Our Christmas

We spent Christmas in Oak City again this year.  I think my parents were glad to have us so they weren't all by themselves.  It was a wonderful time.  We kept things pretty simple with regards to presents since we're on a tight budget and the kids don't really need a ton of toys anyway.  And I liked it that way.  I didn't feel like we got carried away trying to fulfill all their wishes, but we were still able to give meaningful gifts.  I still felt like we were overloaded with gifts and goodies, even if most of them only cost a dollar.  I felt that we were very blessed, and keeping things simple, I was able to more fully enjoy the season and to remember Christ's birth and life.

On Christmas Eve, we went to the town Christmas program where they portrayed the nativity scene and sang songs.  At the end, Santa visited and the kids got to sit on his lap.  Emersen is always excited to see him but shy when he's actually talking to her.

Eagerly waiting...

 Bentley had no problem with Santa.

 My sister's baby Oakley didn't know what to think at first.  His expression makes me laugh!

Showing off Bentley's wounds.  He pulled a Wii remote down on his eye the night before, giving him a little black eye and cut.  And right before the town program, he fell out of my parent's car and nearly face planted in the gravel except that my dad caught the hood of his coat just in time.  His forehead was scraped and bruised pretty good.

Before going to bed, we read the nativity story again and The Night Before Christmas.  After the kids went to bed, we adults watched We're No Angels, one of our favorite holiday movies.  My dad describes it as "straight-faced slapstick," which I think is a perfect description.  It's a hoot.

On Christmas morning, we didn't have church until 11:00, so we had enough time to open presents and eat breakfast without being rushed.  Bentley was the first to wake up at about 7:15.  Daniel woke up Emersen and told her that Santa came. "Oh yeah?" was her response. "He came down the chimney?"  We waited on the stairs until Grandpa got out of the shower.  She wasn't quite awake yet for this picture.

The kids were pretty calm when they walked into the living room and saw the tree and presents.  They just looked at everything rather matter-of-factly.  We had to give them some encouragement.

  

Emersen really liked her doll bed and asked me to go upstairs and get her baby.  She then promptly put the baby to bed while she opened more gifts.  (I found this unfinished, wood bed at DI for $3!  It was perfect.  I didn't paint it yet, but I made the mattress and bedding with materials I already had.  I think it turned out pretty cute.)

Bentley didn't really care about his tunnel (in the background of this picture).  He still has only crawled through it a couple times.  The first thing he opened was a set of magnetic letters and that kept him entertained for a long time.  He didn't care about opening anything else for a while.

Emersen was a sweet and wonderful helper.  She liked handing out presents and seeing what other people got.  This feather boa came from grandma, "like Fancy Nancy!"  She kept all her gifts in a pile once they were opened.  She was very particular about everyone's piles.  She didn't seem to mind that she didn't get what she asked Santa for.  She seemed happy with her "pile."

I really enjoyed the peaceful morning.  There was no rush and frenzy to open the gifts but we were able to linger and absorb the happiness of the day.   

This was the best picture I could get of the two of them all dressed up for church.  They didn't want to stand by each other.

Daniel got this little coat for Emersen from someone at work.  It went perfectly with her Christmas dress.  I love her face when she's trying not to smile.  Impossible.

We spent the rest of the day playing with toys and visiting.  Emersen didn't like Bentley sitting on her baby's bed.

I enjoyed a good snuggle with my little guy.

And we enjoyed visiting with Great-Grandma too.  These are rare moments.

I promise Daniel was there too.  He was actually the one behind the camera most of the day for a change.  I should have taken a picture of him.  It was another wonderful Christmas day!