Christmas Eve

I guess I will start at the beginning, since I have so much to catch up on.  Honestly, Christmas break is all a big blur to me.  After I last updated the blog, I was highly doped up on strong pain meds for many days while I got my kidney pain under control.  Although it was a WONDERFUL feeling to have the pain managed, I'm sad that it left me feeling so loopy. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Christmas, and it makes me so sad that I wasn't able to make the holiday as exciting and fun as usual.  I'm hoping my kids didn't notice too much of a difference, but I still feel so sad that the Christmas decorations have all been put away and I don't feel like we've even had Christmas yet.   

We had our usual Family Home Evening on Christmas Eve, where we sang songs, read the scriptures and talked about our Savior's birth.  Then the kids received their Christmas Eve presents - new pajamas, a photo book filled with pictures of them throughout the year, and a new ornament to hang on the tree.  All the ornaments were purchased in a store on the Oregon Coast this past summer, so the kids have something to remember the fun vacation.



Brevan wanted me to re-create a photo I took last year, where he looked at Logan's new photo book while wearing their matching pajamas.

The reindeer had quite the treat this year, with a gift of carrots and a bowl of water. 

These notes were written by Lindsey, and placed with the cookies.  They say: "Santa eat all the cookies please.  Take one of two or all of them."  Then Lindsey and Logan each drew a picture of themselves.

Lindsey's letter to Santa this year: "Dear Santa, Injoy your cookies.  We have ben verry good.  I want an amaracin girl doll please!!"

And Brynlie's letter to Santa this year: "Dear Mr. Claus, I have been very good!  I deserve what I want because I am really nice!  Near the end of this summer I baked cookies and brownies, then I bought soda and finally donated about $120 to the people in Joplin after their tornado.  Anyways, let me tell you what I want.  I would really love a laptop.  I would preferably like the lapbook I think it's called.  But your Santa.  You know who to get it.  Also, I would like an iPod Nano.  And, if you would, I have been hoping that you could get me lots of art supplies for my stocking.  I won't forget the cookies and milk.  Oh!  And I'll leave the reindeer some fresh carrots and water.  Thanks a lot! I hope you have a merry, merry Christmas, Santa Claus!  Sincerely, Brynlie.  PS - I would also  like a white desk!  I've been really good!  Sort of!  PPS - I also want American Girl doll stuff!