Don't sit on Baby Jesus!

Our Christmas festivities began a week ago yesterday with Levi’s Mom’s side of the family’s party. We had a lot of fun. The food was delicious, the gift exchange was very fun and then we played 10 cent bingo. Levi will probably add onto the bottom of this post all about the bingo game he created in excel. I never win bingo and I actually won, not just once but twice! I still haven’t decided what to do with my $2.20. We then spent Christmas eve with Levi’s Dad’s side of the family. The food there was also delicious. We played a game of Apples to Apples; that has got to be my favorite game, so fun! Christmas morning we spent at home with just the 3 of us.

We each took a turn opening a present with Claire (I feel bad that we only got Claire 2 presents for Christmas but at the same time it’s kind of silly to spend a bunch of money on toys she won’t be able to use for a while). She wasn’t very into it lol, but it was fun for us. Claire and I got Levi a pair of slippers, a Wii game and pistachio nuts and they got me a robe, a hot pink duffel bag and the newest Nicholas sparks book. It was a much lighter Christmas this year but we didn’t mind because Claire is the best Christmas present we could have ever asked for. Then we traveled up to my parent’s house and spent the afternoon with my immediate family. More good food, ahh, I’m supposed to be losing weight not gaining it!

Our nephews and niece are so adorable and they constantly make us laugh. Zenna is 18 months and she opened several presents of clothes, she would then try to put them on our dog. We kept telling her that they are her clothes. And the boys were being little Wii hogs. But it was pretty entertaining watching them. Both Claire and Zenna were dead asleep after opening presents. I love spending time with my family; we always have so much fun. I just wish we lived closer and could see them more often.

Christmas evening we stopped by the Borts’. I should have just wired my mouth shut, seriously, there was more good food and I have no self control! Levi was in heaven with their meat pie (I think they called them pasties) and leftover breakfast pizza. Then they made this delicious drink called a Hot Godiva (no alcohol in ours) but they were marshmallow crème, 2% milk and Hershey syrup. I couldn’t drink it fast enough!

The day after Christmas was my Mom’s side of the family’s Christmas party. This year it was moved to my Grandma’s church building because we can’t fit anywhere else! After another delicious meal, Levi took family pictures and then we had our little nativity scene Christmas program. Since Claire is the newest baby she was the baby Jesus. I told her that that was the only time she was allowed to cross dress. Levi didn’t want to be Joseph (this is Levi talking, this has to be the most ridiculous and embarrassing tradition ever, period.), and since Mary can’t be single, my brother Colin was Joseph. Our nephew Rayden sat on my other brother, Eric’s shoulders and was the star, and Kolten (our other nephew) was a shepherd. The rest of the shepherds and angels are all of my cousins’ children, my Mom and Aunt Cheryl narrated and the wise men were my cousin’s husbands; geez there sure are a lot of us these days! Zenna was sitting up there with us; she sat on Baby Jesus and then stole Kolten’s gun and kept pressing the button. I don’t think that’s quite how the story really went but it was pretty darn funny. Our gift exchange was really fun. We ended up leaving with an awesome ice scraper and some chocolate covered pretzels. Levi had gotten some sort of cold but he was such a trooper and still went.

Claire was so good at all of our Christmas parties! I am so grateful for all of our family and friends that have already shown Claire so much love. I think she is just so happy to be in this world and is just soaking it all up. It’s crazy how much harder it is to get out the door to all of these things with her. I’m still not quite sure how we did it all but it was all so wonderful and I wouldn't have it any other way. We hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas and we wish you a very Happy New Year!