Christmas 2009 Top Ten

Christmas was Fun and Fabulous

again this year.

(Isn't it always??)

Here's our family's Top Ten

for Christmas 2009!

#10 - Family Traditions

Every year

on Christmas Eve

we have a little program.

It's one of many fun traditions

on an evening

that warms my heart.

#9 - Some Amazing Ornaments

Every year

the kids get a couple of ornaments

that are picked

especially for them.

Camille LOVED hers this year!

# 8 - The Best Stockings Ever!!

On Christmas Eve

everyone brings goodies

for everyone else's stockings

(not to be confused with

the stockings Santa fills at home!).

This year just happened to be

OUT OF CONTROL

(in a good way, of course)

and there were so many goodies

that all the kids got a stocking

AND a grocery bag

full of wonders.

Fun stuff like these...

bug eye glasses

that mimic a real bug's sight!

#7 - Some Serious Family Fun

My favorite presents are always the ones

that encourage the kids to play together.
This year was no exception -

we'll be continuing to have

some totally fantastic

Nerf gun wars around here!

#6 - More Family Fun

Lately the kids have been having fun

with their scooters -

but Camille didn't have one.

The boys are great at sharing,

but sometimes they ALL

want to play together (yippee!).

Now they can.

#5 - My Smart Girl

How fun is it that Camille
wanted a microscope for Christmas?

I love that girl!

#4 - A Boy and His Dad

Anyone who knows Brad
knows how thrilled he was
when Adam wanted some of these
this year.
Like father, like son?

We hope so!

#3 - A Genuine Smile

The most fun this year

was surprising Matt

with a gift we KNEW he would love,

but would never DARE ask for!

This is one of the truest smiles

that has crossed these lips

since the teenage years began!

#2 - Multi-generational Fun

I love this shot that Brad got
while I wasn't looking.
One generation helping another
figure out their identical Christmas presents.

Priceless.

And the #1 Best Thing About Christmas This Year -

Our Family!

I love these people.
What more can I say?

I hope you and your loved ones
had a very merry Christmas as well!

The Last Weeks of Christmas

Day Twenty-Three...

Decided to take President Monson's advice

this Christmas,

so we made some treat buckets...

gathered up these darling girls...

and these handsome boys...

took these cuties with us...

and went caroling to some of our

favorite older friends.

Such fun-

especially the visiting

and hot cocoa afterwards.

We have such a great ward family!

Day Twenty-Two...

Another crazy day for Mom.

All the Young Women

coming over tonight.

Must be time for another

do-it-yourself craft!

Day Twenty-One...

Watched a new movie.

Found out we don't love watching

movies of plays.

Day Twenty...

My mom got these fun puppets

for Christmas this year,

so we had a great puppet show about

the First Christmas.

Loved it!

Day Nineteen...

We've collected lots of Christmas books

over the years,

and we used to read one a day -

but the kids are WAY too busy for that these days.

So, we just pick a couple of afternoons

and sit down with a few of our favorites,

including these...

Day Eighteen...

Sorry-

Can't show you any pictures...

(otherwise it wouldn't be a secret!)

Day Seventeen...

There's a stree in Vacaville

called Candy Cane Lane

where the people are all crazy

about decorating for Christmas

and every house looks something like this...

It's one of our favorite things we do every year.

Seriously, who wouldn't love all this?

Day Sixteen...

I've given up all hope

with the boys,

but I'm determined that Camille

will learn how to wrap a decent gift.

I try to make it fun for her

so she won't hate it-

here's today's effort...

Day Fifteen...

It's a busy Tuesday afternoon -

I've got Young Women's tongight

and I've got to have a bunch of cookies made-

but I knew certain children

would be looking forward

to their daily Christmas activity.

Luckily I had something

they could do all on their own...

Isn't it darling!

The Second Week of Christmas

Day Fourteen...

Ran around

and delivered special treats

to some good friends

and folks who've really blessed

our children's lives.

Andes Mint Cookies, Shortbread Drops,

Peppermint Bark, and Aunt Judy's Hershey Bar Fudge...

Wish we could bring you some!

Day Thirteen...

What did we do today?

Nothing special.

Just went to church,

watched the boys sing carols

to some lovely

older folks in a nursing home,

played legos,

and had family scripture study.

Actually,

probably the most special

and most truly Christmassy

{is that a word?}

day we've had yet.

Day Twelve...

Tonight was our Ward Dinner

(beautifully done!)

with a program based on this story

with a reader's theatre,

songs,

and a special

ballet performance.

A simply lovely evening.

Day Eleven...

Have you seen this one?

To my memory,

it's the first version of

A Christmas Carol

that I've seen.

Loved it!

Days Nine and Ten...

Is there an event

during the month of December

that makes you feel like

Christmas is really here?

I always feel like it's

officially Christmas

when the tree gets decorated.

We have so much fun putting up the ornaments

because every one has a special meaning.

Ornaments to celebrate how our life started...

how our family grew...

and what life is like today.

There are ornaments that celebrate

some of our favorite characters...

and there are those that celebrate special events.

This year the kids really got into making

"themed branches"

The Wizard of Oz...

Peter Pan...

and some of our favorite animals.

And, of course, there are some that are

speical favorites.
I love the glitter on this one,

and this scene from Noah's Ark

is painted on the

INSIDE of the ornament

from a tiny 1/4 inch hole.

Amazing!

Here's hoping your tree is decorated as well, and that you're ready for a very Merry Christmas.