~ Christmas ~

Here are our Christmas pictures! Although it was a somber time for our family, we still very much enjoyed the day and were ever so aware and grateful of all of our blessings, the blessings of each other, of family and the gospel the Savior makes possible for us! I'm so grateful it turned out to be magical for the kids and for us as parents, watching the joy in our boys adorable faces. Christmas Eve we had a big Italian spaghetti and meatball dinner at my parents. My grandma Helen, pictured below, started this tradition years ago when my siblings and I were little because she said it was the only thing we'd eat a lot of! My mom and dad tackled the dinner this year and it was amazing. My dad it such a great cook! It gave Grandma a break. She's going to be 80 next week! The kids got into their new matching pj's after and opened their gifts from the grandparents, as tradition as we used to do it, which is fun having like two Christmases. Christmas morning was priceless.My family came over bright and early to watch the boys open presents. The boys got some wonderful and fun things from Santa, mom and dad, grandma and grandpa AND great- grandma and grandpa! Jonathon got star wars, power rangers, and thundercat toys and.... a new cool bike! Caleb got a little kitchen, shopping cart, and baskets full of play food and utensils. He loves it. I love playing kitchen with him everyday. He's at that age where he's loving putting things in and out of things, opening and closing, etc. I got a big beautiful new jewelry box from my love, I have been wanting one for so long. I kind of shopped for myself all the through the holidays and didn't expect more. Especially since we bought my plane ticket to New York for spring break, in which I'll be going with my best friend Chelsea. We are so excited and it will be another wonderful thing to check off my bucket list!!! Jake got regular manly things... cologne, a new tie, shirts and.... I surprised him with tickets to see the Harlem Globetrotters basketball game, which he's wanted to go see since a little kid. I made my mom and new photo calendar that has become a tradition, she loves pictures of her grandkids :) And for everyone else gift cards are the way to go, who doesn't love a gift card out to eat or to the movies!? It was a wonderful time, even with the sorrow of losing Jake's brother. But we felt peace as we focused on the Savior's birth and meaning in our lives. Jake spoke in church Christmas morning. He amazes me, it was so wonderful, I'm so grateful for him.  I'm so grateful for our kids too, they truly made it special. We don't know what we'd do without their joy and laughter!