It's hard to believe that Christmas has come and gone once again. It was a whirlwind couple of days, but we had a blast. The fun started on the 23rd when my parents started a fun tradition of having "Grandpa's Sleepover". Any tradition with an official title has to be great, right? They had all of the grandkids sleep over at their house and sent all of the adults out to dinner and then home to enjoy a night with no kids. I'm not sure who had a better time, the kids or the adults. I don't know if my parents got a wink of sleep, but they still had smiles on their faces the next morning. The night consisted of dinner, a dip in the hot tub (turned down to bathtub temp), new jammies, storytime, a sleepover, and breakfast in the morning. The girls were all angels and slept as good as ever. The boys are old enough they were too excited to sleep. Mason won the award for staying up the latest, waking up the earliest, and waking my parents up the most during the night trying to climb in bed with them. Sorry Mom and Dad. 
On Christmas Eve we had a candlelight dinner with the Murray Family. We attempted to act out the Nativity. When Mason found out he couldn't dress up as a dinosaur he decided he didn't want to participate. He was very calm and kind as he insisted on just watching. We made the mistake of putting all the other little kids' costumes on a little too early so by the time it actually began we only had a Mary and Joseph in costume with Baby Brynn who really nailed her role as Baby Jesus along with a few other costumes here and there. 
After opening Christmas jammies we all jumped in our cars and went for our Christmas Eve drive through the Spanish Fork light show then headed home. 
Here are all the kiddos in their Christmas Jammas. Kayla, TayLynn, Karissa, Kenzi holding Brynn, Kaden, Jessica, Mason, Austin, Keyana, Josh, Phillie (the dog), and Tanner.
On Christmas Eve we had a candlelight dinner with the Murray Family. We attempted to act out the Nativity. When Mason found out he couldn't dress up as a dinosaur he decided he didn't want to participate. He was very calm and kind as he insisted on just watching. We made the mistake of putting all the other little kids' costumes on a little too early so by the time it actually began we only had a Mary and Joseph in costume with Baby Brynn who really nailed her role as Baby Jesus along with a few other costumes here and there. After opening Christmas jammies we all jumped in our cars and went for our Christmas Eve drive through the Spanish Fork light show then headed home. Here are all the kiddos in their Christmas Jammas. Kayla, TayLynn, Karissa, Kenzi holding Brynn, Kaden, Jessica, Mason, Austin, Keyana, Josh, Phillie (the dog), and Tanner.Later that night as Mason was getting ready for bed we heard Santa's sleigh bells ringing outside his bedroom window (thanks, Grandpa Val). Mason was so excited he looked out the window searching for Santa, but eventually decided he better jump in bed and try to fall asleep so Santa would come. On Christmas morning he was thrilled to find that Santa had in fact visited our house. 
He brought Mason his big blue helicopter. 
Brynn's first Christmas was just as we expected. She loved all of her presents.....almost as much as the wrapping paper. 
Santa also brought this kitchen and play food for Brynn and Mason. Mason loves to cook and Brynn loves to eat the food. It works out wonderfully.
Thanks to all of our family for the wonderful gifts. They truely loved each and every one of them.
I feel like we found the perfect balance this year in amount and types of gifts. In years past we have ended up putting presents away for birthdays because we overdid it. This year Mason really enjoyed and appreciated every gift he opened and was completely satisfied in the end. 
Brynn had no clue what was going on, but was happy as could be.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.
He brought Mason his big blue helicopter. Brynn's first Christmas was just as we expected. She loved all of her presents.....almost as much as the wrapping paper. Santa also brought this kitchen and play food for Brynn and Mason. Mason loves to cook and Brynn loves to eat the food. It works out wonderfully.Thanks to all of our family for the wonderful gifts. They truely loved each and every one of them.I feel like we found the perfect balance this year in amount and types of gifts. In years past we have ended up putting presents away for birthdays because we overdid it. This year Mason really enjoyed and appreciated every gift he opened and was completely satisfied in the end. Brynn had no clue what was going on, but was happy as could be.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.