We started off the Christmas vacation festivities with frosting cookies. This year we got to share all of our family traditions with Hannah. She enjoyed every minute of it.
Christmas Eve we had Sheri, Derek and their four boys, also Jennie and Kevin and their three girls and one boy, and Hannah Jacobs our little Dutch girl for a wonderful feast, partially provided by Debbie. Yummy steaks and chicken, burgers, and hotdogs, salads, homemade roles and lots of sugary goodies After much eating, we sat in the living room and enjoyed singing Christmas carols and opened presents from the aunts and uncles. It was a crazy mess but it was sooo
much fun!
Hannah didn't know all the words to the songs, but we helped her out a bit. Amber being the singer in the family was at the lead. We will miss her next Christmas. I guess Jennie will have to take over next year for us.
We always take a cousin picture and each year it gets bigger and bigger! However next year we will be missing Amber, but she will be off serving the Lord!
The next morning we gathered in the living room at 6:30am to open presents. Needless to say I was tired. It was a lot of fun watching the kids open their presents. Sam got his wish for a 3DS.
We all have to take turns opening the gifts. Keaton goes first and we go up from there by age. So the older ones have to learn some patients.
Bret found this sweatshirt and laughed his head off. So he had to get it, the only one they had was just right for Sam. he loved it. It has a mesh red part so he can see through it when it's all the way zipped up to display an open fish mouth. He loved it, and can't wait to wear it to school.
The kids love stuffed animals, and the pillow pet is a favorite. The boys wanted to get Hannah one for Christmas so she would officially be a family member. We got her a deer. She was happy to have one to cuddle with.
Ben has wanted an Xbox for a couple of years now. I am against having another gaming system. We already have a PlayStation and a Wii. They are pretty old but still useable. But I lost, and Ben got his wish. We kept it up in our room until we were all finished opening the presents, so Ben didn't think he got it. But I said "Wait, I think I forgot one upstairs." So Bret went and got it and as Ben opened it he screamed, then the other two boys screamed. It was a great reaction. I still don't like it though.
I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! We are now getting ready to send Amber off to the Mexico MTC on January 1st. She is excited and very nervous. I'm excited for her, and can't believe I'll have a child that is on a mission! I wasn't expecting that to happen for a few more years. But with the age change it changed everything!
