Christmas Eve

We got up Christmas Eve morning and hung out. Then we headed to West Jordan to help my family with some last minute wrapping and to hang out for a bit.

 Here is cute Lucy who loved the presents.

We came home and did some prep for Christmas Eve and got everything cleaned up.

Then we worked on making pizza. The kids got to pick the shapes this year. Lydia chose a stable with a nativity and Shantel made this amazing nativity.

Caleb chose a dinosaur, so we went ahead and did that for our cheese-bread.

Austin chose to make a Christmas tree. I love this tradition and am so grateful for Shantel that she can just make things like this happen.

After dinner we pulled out all the presents and did some present organization.  

Here is our manager. Wendy and Sam gave us this manger to go with the book "The Last Straw." Each week in December we picked names of someone to give service to and spent the week trying to help them. There were a lot of sweet things that were done. Austin made the bed for Shantel and also did some Laundry for her. He was so cute. Lydia did various things to try and help Caleb or Austin and was kindhearted. Shantel and I both worked to try and serve the kids in special ways by doing their family economy jobs or other extra things. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve our family. 

Family Christmas Pictures: It is always so tempting to just spend a bunch of money on Christmas jammies, but Shantel was so disciplined and was able to just find things we already had to save us money and these kids still look darling. 

Lucy 

Lucy and Lydia

Everyone

Lydia

Austin

Austin and Caleb

Caleb

Here is our Christmas Eve present. We got the kids Bible activity books.  

After that we dressed up and did the story of the Nativity. The kids (mostly Lydia) were not thrilled, but once we got going they participated. 

The kids have been loving dance parties lately, so after the Nativity, we had a Christmas version dance party with glow sticks and the kids loved it!

We finished the night with Christmas roll and putting out stockings.

Once we got the kids in bed, we got working on Christmas stockings. This is actually one thing that I love doing with Shantel. We got everything placed nicely

Once we got stockings ready, we were able to sit down and have hot chocolate and watch a Hallmark movie. It was so nice to be together and cuddle. After we prepped each others stockings and headed to bed. 

Christmas is such a magical thing. I am most grateful that it reminds us of the birth of our Savior and the incredible blessings that come from that momentous occasion.

The boys stockings.

The girls stockings.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.