The Young and the Restless

Merry Christmas!

It seems like the month of December gets shorter and shorter each year. I refuse to do anything Christmasy before Thanksgiving because I want to be able to enjoy all of the other holidays too, but then it seems like there just isn't enough time to get it all done. Somehow we managed to pack everything into the short three weeks....getting the decorations up, doing ALL the shopping, wrapping presents, decorating cookies, sendind out Christmas cards, making treats for the neighbors, sending off packages, getting presents for the teachers, Christmas parties at school and with neighbors and we even found some time sip hot chocolate while watching Christmas movies and reading Christmast stories. It's kind of depressing to start taking down the decorations and turn off the Christmas music that has been playing non-stop, but it was definately a fun Christmas season while it lasted. Christmas eve we did the traditional "open first" present, which was (surprise!) pajamas and the nativity scene. Then we had hot chocolate and popcorn while we snuggled up and watched my all time favorite movie, "Elf". I think that's the only movie I can watch over and over and never get sick of. Jayden fell asleep during the movie and I was sad that he missed the rest of the Christmas eve stuff. Kylie helped me get Santa's plate ready then we went outside and looked for Rudolph's nose. Every year we luck out to see an airplane with a flashing red light and she was so excited and a nervous wreck to get in bed before Santa came. She had a hard time going to sleep, so I layed with her for a little bit and lo and behold we heard Santa on the roof (Jason told Kylie he was going to sleep, then climbed out our bedroom window and did a little dance on the roof). The look on her face was priceless. Santa even left a stocking on the porch for her and Jayden. I think we just bought a couple more years of believing in Santa. Jason's sister, Jessica, drove down from Utah and got here around midnight on Christmas eve, so it was fun to have her here to join the party. The kids woke up at 3:30, but after climbing into bed with us they fell back asleep until 7:30. They were so excited when it was finally time to go open presents. Santa scored this year when Jason won a Wii at a raffle during a company party. I'm not sure who plays it more, Jason or the kids. Poor Jayden has been counting down the days until Christmas for the past 3 months and when the day finally comes he gets sick. He spent all morning throwing up in between opening presents. It was so sad and so unfair, of all the days! He fell asleep for a couple of hours and felt much better when he woke up. We spent all day playing with toys in our pj's and finally got showered just in time for our big Christmas eve dinner. If only every day could be Christmas...

pedicures and makeovers with aunt Jessie (Kylie said that she wants to be Jessica when she grows up because she has probably the most make-up owned by any one person. Oh, and she's pretty cool too)

how Maddox spent his first Christmas:and:

but he did love the lights....