Christmas

We started a new Christmas Eve tradition this year that I hope we can continue. I've wanted to do it for awhile, but put it off since the kids weren't really old enough to read song lyrics and Austin isn't a big singer. This year the older three are old enough to read song lyrics and the younger two have most Christmas hymns partially memorized, so I though we could try. It was very low key and began with each of the older kids playing a Christmas song on the piano that they've been working on for the past week. Then we sang a verse or two of my favorite Christmas hymns and Austin read the Christmas story from the Bible, before eating some cookies and each kid opening a present. Natalie took it upon herself to pass out the cookies.

We don't start Christmas morning until around 8 am when the girls usually get up. Natalie was up at least a dozen times throughout the night (and me along with her) because her nose was a bit stuffy and making it hard for her to sleep. She also registered with a high fever, but it disappeared soon after she woke up, so it might have been that she was just super warm from being in bed. Anyway, Austin had to wake Natalie up at 8 and I was glad sleep in too.

The kids were excited for their stockings- they always get candy, a new animal figurine, and coupons for one-on-one time with mom or dad. They have also been making little gifts and drawings for each other and Austin and I, so those were in the stockings too.

Christmas morning is always exciting since it is the one morning of the year the kids are allowed to have candy before breakfast.

I think this was the best reaction we got to a present we gave the kids:

Heidi was so excited to get a little cross-stitching kit for a picture of a hedgehog.

We opened up all the presents from our little family before we had breakfast, then waited for grandparents to wake up while we were eating crepes.

As you can see, Natalie got a ballet leotard in pink and was so excited to put it on. Here she also has on the apron that Heidi made (with some help from mom) her for Christmas.

Asher and Leif were eager to help make breakfast (especially the sausage) but did not want to wear one of my aprons. Asher took it off the minute after I tied it on.

After breakfast we got ahold of grandparents and opened the presents from them.

This year we did a cousin name draw so that they gave/got a present to one of their cousins. Natalie was thrilled with the gift from her cousin Fletcher who gave her a dress with dogs on it and a puppy book.

The kids spent the rest of the day playing with their new gifts and eating yummy food. We had lasagna by candle light (which the kids just love doing) and Christmas cookies.