Christmas Eve 2014

We had such a great Christmas this year! Thomas survived the holiday with only a few over tired melt downs.  He was beyond spoiled with love and gifts from grandparents and aunts and uncles, ate way too much sugar, and stayed up hours past his bed time a few nights but he was a trooper.  I am so thankful to live such a blessed life.

We took Thomas to see Santa Christmas Eve morning...I'll just let the picture explain how that went.  

                                                                     

Afterwards we went to JT's dad's house for breakfast with AshLee and her family.  We exchanged presents, ate yummy food, and got to visit for a few hours while the kids played with their new toys.  Thomas is still terrified of their dog Max, which is weird because he does fine with all other dogs...we'll have to work on that some more.  Thanks Grandpa Jeff and Shelle for such a fun time!

Ceni and Izzi got these kid size couches and I have never seen Thomas love something so much.  He played on those things hard and we left with a few bruises from him diving off of them into everything.

For Christmas Eve night, we went to JT's mom's house with all of his sisters and their families.  They had a "Feliz Navidad", or at least that's what they called it because we had shrimp tacos and other mexican delicousness.  I have the best mother in law who cooks me my own meals because I can't stomach sea food at all.  She is such a sweetie. Thomas got to see his cousins again and we exchanged presents and spent some much needed time as a whole family.  My favorite part of the night was when drew names and had to say what we loved about the person that we picked.  I picked JT and could barely get any words out about him because he's just the best. So I think I cried more then said anything, but he knows how much I love him.  It was really sweet to hear everyone's responses and feel so much love in that room.  We will sure miss all of them when we move away.  

We went back to my parents house and did the traditional PJ opening and picture taking.  Every year my parents try and out do each other for getting the worst PJs for each other....this year my mom definitely won.  My dad's were a footed onesie with a long sleep cap thing...oh my gosh it was SO funny.  Pictures don't even do it justice, it was just too good.  My dad always reads Luke 2 and this year we talked about the different symbols of Christmas.  We all wrote on a floating lantern what we wanted to give to Christ in the year 2015 and sent it off into the sky.  Allison and Guy spent Christmas in Colorado so we missed them lots, but they are coming out this weekend so we will get to see them before we move.

It's so hard not to get caught up sometimes in all the fake fluff that surrounds this holiday.  I am so thankful for my Savior who died and atones for all of my many mistakes.  I would not be where I am today with the gift of the Atonement.  I hope that I will be able to teach Thomas and our future kids how truly blessed we are, and help them develop a strong, loving relationship with their Savior.  We also watched this quick video that the Church put out, I just love it.  I love how such a simple video can get such a great message across.