Christmas Jammies

Every other year I've made my family Christmas Jammies (or at least part of them).

I thought it would be fun to compare them to see how we've changed over the years!

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

Christmas Day!

For how much I LOVE to take pictures, I am SHOCKED at how few pictures I have!

But, it was also really fun to just "be there" totally during the whole Christmas morning!

Matt sporting his new hole in his smile!

Matt loving his new K'Nex from Grandpa and Grandma Gunnerson!

Matt showing off ALL his new stuff! (He got hot wheels, apple jacks, clothes, and the k'nex from G&G).

Lindsay asked Santa for either a doll or play food--and she got BOTH!!!

Santa was extra good to her this year!

Andrew asked Santa for a train and he got it!  But, he really loves his new dinosaurs from G&G).

It was a WONDERFULLY perfect Christmas!

Christmas Eve

I didn't take very many pictures on Christmas eve, but it was a wonderful night!

We had a yummy yummy dinner including this beautiful salad Heather made!

We opened presents.

Greg told Matt he would give him $1 if he could pull out his tooth that night.

He did!  We had the toothfairy and Santa at our house on the same night at the same time!

We visited grandpa and Glenis, drove around the temple, then came back for Ben and Kristy's yummy dessert.  After we finished desert, we saw some deer in Grandma's backyard and we hustled home to set out cookies for Santa and hop in bed!

December Service

For our December service projects we:
#1- The kids did extra jobs to earn money to give to the YW Sub for Santa
#2- We did a free hot chocolate stand for the High School kids as they came home
#3- We shoveled snow for a few neighbors
#4- We went caroling with cousins

#WhoCanIServeToday

Cousin Gingerbread Party 2015!

I've got some pretty awesome cousins...and my kids have awesome cousins too!

We had our annual cousin gingerbread party and this year we extended it to the boys too.

There were several cousins we missed, but we had lots of fun with the cousins that came!

Bethlehem Dinner

My aunt Kim has a WONDERFUL family tradition of doing a "Bethlehem Dinner" the Sunday before Christmas.  After talking to her about it, she was nice enough to not only let us copy her, but gave me a copy of what she does.  We dressed up in clothes similar to what they would have worn during Jesus' time, ate food similar to his time (figs, fish, fruit, bread, olives, and goat cheese), and then we watched the Nativity. 

Darin thought it would be more "authentic to cook the fish whole with the head and all.
I thought the kids would be too grossed out, but they did REALLY well!

Lindsay wasn't super fond of it, but Matt said, "Lindsay, if you go on a mission, someone might make you food like this and you'll have to eat it so they don't feel bad, so you better start practicing now."  Hmmmm.... I wonder where he's heard that before!  ha!

We each lit a candle and said what we were thankful for. 

 (Haylee--that Jesus was born, Lindsay---that Heavenly Father chose a star as the sign that Jesus was born, Matt--That Jesus died for us, Andrew--for mommy and daddy, Darin--for the teachings of Jesus).

These are NOT authentic olives, but the kids had fun with them.

 It was a WONDERFUL night!  

Thanks again, Kim, for letting us copy your tradition!