Christmas 2013

We had a very wonderful holiday season this year.  Tommy was able to have 12 days home with us and it was wonderful to have daddy home.  He let me sleep in most days and it is always nice to have his help around the house.  Plus he keeps the older two busy so I can get some much needed housework done. lol  We just had a great time hanging out as a family.  On Christmas Eve we went to Grandma Timmon's house and enjoyed yummy food and treats.  We were able to Skype with my little brother Jeffrey who is serving a mission in Mexico.  He seems wonderful and happy and it was great to visit with him.  In fact, it was an ugly sweater Christmas party and we had him choose which one he thought was the ugliest.  He chose my sister in law Jen's whom had these clothespin reindeer on hers.  ha ha   It was cute, but ugly for sure.  Tom, the kids, and I went to the Goodwill that morning and found some pretty ugly sweaters as well.  But I guess they were not ugly enough to win!  Also, each family had to do a little skit, song, etc and it was fun.  Most of us showed a short Christmas related movie.  Of course the story of Christ's birth was read from the Bible.  Noah played Joseph and Makenna played Mary.  It was cute because my mom gave Makenna a rolled up blanket and told her it was baby Jesus.  She was so soft and gentle with the baby Jesus and when it was read that Mary laid him in a Manger, Makenna gently laid him down.  It was so sweet.  I don't even think she was listening but she randomly did it right after those words were read. ha ha  Then we ended with our draw name gifts and the gifts to and from our parents and it was a wonderful time.
The kids were super excited to get home and get to bed so Santa could come.  I am not sure Makenna really knew what was going, but Noah sure did!  He was beaming with excitement and happiness before bedtime.  They were very excited to see all the presents the next morning.  And it was Makenna who noticed, "Look Santa ate my cookies!" ha ha  So cute! We went to my mom's again on Christmas day and enjoyed a yummy Christmas meal.  While we ate we were able to Skype with my step sister Jessica who is serving a mission in Michigan.  She looks so happy, more mature, and beautiful.  It was also wonderful talking to her.  The Saturday after Christmas we were able to open presents with Grandma and Grandpa Starits who came down to visit.  We had a great time with them.  Makenna was cute because she told them that it was "Jesus's Happy Birthday!"  Kayleigh just hung around each event looking cute. :) It was definitely a lot of fun celebrating Christmas and Christ's birth this year.
We enjoyed New Year's Eve by renting the movie Turbo.  Noah loved it!  Although our kids are young so we still put them to bed by 9 and Tommy and enjoyed a little stay at home New Year's date night.  It was a  great night.  The next day we went to Arlington and rode the sand-rails and quad with The Timmon's, The Medina's, and Signe (the awesome girl that is living with my mom and step dad right now.) It was a lot of fun.  We grilled hot dogs and had a little picnic and it was a blast.  The kids got a battery powered little dune-buggy and they had fun driving that around.  Although Noah did crash into a tree and Makenna ended up getting a thick branch to the mouth.  Ekk  Other than that it was a lot of fun. ha ha We also shot a few clay pigeons.  It was one of my favorite days this year! :)  Wish I would have taken a few pictures.  I think we are going to make it a tradition on New Year's Day so I will make sure to get some pictures next year!

The kids reenacting The Nativity Story at Grandmas.  Makenna was very cute because my mom handed her a rolled up blanket and told her it was baby Jesus.  She was very tender and even laid him down gently when it said so in the scripture story.  It was pretty cute. Noah made a pretty awesome Joseph too. :)