Christmas and visitors

Last week we celebrated Christmas with my family on Sunday, which threw off my schedule, which made me forget to blog. Ergh. Holidays really throw everything off. But this week went smoothly, and I didn't feel like Christmas day was a chaotic mess, so I'll call it a good holiday and continue on.

The family, minus Megan's clan, in my parent's newly wall-less great room.

Emilia was half-way through this book before the night was over. It's her second time reading it.

I really enjoyed our Monday night FHE activity. Our oldest nephew, McKay, entered the Missionary Training Center (MTC) about ten weeks ago. He's preparing to serve a mission for our church in Russia and will leave in about two weeks. We get the emails he sends each week, but we hadn't written to him yet, so for FHE, we all wrote him letters, and the girls--who had each made him a Christmas ornament for a gift--wrapped their gifts to him. It was cute to see what they wanted to say to him and it was a good time to reflect for me.

I'm really liking my new haircut.

On Tuesday, we took the letters and ornaments, along with some chips and salsa and homemade goodies, put them all in a box and went it to him at the MTC. Since we live near Provo, where the MTC is, we just had to take the box to a nearby shipping store and they delivered it same day. It worked out nicely. Apparently, the food wasn't the best choice (he said in his next email that he had way too much food sent to him), but hopefully the letters and gifts from his cousins were appreciated. We enjoyed making them.

I love my goobers. This one should have been born in Old Hollywood.

Tuesday night through Thursday evening were sort of a blur. We had gifts to wrap and I embroidered a handkerchief for Steve. I ended up having to go to Walmart not once but twice. Once on Christmas Eve.

I know. I'm that person. The one who has to shop on Christmas eve. In my defense, it was for milk and bread and the items from you-know-who that Steve didn't think to shop for before Christmas Eve. Not my fault, really. Right?

Joseph and Mary

Mary pondering the baby Jesus.

The angel and the shepherd (who nearly whacked the angel in the head with that crook)

The wise man presenting the baby with myrhh.

The evening of Christmas Eve, we drove up to the Watts' and had a simple dinner and a sparse Nativity "play." There were only our three girls to play all the parts, so it was interesting. Especially when our shepherd (played by Cecily) heard the Angel (Emilia) and ran screaming from the room. Of course, she ran back again a few seconds later, because it's just fun to run while wearing a head covering and holding a cane.

It was a white Christmas.

Christmas Day, we opened presents from Santa, watched Return of the Jedi (so the kiddos would be prepared to watch The Force Awakens this week--and really, when is watching Star Wars not a good idea?), opened presents from each other, put together a new Lego set, and had frozen pizza for dinner--because not having to make dinner is an awesome Christmas present if you ask me.

Then we had Saturday to prepare ourselves for the Coming of the Cousins. Which is really just Nicole and Tristan's three girls coming to stay with us for three days while they head off to the Caribbean.

Today was interesting, getting six girls 8 and under ready for 9 o'clock church. The hair alone took me nearly 1/2 an hour. But they were all good at church and played like rock stars at Grandma and Grandpa's house the rest of the day, so I feel like we're off to a great start.

One of my Christmas gifts. Socks are always welcome for this cold-footed girl.

Cecily told Steve to sleep (on the living room floor) and then laid down by him.

Of course, Mira joined in soon after.

And then there were three. :)