Bright and Early Christmas Morning!

Christmas Eve went into the late hours and Christmas morning started in the early hours. As for mom there was no sleep to be had. Warning! Not a good idea. There was a reason to our madness.

The kids and I decided to give Chris and his family a surprise and fly him out to Utah for a few days. We happen to get a great deal on a 7:00 a.m. flight out to Utah, Christmas day. The kids and I were dazzled with the thoughts of surprise Chris's family would have when he showed up at their door. I figured no big deal the kids and I can get up early and have our families little Christmas a few hours earlier.

I don't know where the time went in preparing for Christmas. I was even off to a good start and had our Christmas lights up before Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, it went down hill from there and I ended up wrapping every one's presents Christmas eve night/Christmas morning. I then turned around and woke the family up early so, Chris could share Christmas morning with the family before he left.

Despite the business and lack of preparedness the night before Christmas, I have to admit what an amazing Christmas season we had. I loved celebrating the birth of our Savior and watching our small children grasp the meaning of Christmas. The sweet Christmas songs the children would hum, to the acts of kindness and service. I am so grateful for those with whom I was able to share the sweet and memorable Christmas with.

Elisa digging in her stocking

Surprisingly, the children all went to their stockings first and skipped past there present from Santa.

There is a noise coming from under the tree. Never mind if I squash these other presents, I must find the present that is ringing.

At last Samantha has found the culprit, a phone.

Honestly, I don't think I have seen Samantha this excited! You would have thought she had won the lottery.

She has been asking for a cell phone for the last few years. Her request seemed insane when Chris and I have only had a cell phones for the last 8-9 years. Surprisingly We found ourselves getting to a point where we thought it might be a good idea with all of Sam's extra curricular activities, chorus, art, student body council and swim team. It's given us a little peace of mind to know she can call us if there is a problem.

I love this picture of Chris enjoying Christmas morning and excited to go visit his family out in Utah.

Alex is extremely excited about his brand new toothbrush.

Elisa having fun showing off Daddy's new tie.

Nathan and Caitlin showing their new Christmas tree ornaments. Our family looks forward to Grandma Galloway's ornament tradition each year.


Caitlin showing off the Beautiful Barbie doll that Grammy had custom dressed.

Despite being woken up at 4:30 a.m. Elisa looks like she is loving every second of it.

Elisa is just a few weeks away from graduating from nursery and officially becoming a Sunbeam in the primary. Elisa has watched her older brother and sisters bring their own set of scriptures to church and has felt left out. At last she has joined the ranks of owning her own Book Of Mormon.

The girls have watched me get a few Willow Tree dolls over the last few years. They were excited to get their very own Willow Tree doll.

After the children are done exchanging presents to one and another, I love to watch as they give each other a big hug of Thanks!

More hugs of Thanks!

A present from Bro. Bosch.

Alex was so excited to get a present from his Primary Teacher, Bro. Bosch. You would have thought Alex had grown a foot or two because of it. Of course Alex loved the chocolate Kit Kat and his bright red car. More than that I was touched by the personal and inspiring note Bro. Bosch wrote for Alex.

and more hugs of thanks

Alex trapping his new little robotic bug.

Alex's favorite Super Hero, the Hulk.

Caitlin and her new Pink Flat Iron.

Brotherly love!

Elisa and her newest baby doll and pink shopping cart.

Sweet and Dainty as a FLOWER...

Poor Elisa had to endure her sisters idea of love and spend the next 5-10 minutes unwrapping her present.

Samantha's first time using her phone. I feel so privaged to have been the first one on her list of calls at 5 O'clock in the morning.

Christmas Eve with Friends

On Christmas Eve we gathered together over at the vonhack family with, Susan and Leta Redford ( mom and daughter we V.T.), Shaun's sister Jodi and the Roe Family. We enjoyed a great meal, gift exchange and the kids reinacted the Nativity. We had a fun and eventful evening.

The Three Amigo's

Susan and Lorraine
The Four Stooges

The Elite Teen Table

Friends

Given the chance Alex loves to hang out with his Dad.

Elisa was the star! No pun intended
She was taking notes the whole time and this is her interpretation

rein acting the star.Samantha was the inn-keeper.

Savannah enjoying

Kurt was the Wise Man

Our little Nativity Actors

Leta Redford

Susan Redford

Alex full of smiles

The vonHack children

Elisa and our newest Christmas Story

One of our little traditions we started with Samantha and her first Christmas was to add a new Christmas story to our collection each year.

Years ago my Mom started the traditon of a new pair of pajamas on Christmas Eve. My sister, Nichole and I always looked forward to a new pair of pajamas on Christmas Eve. Of course I have continued the same traditoin with our children.

Star

December Swim Meet

Samantha, Caitlin and Nathan had a quick swim meet on Saturday morning. After the meet the coaches surprised the kids with hot chocolate and a lite breakfast. They also had a photographer there taking family pictures under the water. We gave it a try with Alex and Elisa ,but had no success. On a happy note, Alex and Elisa had a fun time playing in the pool with the older three.

I know to some of you Christmas isn't the same without the cold weather and snow, but I guess that's why you're there and I am happily here. I couldn't have asked for more perfect weather. It was just days before Christmas and my children are comfortably swimming in an outside pool.

Samantha's favorite stroke is the freestyle

Nathan's favorite stroke is backstroke

Caitlin's favorite stroke is the breaststroke

Nathan has improved quite a bit since he started the swim team.

Sam and Nate

"Is solace anywhere more comforting than that in the arms of a sister"Alice Walker

Caitlin likes to come up with the most interesting poses for the camera

Swimmers take your mark...

Coach Joe started coaching the swim team this last summer and it's been amazing to see how much the swimmers times have improved.

Samantha getting ready to start the backstroke

Families are like fudge - mostly sweet with a few nuts. ~Author Unknown

Caitlin and her awesome butterfly!

"Posing for the camera only proves to others how beautiful I am.

I already know it." Carl Vonnoh

"I am as bad as the worst but, Thank Goodness,

I am as good as the best."

Elisa and Alex are troopers, they are always being dragged around to the older three kids activities. Today, they are happy to take part and join in the fun.