christmas 2015

 We had a very beautiful Christmas day.  There was a thunderstorm that woke us all up around 5, but luckily the girls just stayed in bed until about 6:30.  They all held hands and walked out to the living room.  They found their stockings and were overly thrilled about everything from a pack to gum to nail polish.  It was very fun to watch.  Caimbree was so cute because she just watched her older sisters for cues to see what to do and then followed along.  She was excited about everything in her stocking.  The only thing Heidi didn't want were the clementines.  She used to like them but recently decided they were too hard to chew so she told Savanna she could take those.  Savanna happily accepted.  The way the conversation went was hilarious and we are grateful we got it on video.

 After the girls were done looking at their stockings we made german pancakes with buttermilk syrup.  Everyone enjoyed them.  We started a new tradition this year.  We made a manger and all month we have been doing acts of service for each other, friends, neighbors, and the community.  We have put pieces of straw in the manger for each act of service to make the manger softer for baby Jesus.  These were our "gifts" to the Savior.  Last night we put the manger under the tree and this morning the baby Jesus was in our manger.  Before we opened presents, we read through each piece of hay.  It was so fun and really brought the spirit into our home.  There were so many things I didn't remember or know the girls had done!  The girls were so excited to read them and didn't care about waiting to open presents.  I am excited to keep this tradition going for years to come.

 Caimbree opened the first present and it was so cute how the older girls sat around her and coached her how to open it and we so excited for her.

 We took a long time to open presents.  Not because we had a ton, but because the girls would get a book and then we would stop and read the book.  It was so fun.

 All Savanna wanted this year was this little purse with chapstick in it.  Heidi picked that out as her present to Savanna and was so excited to see her open it.  Savanna also decided to give Heidi the same thing. They opened them and kept hugging each other and telling each other thank you.  It was so sweet.  I love, love, love that my girls have each other.

 All Heidi wanted was a Doc Mobile.  Santa brought it for her and she so very excited.  She has been a busy little girl today fixing her animals and using the walkie talkies grandma H gave her to communicate where the sick animals were with Savanna and Jeff.

Savanna's nose started to get a little stuffy this morning and I think she is getting a cold.  It didn't seem to slow her down and she doesn't have a fever or anything, just a little congestion and seems a little more tired than usual.  Hopefully it will pass quickly, but I am very grateful everyone was healthy for Christmas.

 Heidi and Jeff went to work putting together a Lego Frozen castle when the little girls took a nap.  They had a lot of fun together and I loved watching them hard at work.

To end our day we had the missionaries over for dinner.  We have really enjoyed our missionaries and have them over as often as we can.  We were happy we got them for Christmas and enjoyed their company and Christmas message.  Heidi and Savanna played a few rounds of Hungry, Hungry Hippo and thought that was so fun.  Overall, it was a pretty perfect Christmas!  I can't believe it already came and went and we are headed towards a new year.  Merry Christmas!