Christmas Day...

We opened our traditional Christmas Eve jammies.

Jer and I were worried that Bode would try to sneak downstairs early. So Jer rigged a booby trap. Fishing wire that rang by our bed when anyone tried to go over the baby gate at the top of the stairs. The bell rang at 12:00. He dashed back into his room. I came to check on him. He stuttered and asked me if that was so he'd trip down the stairs.

Happy girl experiencing a Christmas as a two year old.

Loving Christmas morning. I love how magical it all is.

All she wanted was an easybake oven. She has told everyone that she got it. I love this picture. Completely un-posed just pure Christmas present joy.

We spent the rest of the day at the Brooks's house. We are lucky to have family to spend the day with.  Every year the Brooks's hide 2 pickle ornaments in the tree, find a pickle, get $20 bucks. Jared and I found the pickle :) Jeremiah had the whole day off. It was really nice to spend the whole holiday with him.

Bode's Christmas Post...

This christmas eve I got p-jays. I had to go asleep. I went right  to sleep. I was so excited. At 12:00 I woke up. I went to go over the baby gate, a bell rang! I ran into my bed. In the morning at 6:00 we opened up presents. From Santa I got Skylanders swap force. I got christmas money and some other cool stuff.  

Christmas Eve...

I worked really hard to get everything all together before Christmas Eve so that I could just enjoy the day. Most years Jer takes the kids out all morning so I can clean, run to the store and wrap the presents. I made sure all of that was done and it was great! We went on a hike all morning. We went out to pick up Jer's trail camera. It wasn't the an easy hike but the kids were troopers. I was afraid someone was going to end up covered in cactus, but we lucked out. No injuries. It was very steep. I carried Piper on my back the whole way. She thought it was really fun to fling her head back and forth behind me. That was fun... she only made me loose my balance once. Of course it was on the steepest part...

After wearing us all out in the morning we came home, took naps and got ready to spend the evening at the Brooks's home. We ate food and played. Bode begged to go home to sleep so Santa could come!

Traditions...

There are few things that I feel are necessary to have a successful Christmas. We must have biscuits and gravy, watch a Christmas Story and eat cinnamon rolls. 

Well Jeremiah is not a fan of biscuits and gravy. We almost always had this on Christmas morning after all the presents were open. I tried to keep this one going but again, Jer is not a fan. So I have decided to make this out Christmas Eve breakfast! Yum!

We didn't own the movie. Normally we would have watched it nonstop on TBS. We don't have cable anymore so I needed to buy it. I was going to buy it at the beginning of December but just forgot. So 2 days before Christmas I just figured I'd go get it, nope, not so much! It was sold out at walmart. I was limited on time so I couldn't go to any other store than Fry's by our house. They were out! :( I search through all the dvd's and it was gone. I went back to get powdered sugar (for our cinnamon rolls) and there was one copy sitting with the powdered sugar! It was meant to be!

Watching out movie eating :)

The kids really watched the movie this year. Piper even laughed when Scott Farkus came on the screen.

Christmas Sunday...

I love the Sunday that is around Sunday. I love singing Christmas music and hearing the story of Christ birth.

I just wish Piper like to sit and enjoy sacrament meeting too...

She kinda would rather roam the hall or scream then listen.

The kids got new outfits from Grandpa Alex for christmas. Bode loves is suit!

Temple lights...

For the Merrill family Christmas get together this year we went to the temple to see the lights, then back to a hotel for pizza and playing. It was a great way to spend the evening with family.

Missing the Papa's

Good looking group of kids!

Blurry pic but we were laughing. When did my little niece turn into a young lady?

We were also able to celebrate my dad's 60th birthday! Happy Birthday Dad!

Makes a mamma happy when the older brother takes care of younger siblings.

Little gifts...

This year I just really did not want to bake neighbor gifts. Seemed like too much work. So I bought hand soap and attached a cute printable. The kids loved running around to our neighbors.