Christmas Joy

This Christmas was a new adventure for us.  For the first time since we’ve been married we had a third and welcomed member in our family.  I have to say that Christmas is much more exciting when you have your own kids.  Don’t get me wrong, Christmas is always a fun time of year, but the excitement topped the charts with Stetzen around.  I am one of those people who love shopping for gifts for other people, and much to Zach’s dismay I splurged a little.  (Ok, probably a LOT when it came to Ted!) 

That morning we all got ready for church and enjoyed a wonderful program filled with musical numbers and the importance of the Christmas season, Christ!  I was asked to play the piano, so I played “The First Noel.”  It’s one of my favorite Christmas arrangements and touches my heart every time!  We only had sacrament meeting that day, so afterwards, we went home and ransacked the gifts Santa and others gave us.   

Zach

This year Zach wasn’t surprised by much that Santa, Stetzen, or I gave him.  Mostly because it was all purchased very early in the year and because I’m not sneaky enough to hide it all.  The most exciting things he received were a Ranch Hand gun (that he begged and pleaded for!!) and a dvd by Ken McNabb that teaches you how to get your horse to lie down.  He also got some clothes, bullets, an ice fishing pole, and the John Deere Farming game.

Stetzen

As I mentioned before, Stetzen got a whole slew of things from his parents, grandparents, and aunts/uncles.  Poor kid will know the meaning of being spoiled if this keeps up, lol!  While Christmas was an excitement for me, I think he was confused about the whole thing.  He wasn't sure what to think about it all.  He didn't grasp the unwrapping part, but loved the torn paper.  (Note to self, next year just stuff boxes full of paper and he'll love it!)  Of the many things he received, I do think his favorites are his "Beans", nighttime music projector, books, and walker.  He's used these countless times and I'm glad he has them, especially his projector.  He can't sleep without it now!  It makes life easy when he goes to bed at home, but when we're gone, it sure is hard to get him to fall asleep. 

Chillin in his new walker!

Oh my!  There's just too much!!

 Not digging the unwrapping part.

Grandma Bessire gave him this!  I thought it was a wonderful idea!

Grandma Bessire gave us all nitted beanies, but his was a tad bit small!

We called his beanie his yamica!

I also thought he looked especially cute in this winter hat!

The musical ball Skylie gave Ted.

The first of a large collection of John Deere Tractors I'm sure he'll have!

From Grandma Young

He really did not want anymore clothes, especially stuffy church ones, lol!

Enjoying Dad read his new book to him :)

Me

I think I got spoiled this Christmas too!  Zach surprised me with lots of fun stuff for my camera he got me last year...an external flash, tripod, and remote.  They will all come in handy for the future photographer I hope to become!  I also got a pair of pjs, book, robe, and cookbook.

After all the present opening, we went to Nancy's house to eat dinner.  Afterwards, we played games and made ice cream.  To end the evening, we had FHE and watched the new nativity movie and read the Christmas story in Luke.  Overall, it was a wonderful day, both for the spiritual aspects and for the time together as family!