Christmas

Abigail with a doll she got from one of Rob's grandmothers

Christmas traditions really are for kids! When you're a kid, there is so much excitement, and then when you have kids there is just as much excitement. The twins are finally at a stage where they were excited about Christmas. I'd often ask what they wanted for Christmas. Thomas would always say a train and Luke would always say a Christmas tree which is ten feet tall with lights and bells and a star. On Christmas eve in his prayer before bedtime he said, "And thank Thee for the Christmas tree I am going to get which has lights and bells and a star." I then had to tell him he wasn't going to get a Christmas tree for Christmas but that we did have other gifts for him which he would really like. He was satisfied with that and just said, "Okay Mommy!" Stephen didn't get Christmas this year. He probably will next year since it will be just before he turns three.

Anyway, yesterday we went to a family in our ward for a Christmas eve dinner. We both made stuff for the meal, although she made most of it. That was fun. Then when we came home, we told the Christmas story, acting it out with one of our Nativity sets, and let them watch some Christmas shows.

The kids woke up around their usual time (7:30 am) and were really excited to begin unwrapping their gifts. I loved watching them squeal with delight as they opened their gifts. Sometimes they would jump up and down and throw their hands up in the air because they were so excited and happy with their gifts. It was fun.

Playing with their new train set ALL DAY!

Christmas Day dinner

I then phoned my grandparents and we then Skyped my family in South Africa and Baltimore and afterwards Rob's mom, also in Baltimore. I made some food and we went at 4pm to have a joint Christmas dinner with some friends on our street who are in our Stake, but not in our ward. That was lots of fun too. The twins kept coming to ask me when we could go home so that they could play with their new train set. We got home just in time for them to go to bed though, but they didn't mind because they received flashlights for Christmas so they were happy to lie in bed and use their flashlights in the dark.

It was a really good Christmas!!!