Christmas 2014

This year I did almost all of my Christmas shopping online and it was so nice.  No going out in the cold or fighting the crowds on Black Friday or every other day of the week for that matter.  It did feel weird to have it all done without setting foot in a store when Christmas Eve rolled around.  I never felt like it was done but it was.  We kept Christmas activities simple this year.  We kind of go crazy with fun during Halloween, food with Thanksgiving but Christmas is just about being together and service.  We made 40 loaves of bread this year and delivered them.  It was so nice to take the time to go visit some of our old friends from the old ward who we hadn't seen since March.  Neil wanted to do something for the young men but wasn't sure what.  I figured teenagers love food so why not a plate of cookies.  I let each kid pick their favorite cookie and we spent a Saturday making cookies one on one. Now that's a tradition I want to keep up.  I loved spending time with each child talking to them while we baked.  Conner picked lemon crinkles, Sam picked pumpkin chocolate chip, Mikey picked double chocolate M&M, and Lucy chocolate chip.

Neil did most of the decorating this year.  I helped but my heart wasn't into it.  I loved it when it was all up in the end.  I love how a lot of the décor has a story and memory, like the train around the tree is Grandpa Bahr's, the village my mom gave me a bunch of the pieces, the wall hanging is from the Hibberts and other items friends and family have given us.  I always think of that person/family when I see it.  I used to always give money as a wedding present until recently because I remember what most people gave me and so when I use it I think of that person and it brings back fond memories.  Maybe most people aren't sentimental like me and would rather have the money but I hope they think of the Hibberts years down the road when they use that pan or dishcloth. 

We did keep up with a few traditions such as going to see Santa.  We wanted to give poinsettias to our close neighbors and so we went to our favorite nursery where their poinsettias were so full and gorgeous and also because Santa would be there.  It was so nice because no one was in line and so we were able to take our time with him.  First we were off to Macy's to mail our letters to Santa.

Conner asked for wii.

Mikey wanted a wii or a Chima lego set.

Sam had a huge wish list.  He asked for a wii, xbox, kindle, ipod touch, computer, lego chima temple but in the end he told Santa he could bring what he thought was the best.

Lucy wanted my little ponies.



Eliza wasn't so sure about Santa.

Sam would love to have a nose that big to pick.  That is one habit he needs to break asap.

We got a ton of snow so we went sledding several times.



 Poor Neil was sick the whole week and a half before Christmas and had to take it off just to lay in bed.  On one of those days both him and Lucy fell asleep on the floor.

                              

Conner and Sam built a tent between their beds to sleep under.

This is how it looked without the cover.  Pretty tight fit there boys.

The girls love taking bubble baths.

I love these Christmas angels.



We went and celebrated with Allison before she left for Georgia.  Presley asked me why I never do my hair and asked if her and Lucy could do it.  They had so much fun putting a ton of bows in my hair.

We put off making candy houses until Christmas Eve to the kids dismay but they had so much fun making them and this way they only had to wait one day to eat them.

Sam said he was trying to make the inside of his house look as messy as ours.

Christmas Eve we also went to see the Layton lights in city park.  We had put it off all month and so did everyone else it seems.  We waited in the car for an hour to drive through but it ended up being perfect.  We read the Nativity and discussed it with the kids as well as our gifts for Christ this year.  We had a captive audience and it couldn't have worked out better.

I thought I had planned well by wrapping presents days before and was hoping to go to bed by 11 but we were up until after 1.  The boys got a wii and Lucy got a my little pony doll from Santa.  When Sam saw the wii and it registered he said he felt like he was going to die.  I think our kids are one of the last children alive to have video games or that's how they felt. 

The kids so excited to go down and see their presents.

One of Lucy's favorite presents was this huge dog.  It sure beats a real one for now.

How many suckers can I stick in my mouth at once without choking.

Each of the kids got one board game and one card game so we have spent a lot of time bonding over games.  It's been great.