What a great week of Christmas! It was so relaxing without school or places to go. All of the kids were home all day and we had plenty of time to get projects done, play outside, watch movies, and hang out together. I loved being able to have everyone home for all 3 meals and just a relaxed pace of life.
Last Sunday: The 4 girls put on a dolls' Christmas program. The Nelsons wanted to come watch it and were gracious guests, thinking it was adorable and worth their 2 hours of being here. They have been awesome, supportive friends.
The girls sing the solo but pretend like the doll is. The red blanket was back stage.
It's Madalyn's day to open the 12 Days of Christmas box and get her quilt!
It's beautiful!
Samuel showing Brother Nelson his homemade camera.
Playing games with their quilts around them.
I sent this to Kira. How many of her handmade quilts do you see lying around tonight?
Monday: A fun neighbor gift this year! We love getting daily knocks from neighbors and seeing what they're going to drop off. It's a fun thing about living in a ward neighborhood.
Opening today's package.
It was for the whole family and in addition to a nativity piece, it was cinnamon gummy bears.
Kylie sent these adorable presents for Anderson and Alexis. This year the K's bought for the A's.
Tuesday: Spencer's turn!
Another amazing quilt.
Wednesday: Wrapping presents for Daddy. Talea picked out a lot of candy for him at the grocery store. He doesn't eat much candy but maybe he could put a bowl out in his office for his patients.
Thursday: My turn to open! It's a quilt with all of the kids' baby clothes.
The top left square is my maternity shirt that says, "Arriving soon." The next square is Kylie's baby clothes, then Madalyn's and so on. Julianne's are on there too.
The back is scraps of other baby clothes. I love it! What a cherished gift.
Alexis making us a big challah loaf.
While it rose we all played outside. Here Spencer, Thomas, and Samuel play football with neighbor boys.
It's done and gorgeous! Good job, Alexis! So glad she was willing to bake for us since Kylie wasn't here.
Christmas Eve dinner. We had ham cubes, cheese, challah, grapes, and berries.
Samuel going to the dressing area to get ready for the nativity.
I love how Kaitlyn organized and labeled the costumes.
Eating cookies afterward.
The Christmas tree before going to bed. Last night of having presents under the tree.
Everyone was in bed when I went upstairs and the night felt so magical.
For the family.
Anderson's and Samuel's.
Madalyn's, Talea's, Alexis's.
Makenna's and Kaitlyn's.
Spencer's and Thomas's.
The kids lining up. Spencer's bushy head is lying on Alexis's shoulder.
Everyone looking at their gifts. (Or texting their girlfriend.)
Track spikes.
A new doll she named Josie to rhyme with her baby Rosie.
Twins Luke and Lucy.
A water bottle for her mission.
Looking at her ukulele book.
Waiting to gather for presents under the tree.
Nathan came at 8:30 and we had breakfast and opened presents under the tree.
The kids gave me a lot of presents this year. They gave me a scale, moose salt and pepper shakers, and piano music (Paul Cardall)
I gave this dress to Talea.
Talea and Spencer goofing off on the stairs while we take turns opening.
Sucking on ring pops the Nelsons gave us.
Kaitlyn bought Alexis the journal edition of the Book of Mormon.
Giving Nathan the candy they wrapped for him.
Opening a scooter from Ben and Janet.
Showing Kylie the quilt Kira made for her.
I love getting to talk to Kylie!
Spencer playing some fancy pieces for Kylie on hangouts.
I took Tilly upstairs to dress for bed and told the boys to go downstairs and put pajamas on. When I came down Andy said Samuel told him to go get a paper towel so he was. I asked why and Andy said because Samuel cut his finger. I went down and Samuel was bleeding all over a blanket. I ran him into the bathroom and it took 30 minutes for the bleeding to stop.
Everytime we lifted the paper towel it immediately began to drip blood again.
We read books for 30 minutes while holding it and then I put Talea to bed and took a look at it. Finally the bleeding had stopped so I bandaged it up. Samuel was wanting to get stitches to surprise the older kids who were at Kira's and Andy got stitches last Dec. 26, but it wasn't wide enough for them.
