Christmas Day!

I am a lover of Christmas.  I love traditions, I love creating magic (though I might get a teensy bit stressed in the meantime), and I love memories.  These all come together at the most wonderful time of year when we can throw in  lots of family time and the more intense focus on our Savior and his incredible birth story. 

With Christmas being on a Sunday this year we had to do baths and get lots done the day before.  We are not super early risers on Christmas anyway but John and I had to get up and shower so we wouldn't gross ourselves out the rest of the day.  Somehow or other we found oursleves all downstairs.

Our Christmas day always starts with breakfast per my tradition.  Most people gasp in horror when they hear this but I just smile and feel sorry for them.  Really, I do, because the anticipation just builds and that is a major part of the magic.  When I was a kid I would practically die of excitement and then my dad would ask if Santa brought him some half and half.  My mom would carefully go through the blanketed door, get him his prize, then he would enjoy a small bowl of corn flakes while we jumped out of our skin.

We do serve a little different food...we have sausage, eggs, fruit, and cinnamon rolls (side story: made a whole batch without ANY cinnamon!), washed down with chocolate milk or eggnog.  I didn't say it was a healthy breakfast!

 ***Santa Blocker 2000, Breakfast!, Jumping out of their skin with excitement***

 Finally we were in!  Santa's sleigh had indeed tipped over so we started going at it gift by gift.  Some years we've had lots of 'it was my turn to open a present' or 'hey you're in the way' or what have you.  But this year we had none of that, only oohing and aahing and the occasional scream of delight.  Magic.  We don't dabble too much in the Santa lists, so Santa tries to pick up on what they want through random conversation his elves overhear.  Santa also likes to surprise with stuff they had no idea they wanted and sometimes Santa doesn't do so hot, but this year worked out pretty well for the big guy.

We took our time but were still done and ready to go to church on time.  I had to play last minute for the choir to sing.  Lucky for me and anyone who had to listen most numbers were hymns or easy arrangements.  I hate stage fright!  The meeting was spirit filled and a sweet reminder of why we even have this day in the first place.

 After that we ate cold pizza and other various snacky do's we could find.  We played for a while then loaded up and headed to the Jardine's where the spread is to die for!  So yum.  (Mozzeralla sticks: string cheese dipped in flour, egg, and panko bread crumbs then fried.). Also fun to see everyone.

We stayed there for an hour before heading to Roy for Agren Christmas.  We were spoiled by Nate and Dawn who had our name.  A popcorn popper and a lugaloo (a bucket for doing your 'business' when there's no other option) plus lots of scrapbook stuff for me.  You can see in the bottom left corner the hit of the family picture discs.  It was more fun watching them react to the pictures than to see the pictures!  What a fabulous day.