Today was our family Christmas Party. Charlie and Melissa leave for California tomorrow with her family. Scott and Paige will be spending Christmas Eve at home and then with her family on Christmas Day. Karen and Brandon will be with his family for the holiday, so today was Christmas.
We celebrated with our traditional Christmas Eve Menu. Everyone's favorite finger food. This year the only people that stayed true to there usual was Grandpa (stuffed mushrooms) and Karen (Ham roll ups) The rest of us ventured out to new found loves. I made John's Aunt Brenda's cheese ball. It is the best recipe. I usually choose pumpkin roll. Charlie and Melissa brought fondue. Scott made bacon raps. And Grandma made bread sticks and the none finger food, Broccoli soup.
After lunch was present time. There were 7 big huge boxes in the basement one for each grandkid and then a small package for baby Elle.
James was slow at getting started so John helped.
Jakub opened his one tiny rip at a time.
Inside the big box was 3 presents and a bean bag chair. Each kid reseaved a blanket made by grandma, jammies and a stuffed toy. J's bag was blue, his blanket said future missionary and his monkey had a future missionary tag. James and Jakub got dragon blankets and Yo, Gabba, Gabba toys.
After the Grandma gifts the kids played in the big boxes while the adults exchanged gifts. Youngest first.....Charlie and Melissa opened a down comforter from Mom and Dad. Karen and Brandon opened a broken snowman cookie jar from Charlie and Melissa. It had dropped out of the bag when Melissa had carried it in the house just hours before. They gave Taylor some books and Elle an outfit. Scott and Paige's family opened a Blockus game from the Rawlings. Our boys received a hand made car map track from Scott and Paige. They gave John and I a flag badge that Scott wore on his uniform in Iraq and plaque thanking us for our prayers while he served. It also included a picture of his group of guys that he was in charge of. If you know me well you can guess that I cried when I saw it. Paige also gave me a headband. Way Cute!
Then it was mom and dad's turn, we had them this year. I made a 8 x 8 Christmas Scrapbook, it had pictures of Christmas' past and blank pages for the future. I am hoping mom can handle one page a year.
Mom and Dad gave all of us a plaque with our last names and it had the temples we were sealed in. Some money to go shopping and food storage.
Grandma read the Christmas Orange Story to the kids while they ate oranges in their new jammies while sitting in their chairs. Grandpa read from the bible the story of Christs birth.
It was a wonderful "Christmas" day!
Our Christmas Miracle was the boys sleeping until 7:30, they are usually all up by 6:00. I made breakfast cake, we opened presents and watched the snow fall. John surprised me with a new set of scriptures. He wrote his testimony inside. What a good husband. We were planning to head for Clinton at 10 but we decided to wait until 2. The boys have all been sick but it wasn't going to stop of plans just slow them down.
Ofter 2 hours in the car we made it to Grandma and Grandpa Mills'. Again we had present time. James and Jakub got the Little People Nativity, outfits, and books. J got 2 Wii games, an outfit and books. 
On Friday Jaren and Sarah came over and we gave them our gift. I made them a levi quilt. It was made with blood, sweat, and tears, but mostly love. 
Jakub loved playing in the box. But the funniest part of this picture is James hair.
On Saturday it took us 2 1/2 hours to get home. It was a fun filled holiday. I am grateful for this time of year to reflect on traditions and Jesus Christ. I am truly blessed to know he is my Savior.
