sewed the baby and Gwen matching outfits. Pretty unbelievable. We gave them some cookie dough. *Grimace* The Garners came over to watch a movie that night and the next day we enjoyed some sledding. Pretty picture perfect if you ask me.

Speaking of pictures, now you'll actually get some. And just so we're clear, no, Gwen did not have a booger hanging out of her nose the entire trip. She fell out of bed and got a nice owie right underneath her nose. Moving on. We headed down to SG the next day to spend New Year's with the Crosby side! We all get so spoiled every time we head down there. Rich and I slept in almost every day and the kids got eggos for breakfast almost every day. All of their cousins are so willing to be play-mates and my kids pretty much worship their cousins, so they were in heaven.


We spent a good chunk of time in SG. We had plenty of time to actually relax and do lots of fun things. We spent the better part of one day playing at a park and eating pizza.



We had a big family dinner for Christmas/New Years, complete with a fishing pond. Thanks Mom!


We spent a morning at the Children's Museum in SG. What a cool place, and all for free! Too bad it was SO busy. Afterwards we went and said hi to Great Grandma Crosby.



On New Year's we spent some time trying out Miles' new bike before heading over to Chris and A's for some festivities. I was loving that we could have so much outdoor time at this time of year! I only managed to snap a few pictures of the fam playing games. I couldn't believe our kids stayed up till midnight. They just kept going! By 11:45, Miles was a zombie and told us it was time to go home, "right now". So we skipped banging pots and pans and tucked the kids in.


Here's the last few pictures. Note to self: Try and be in some pictures the next time so your kids actually believe that you were there! Pictures aren't at the top of my list (obviously) at this point in the pregnancy. I'm big. Today a lady at church saw me walking in, looked at my belly and said, "HOLY COW!" Yep.
It was hard coming back to reality. It always is. Now it's back to the grind stone, which I love and hate. What a fantastic way to send off 2013. We spent so much time with loved ones on both sides of the family and are feeling mostly ready to get into 2014, thanks to all the TLC we receive from our families and those around us. Life is pretty good.