The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Oh, how I love this time of year.  

*Santa visit*

I'm not one to take my kids to the mall to visit Santa,

and this year, we found him taking a nap in our backyard!

He brought one of his elves along, too.

Brandon wasn't home, so Santa left this for him.

He informed us that B was on the naughty list.  Uh oh.

*Family Photos*

 For the first time in, let's see, seven Christmases,

Andrew didn't have to do tithing settlement after church.

Woo hoo!

I could get a family photo in our Christmas finery.

 Nothing cuter than little (and even not-so-little) girls 

in their Christmas dresses.

*Gingerbread House Night*

B-train went with a Hobbit theme.

Gummi bear elves trying to get in the door.

The inside with torches, a table, chairs.

Very detailed.

Whit's tee-pee

She has caught on to the fact that she gets to eat all the candy

she uses to decorate.  She was definitely maximizing her candy usage.

Andrew's creation:

Santa's throne.

???

Caroline worked together on a kit.

Here's the side C decorated herself.

*Christmas goodies*

 I had fun baking up a storm.

Peanut butter blossoms

Pretzel hugs

Pretzel turtles

And the rest of the family helped me make the tags 

and assemble the goody plates to deliver to friends.

*Christmas Eve*

 Cooked up a yummy, yummy dinner.

 I don't think I've ever had four pots on the stove at the same time.

In my life.

A new addition to the menu this year:

Crab legs!

Andrew, Brandon, and Whitney were in heaven.

I'm their new favorite person.

 We also had shrimp, artichokes, mac and cheese, corn,

mashed potatoes, rolls, and red & white jello salad.

 Sooooooo good.

 When dinner was over, I was reminded of why I

never cook that many dishes at the same time.  

Sheesh.  My sink overfloweth.

I'm still making my way through that mountain.

After dinner, we acted out the nativity.

 Drew was the donkey, as usual.

Care Bear was a wise man.

I got to be the angel.

 Jumping for joy

 in their new Christmas jammies.

 

We started a new tradition this year, having the kids do extra

chores to earn the money to buy gifts for each other.

It went really well.  I loved seeing them sacrifice for each other.

And the house was cleaner than it's ever been!

 

We decided to let them open those sibling gifts on Christmas Eve.

 

Ready for bed.

The anticipation is palpable!