Christmas!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Christmas! I love the traditions, the lights, the decorations, the music, the treats, the planning, the secret surprises, gift wrapping, gift unwrapping, I love it all. It was nice to have Christmas on Sunday this year. I like going to church on Christmas to help us remember the real reason we celebrate the holiday. I always love the Christmas Sacrament meeting because it's mostly music. Sam was the only speaker. He did an amazing job (of course)! It was a beautiful meeting even though Emmitt spilled an entire container of cereal on the floor in the chapel.

A recap of the Festivities...

We went to see Santa at the Heritage Center in town. They always have a nice display and you can take pictures for free (unlike the stingy mall Santa). Mila actually sat on his lap this year all by herself! I think it helped that we went with our friends, the Whitacres, and their son is in Mila's class at church. They went first so I think it helped build her courage. Plus, she really wanted him to know that she wanted Squinkies :) Emmitt hated Santa! He really threw a fit. Then when Santa's helper, an older lady, tried to give him a candy cane, he smacked it right out of her hand onto the floor.  

For a couple of weeks Mila talked and talked about how she wanted to make cookies to leave for Santa. It was a disaster. Long story short, the recipe calls for 2 Tablespoons of lemon juice. I put in 2 Tbsp and I don't know how much more Mila added, but it was plenty. That was kind of how the whole experience was. We took the dough over to Grandma's and cooked and decorated the cookies with the cousins. I don't think they were very good, but they served their purpose and Mila was so happy to put them out. She still talks about how she left cookies for Santa.

On Christmas Eve, after we got home from our family party and the kiddos were sleeping, Sam and I wrapped presents and watched a movie. I felt like a kid myself because I was so excited for morning to come so the kids could see the presents under the tree. We didn't put any under the tree before because I knew Emmitt wouldn't leave them alone. Because of him, we also have ornaments on only the top half of the tree. Mila was so excited when she saw that Santa had come. It's funny to me how much she knows about Santa because I have never taught her about him. I think she picked up a lot from cartoons.

 This is actually the first Christmas tree we've ever had! We always just decorated our ficus tree because we were always at one of our parent's houses on Christmas morning. We didn't have many ornaments, a tree topper, or a tree skirt (I borrowed one of my mom's old ones), but I remedied that with Christmas clearance. I cleaned up! I got over $500 worth of stuff for $150. I am such a clearance junkie. I stalk stores after the holidays just waiting for things to go to 75% off, and then I pounce.

Before church we let the kids open their stockings and Mila opened her church dress. They also got the present I was the most excited to give them...

I love this picture of Emmitt. This was his first time down, and he gets going really fast.

Yes, I want it for indoor use. When I first told Sam I wanted to get them a slide he was a little skeptical because it's pretty big and we live in a tiny house, but I told him I am the one who has to keep them entertained all winter. He agreed. We used the kids' Christmas money from Sam's parents. Thanks Grandpa and Grandma Trulock!  They love it! Mila keeps saying, "Mom, do you remember how we got a slide for Christmas?"

This was the best picture I could get of them together in their church clothes. Of course it was at the top of the slide.

We changed out of church clothes, minus Emmitt, then it was present time. These are a few of the favorites...

 A giant Toy Story coloring book and coloring stuff.

 I made Mila a shirt with a crown and her name made of jewels.

 Cinderella Barbie. Modestly dressed, too. :)

Mila with her Squinkies and their cupcake house. Emmitt is playing with Chompin' Mike the Mower behind her. That one is a little too loud for me. The mower, not Emmitt. Well, sometimes Emmitt.

They also got the game Let's Go Fishin'. One of the fish got stuck on Emmitt's finger.

We had a magical Christmas! I hope that Christmas found everyone else well and happy, too. I can't wait for next year (especially because I'll get to use all of my clearance stuff)!

Happy New Year to all!