Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to everyone! This year Christmas was so nice--laid back and low key:) My parents started a new tradition and our gift from them was actually many gifts: they did the 12 days of Christmas. Our kids had so much fun (and so did us parents!) opening a new present everyday. I think we inadvertently trained Jonathan to thank grandma and grandpa every time he opens a present...lol! We really loved all the gifts and can't wait to see what they come up with next year.

We got to spend Christmas eve with Andrew's family at his sister, Crystal's, house. She made the most wonderful chicken and we had treats a plenty! Grandpa Stott brought stockings for all the grandkids. The boys loved it...Jonathan got a glow stick in his and thinks it is a light saber--what a nerd;) The only thing that was a little sad was that we got home late and Jonathan was asleep so he missed out on putting the cookies and carrots out for Santa. We got the kids in bed and ready for Santa to come before it was too late though!

Christmas morning we woke up and started the morning off by watching part of the DVD "Joy to the World" so that we could focus the day on the birth of our Savior and the gift that we were all given through that. Our kids were totally into it and it made my heart joyful! Then we went to the living room to check out the fun in store. This year we did things a little more low-key and I made most of the gifts. The kids thought they were great. Here is what they ended up with:

For all of the kids I made monogrammed bath towels (hoods for the little ones) and they got the movie and Wii game Toy Story 3.

Adrian and Luke both got the beginnings of coin collections, a checkers game I made for them (vinyl on a 12x12 tile with metal washers for pieces that I stamped their names into), some boxes to store their rock/shell/whatever collections in that I put their names in vinyl on, new pajamas, and a Firefighter Wii game.

Adrian got an mp3 player and Luke got an Army guy Wii game.

All the boys got new lightsabers (now I can throw out the mangled ones!!!)

Jonathan I made a felt quiet book for (took FOREVER and I will never do a project like this one again!), a couple of memory games I made with stickers, cardstock, and lamination, a vest I sewed, some ties I made and a cute snake I made out of an old tie and stuffed with rice (thank you "a girl and her glue gun!") and of course some little galactic heros star wars characters (Han Solo, Chewbacca, a storm trooper, and C3PO).

Reagan didn't really have a clue what was going on, but we still included her:) She got a crib toy, clothes, and some hair bows I made. She also got a sling for me to carry her in, but in all honesty that was really a gift to myself!

Andrew got me the cutest apron with matching hot pads and a few different cooking utensils that I have been wanting.

I got Andrew a handheld gps for geocaching. He has been talking about getting started on this little hobby for a while now and I thought it would be nice to surprise him with it. Now he has something to do in his "spare" time that will be a nice break from studying! I am beginning to rethink the gift though since he has been going every single day to find new caches...what have I done?!

Adrian and Luke made Andrew a little book that he can keep track of their geocaching finds and make notes to help them in the future. It turned out really cute!

After we opened the presents at our house we went over to my parent's house for the gift exchange between siblings. We mostly gave scentsy things as gifts, but I did make my mom an FHE box to go along with the binder I made her for her birthday and I made my dad DVD's of all the videos he took on their trip to Guatemala and Belize. I forgot to mention that we drew Hayden's name for the Extended Weitzel Christmas and I made her a hooded scarf. I think it turned out super cute and I really should get a decent picture of her wearing it to share! And I made for my grandparents a family tree of sea shells. Lots of work since the family is so huge.

After all the fun of opening presents we gorged ourselves on a delicious breakfast and treats galore. Andrew took Luke to his mom's in the afternoon and we spent the evening playing with all our new things and just being joyful!

Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!