A Farmer's Christmas

We've had a pretty quiet Christmas vacation at our house, which suits me just fine.  We didn't go see any lights at Temple Square (or anywhere else, free or otherwise); we didn't make neighbor gifts, or paper snowflakes, or sugar cookies; we didn't do friend gifts; we didn't carol (let's be honest with each other: is there anyone who likes caroling? It's just a hair worse than being caroled to.  I hate standing awkwardly on the porch whilst people sing to me); we didn't go to any concerts, ButNutcrackers, or talent shows.  We had one family party and two friend parties, one ward party, one work party (which thankfully was the same night as a friend party so we didn't have to stay long at the work party; it's painful).

Here are some highlights:

 When I was a kid, we always got pajamas on Christmas Eve; usually homemade, matching pajamas.  It was one of my favorite traditions.

This year they weren't matching but they were cute.  (BTW, Chelsea, I ended up getting the pj's from Boden; they had a big sale right after we talked.)

Henry got his very first tie from Grandma Roberts.  It's a big deal.

Both Landon and I loved having Christmas on Sunday.  We had a special sacrament meeting that stressed the Importance of this sacred day.  We both felt renewed and refreshed after that meeting.

Ethan had said to me in the weeks before Christmas that he didn't want to open his presents and then have to leave his toys to go to church (we had a 9:00am meeting).  He suggested we wait and open presents after church.  I've heard it suggested that kids who are able to delay satisfaction grow up to be successful adults.  I was very proud of the boy.

We started our morning by opening stockings on our bed (something we do every year), then we hurriedly dressed for church and were out the door by 8:30.

I had covered the downstairs family room door with wrapping paper so no one could peek inside.  The boys loved busting through after church.

New circuit board kit.  

(By the way, Henry refused to get back in his pj's after church; he insisted on clothes.  There's something wrong with Christmas morning pictures in jeans.)

New transformer guys.

New R/C helicopter for Landon (Ethan got one, too.)

Ethan was pretty excited about this gift; Henry was nonplussed.  H was 1 1/2-years-old the last time we went and doesn't remember it.  We figure our kids are at sweet ages to go to Disneyland: no naps, no strollers, no diapers.  We're pretty excited.

I just wanted to throw this last photo in because it makes me so proud and happy.  Ethan sewed a microwave-rice bag for Henry for Christmas.  He loves to sew; I can thank my mom for that.  She's helped him make a pillow and a pieced blanket.  Think this photo will embarrass him when he's a teenager?