Christmas 2014
So....I'm a little behind. Writing my Christmas blog post on January 29th. Oh well, life has been full so that's just the way it is.
We spent Christmas at home this year welcoming an additional 20 people for the Holidays! It was a full house but so much fun. Grandma and Grandpa Buck flew in, along with Grandma Redding and Aunt Jeanne. Mom and Dad flew in and were so happy to see Jason again after his first semester at BYU. Nolan and Lisa and their girls flew in from Rhode Island and Josh and Erica and Matt and Liz left their close, comfy houses behind for a few days and we all piled in, enjoying the opportunity to be under the same roof for a few days!
Mom came a week early and I loved spending time with her. She came to a few Christmas programs, baked like a maniac, helped get all the rooms ready and helped shop and prep all the food for the big group. It was fun to have some time with just my Mom before the crowds came. Sometimes I feel a little selfish because I don't want to share her time, especially being the only daughter! She fills the role of Mom and sister since we're the only two girls in the family. But I know she loves to visit her other kids and their families too, so I try not to be too selfish. ;)
Nolan and Lisa came a day early and we spent a beautiful, powdery day up at Brighton on the 23rd. The conditions were beautiful. A little cold, but the snow was great and the company even better!
Christmas Eve was seriously one of the best we've ever had. The kids did the nativity and were so reverent. Uncle Nolan read the Christmas story from the bible and Jeff played the guitar while we sang Christmas carols in between verses. The kids had set up the stage in the beach room with a few simple sheets and hung the tree topper star from the heating vent and shined a spotlight on it. It was so adorable and just perfect. After the nativity, Nana read two versions of the Night Before Christmas. One about Christ's birth and another with a present game and the traditional poem by Clement C. Moore. Then Dad read a Christmas story about mending fences. I have always loved my Dad's Christmas stories. Every year he scours books to find the perfect story to read on Christmas Eve. He always gets choked up reading the stories and it's one of the only times in my life that I have seen my Dad get emotional and even teary. The stories are always so touching and he reads them with such tenderness. It is one of my favorite Christmas traditions. After our little program, the kids piled into the beach room on the big blue couch while we went down and did our last minute stuff to get ready for Christmas morning. I'm sure some people watched a movie late into the night, but Jeff and I hit the sack before midnight.
Christmas morning was so fun. We woke up to a white Christmas! We went to bed with no snow and woke up to the whole yard and trees blanketed in snow and huge flakes falling. It snowed all day! It was so cozy inside on Christmas morning with the snow falling outside, the fireplace glowing inside and 27 people gathered in our living room opening gifts. Our kids are at such fun ages for Christmas. The grandparents sat and watched the kids open their gifts. I felt like our kids were so grateful and thanked everyone and hugged each gift giver. They loved watching people open the gifts they had carefully picked out for them. It was really sweet. The sweetest thing this year was the gifts the little boys gave me. They had been searching online for the perfect gift. They had been thinking of ideas for days. It was busy and Jeff hadn't had time to take them shopping so one day Isaac had typed in "best Christmas gift for mom that's not a card" to a google search. They found two sterling silver necklaces that they were determined to give to me, even though they were over $20 each! Jeff tried to talk them into cheaper things or other ideas, but their minds were set and they ran to their piggy banks and dug out every dollar bill and all of the change to give to Jeff so he would order them. Isaac's was a heart with diamonds that has the inscription "A Mother's Love is Forever." Mikey's was a circle and a crescent that fit together that says "I love you to the moon and back." They were SOOOO excited for me to open it. It was absolutely adorable. Kira, Calvin and Kate each got me a beautiful necklace too. I love them all! Jeff's favorite gift was a watch that Kira picked out for him. He's not really a watch guy, but it really meant a lot to him to have Kira be so thoughtful so he wears it all the time. She is always so thoughtful.
Later on Christmas day, after we'd enjoyed a restful, relaxing morning, we loaded up the sleds and went up to a park in the neighborhood across from the school and went sledding. Kira and Madalyn were flying down the hill on the Flexible Flyer! They finally broke the metal runner after going off a jump. Isaac and Calvin loved trying out the snowboard and we all took turns sledding down the hill. I loved that Mikey was completely independent. I never had to carry his sled or him. It was awesome!
The day after Christmas we skied again at Brighton. The snow was fresh and powdery and everyone had a great time!
Nolan and Lisa stayed an extra day so we decided to go to the BYU vs Stanford basketball game. Jason got a bunch of extra ROC passes so the older kids all got to go sit in the Student Section at the game. The best part was that before the game even started, the 5 of them were chosen to "win" the Daily Universe seats down in the front of the student section. They got to be on the Megatron while the walked down to their seats. During the 2nd half they got to hold up the signs they use to distract the other team while the do their free throws and the got to help hold the big BYU banner that covers the entire student section. It was a pretty cool experience for those teens & tweens. And BONUS...BYU won!
The whole Christmas break with the family was so fun. We played games, worked on puzzles, talked, baked, ate, the kids played the Wii-U, we skied, sledded and even snuck in a family picture. It was so fun to visit with Grandma Redding and Grandma and Grandpa Buck and Aunt Jeanne. They were all so helpful every day. I think Grandma and Grandpa Buck helped with every single meal!! Grandma Redding made her delicious world famous Salmon Pate.
Over the rest of Christmas break we had a great time skiing. This year everyone can ski and it has been so much fun. Kira, Calvin and Isaac are doing a ton of black diamonds and getting really good. They follow Jason all over the mountain and are getting down some pretty steep runs without much difficulty. I love it when I can break away from the littles and ski a little with them. Kate is still a little timid even though she's a pretty good little skier. So she likes to hang back with Mikey. Mikey is doing great. He's still mostly using the toe clips because his little legs just aren't always strong enough to push his skis apart to snow plow. But on the easier slopes he can ski without them.
We spent Christmas at home this year welcoming an additional 20 people for the Holidays! It was a full house but so much fun. Grandma and Grandpa Buck flew in, along with Grandma Redding and Aunt Jeanne. Mom and Dad flew in and were so happy to see Jason again after his first semester at BYU. Nolan and Lisa and their girls flew in from Rhode Island and Josh and Erica and Matt and Liz left their close, comfy houses behind for a few days and we all piled in, enjoying the opportunity to be under the same roof for a few days!
Mom came a week early and I loved spending time with her. She came to a few Christmas programs, baked like a maniac, helped get all the rooms ready and helped shop and prep all the food for the big group. It was fun to have some time with just my Mom before the crowds came. Sometimes I feel a little selfish because I don't want to share her time, especially being the only daughter! She fills the role of Mom and sister since we're the only two girls in the family. But I know she loves to visit her other kids and their families too, so I try not to be too selfish. ;)
Nolan and Lisa came a day early and we spent a beautiful, powdery day up at Brighton on the 23rd. The conditions were beautiful. A little cold, but the snow was great and the company even better!
Christmas Eve was seriously one of the best we've ever had. The kids did the nativity and were so reverent. Uncle Nolan read the Christmas story from the bible and Jeff played the guitar while we sang Christmas carols in between verses. The kids had set up the stage in the beach room with a few simple sheets and hung the tree topper star from the heating vent and shined a spotlight on it. It was so adorable and just perfect. After the nativity, Nana read two versions of the Night Before Christmas. One about Christ's birth and another with a present game and the traditional poem by Clement C. Moore. Then Dad read a Christmas story about mending fences. I have always loved my Dad's Christmas stories. Every year he scours books to find the perfect story to read on Christmas Eve. He always gets choked up reading the stories and it's one of the only times in my life that I have seen my Dad get emotional and even teary. The stories are always so touching and he reads them with such tenderness. It is one of my favorite Christmas traditions. After our little program, the kids piled into the beach room on the big blue couch while we went down and did our last minute stuff to get ready for Christmas morning. I'm sure some people watched a movie late into the night, but Jeff and I hit the sack before midnight.
Christmas morning was so fun. We woke up to a white Christmas! We went to bed with no snow and woke up to the whole yard and trees blanketed in snow and huge flakes falling. It snowed all day! It was so cozy inside on Christmas morning with the snow falling outside, the fireplace glowing inside and 27 people gathered in our living room opening gifts. Our kids are at such fun ages for Christmas. The grandparents sat and watched the kids open their gifts. I felt like our kids were so grateful and thanked everyone and hugged each gift giver. They loved watching people open the gifts they had carefully picked out for them. It was really sweet. The sweetest thing this year was the gifts the little boys gave me. They had been searching online for the perfect gift. They had been thinking of ideas for days. It was busy and Jeff hadn't had time to take them shopping so one day Isaac had typed in "best Christmas gift for mom that's not a card" to a google search. They found two sterling silver necklaces that they were determined to give to me, even though they were over $20 each! Jeff tried to talk them into cheaper things or other ideas, but their minds were set and they ran to their piggy banks and dug out every dollar bill and all of the change to give to Jeff so he would order them. Isaac's was a heart with diamonds that has the inscription "A Mother's Love is Forever." Mikey's was a circle and a crescent that fit together that says "I love you to the moon and back." They were SOOOO excited for me to open it. It was absolutely adorable. Kira, Calvin and Kate each got me a beautiful necklace too. I love them all! Jeff's favorite gift was a watch that Kira picked out for him. He's not really a watch guy, but it really meant a lot to him to have Kira be so thoughtful so he wears it all the time. She is always so thoughtful.
Later on Christmas day, after we'd enjoyed a restful, relaxing morning, we loaded up the sleds and went up to a park in the neighborhood across from the school and went sledding. Kira and Madalyn were flying down the hill on the Flexible Flyer! They finally broke the metal runner after going off a jump. Isaac and Calvin loved trying out the snowboard and we all took turns sledding down the hill. I loved that Mikey was completely independent. I never had to carry his sled or him. It was awesome!
The day after Christmas we skied again at Brighton. The snow was fresh and powdery and everyone had a great time!
Nolan and Lisa stayed an extra day so we decided to go to the BYU vs Stanford basketball game. Jason got a bunch of extra ROC passes so the older kids all got to go sit in the Student Section at the game. The best part was that before the game even started, the 5 of them were chosen to "win" the Daily Universe seats down in the front of the student section. They got to be on the Megatron while the walked down to their seats. During the 2nd half they got to hold up the signs they use to distract the other team while the do their free throws and the got to help hold the big BYU banner that covers the entire student section. It was a pretty cool experience for those teens & tweens. And BONUS...BYU won!
The whole Christmas break with the family was so fun. We played games, worked on puzzles, talked, baked, ate, the kids played the Wii-U, we skied, sledded and even snuck in a family picture. It was so fun to visit with Grandma Redding and Grandma and Grandpa Buck and Aunt Jeanne. They were all so helpful every day. I think Grandma and Grandpa Buck helped with every single meal!! Grandma Redding made her delicious world famous Salmon Pate.
Over the rest of Christmas break we had a great time skiing. This year everyone can ski and it has been so much fun. Kira, Calvin and Isaac are doing a ton of black diamonds and getting really good. They follow Jason all over the mountain and are getting down some pretty steep runs without much difficulty. I love it when I can break away from the littles and ski a little with them. Kate is still a little timid even though she's a pretty good little skier. So she likes to hang back with Mikey. Mikey is doing great. He's still mostly using the toe clips because his little legs just aren't always strong enough to push his skis apart to snow plow. But on the easier slopes he can ski without them.
We celebrated little Robbie's 1st birthday.
Comments
Post a Comment