Christmas

On Christmas Eve we had a nice dinner of ham, cheesy potatoes, green beans, rolls and pumpkin pie.  We invited Grandpa Dottie and Grandpa Don over.  Then we let the kids open their traditional gift of PJ's.  It was simple night.  Our Christmas "rule" is that the kids cannot go out to see what Santa brought until they wake up.  But their rooms are on the opposite side of the house from our's so the deal is that they have to go to Cody's room and wake him up and then he can call us from his cell phone to wake us up.  Guess what time the phone rang-3:00AM!  Cayden woke up and woke up Cody and Cody had him call us.  The phone woke me up and I looked at the clock.  Then I calmly answered the phone and Cayden said "can we get up now?"  I said "Cayden it is 3:00 in the morning.  It is way too early to get up.  GO BACK TO BED!"  He said "ok mom" and then we made it until 6:30am.  Cody's favorite gift was his new mini-fridge complete with a 24 pack of Diet Coke.  Connor's favorite gift was new tent.  Caleb's favorite gift was his new cell-phone that we wrapped and put under the tree and then we called it so that it would ring when he was looking for another present to open.  Cayden's favorite gift was his pillow pet.  All the boys got pillow pets and they were a hit!  There lots of Legos and new DVD's as well as flashlights, and Wally's giftcards.  Santa is always so good to us.  We then had a good breakfast of pancakes, grits,and bacon and sausage that Connor cooked outside on the BBQ grill because it always stinks up the house too much for me.  The kids watched their new movies while Don and I napped.  Then we got ready for our 2nd Annual Progressive Dinner with Don's side of the family.  We seriously ate for 3 and half hours straight!  We started at Dena's house and some great appetizers of bruschetta, and brie and pears and some tasty meats and cheeses..  While we waited the kids played Just Dance on the Wii. 

The plan with the Progressive Dinner is help alleviate the stress on just one person providing a whole meal at their home and then we don't have to haul everyone's gifts to someone elses house we just open the carious gifts wherever we are.  After Dena's house we came to our house and had soup and salad and rolls.  By the time we left here we super stuffed already!  Grandpa Don and Grandma Dottie left a little earlier than the rest of us to get going on the main menu course of grandpa's pasta.  Taylor, Cody and I started a game of Phase 10 while the others chit-chatted and watched basketball.  After our yummy pasta dish, Dave and Amy brought over 2 super super yummy desserts-a red velvet layer cake and a whip cream cake that was AWESOME.  The kids opened their gifts from Grandma and Grandpa and we all lounged around with our swollen bellies.  Don's parents gave us a camp stove which we love and now we can give theirs back since we have been "borrowing" it for the last few months.  We always have such a good Christmas and we are have so many blessings.  I am so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ and for His restored gospel that I am so blessed to have part of my life.  I am grateful that we can celebrate more fully His birth, His Life and remember His example and sacrifice for us at Christmas.