Christmas Day

It didn't take much for the kiddos to fall asleep on Christmas Eve after our fun day in Waco. When we laid them down, we told them the very earliest they could wake up was 5:00. Thad did not disappoint, and was in our room at 5am sharp! We had to laugh at this, but weren't quite ready to wake the other two up because we stayed up until midnight watching It's a Wonderful Life and we had church and didn't want Eve to be cranky the whole time. I don't know that a half hour did much, but Thad hung out in bed with us until 5:30 and then we woke the other two-

 Eve looks like she's not too happy about it, but she bolted up the second Thad said "Presents!" 

 These three amigos waited patiently and we all headed down the stairs together to this beautiful sight-

And I got a cute video of Thad discovering our long awaited present...

DISNEYLAND TICKETS!!!!

We told the kids a few months ago that we were planning a trip to Disney with mom's side of the family, but we needed their help and they needed to ask Santa for tickets to the park and we would take care of the rest. Luckily our kids are pretty dang awesome, and they asked faithfully each time they saw Santa (Wes maybe threw in that he wanted a remote control monster truck here and there) and the Big Man pulled through! We leave for California this week and couldn't be more excited!

We were all excited and relieved once we knew we had the tickets and had a hay day opening the rest of the wonderfulness that was under the tree. 

  

These three loved their gifts from Grandma Teresa and Grandpa Russ!

We decided to start a fun tradition this year (I hope it lasts) where the kids draw names and make a gift for the sibling they draw. It ended up being a lot of fun and I think they will want to do it again!

Thad gave to Eve

 Magnet board!

Eve gave to Wes 

 Racetrack!

Wes gave to Thad 

Marshmallow guns!

 After all our gift opening, we still had time to spare before getting ready for church and enjoyed a delicious breakfast bake! I tried some recipes from Teresa this year, and they were all a success!

I'm so grateful for our early birds because we were able to be ready, take a few pictures before heading to church and be on time...on Christmas Day! Go Monsens!

  

  

Having Christmas on a Sunday this year was really special. I'm so glad we were able to get ready and go worship with so many of the people we love most. Singing Christmas songs and listening to ward members speak of their testimonies of our Savior added to the spirituality of our Christmas Day. I am truly grateful for my Savior and His life and the eternal possibilities it offers me. I loved spending Christmas with these four people and can't wait to spend many more with them!

After church we lounged, napped, played and ate to our heart's content while we waited for our Waco cousins to come. It was perfect!

Once the Monsens arrived we played, lounged and ate some more! Christmas is pretty amazing if you ask me! Luckily the weather was awesome and we spent a good chunk of the evening enjoying the outdoors.

After it got dark we headed in for some more food and gift opening!

The tradition of the Monsen-Whitehouse book exchange has become one of our favorites! We love having pictures of cousins in the front of our books and remember them and their book of choice all year long! 

I don't know how I didn't get a picture of the girls with their "monsters" that Grandma Teresa knitted for them, but here they are opening them and Eve holding hers. They both loved them! 

Another highlight was getting one last Beanie Baby from Great Grandma Alice's collection. Each of my kids has three of them now and we love them so much! This year the collection was divided up to give one to each of Grandma Alice's grandchildren and each of her great grandchildren. Funny enough there was exactly enough to do that plus one extra to put on Grandpa Christensen's tree in his hospital room. I don't think it was a coincidence. 

I don't know if Grandma Alice knew how special these would be when she was actually collecting them, but they have been a special treat she has left to her posterity.

And the last tradition of the night was finding the pickle! Those kiddos needed a couple hints, but Thad pulled through and came out on top and won the $5 at stake. June and Wes weren't too happy about it...maybe next year, cute kids! 

Christmas 2016 did not disappoint and will be one to always remember!

Christmas Eve

I have a lot of catching up to do because our computer was on the fritz for a couple of months, but I'm going to capture our holidays memories before they pass us by and work backwards (and forwards) from there. I hope y'all had an amazing December just like we have!

For the kids December seemed to drag by so slowly, but for mom and dad we couldn't believe Christmas Eve was already upon us! We had plans in Waco, the kids dutifully asked Santa for Disneyland tickets and Melvin showed up every morning throughout the month so hopes were high at the Monsen house and the kids couldn't wait to get to Waco to start the celebrations!

First we had to document how warm it has been in Texas! Playing outside every single day has been pretty easy with the sun shining and all the kids out of school to play together!

  

(And yes, you better believe that's sandals in December! Those Saltwater Sandals have been worth their weight in gold down here in Texas...she has been wearing them since June!)

We finally made it up to Waco around 3pm and the kids snacked (Aunt Kelsie nailed the rice pudding!) and played and tried to do their best to pass the time before it was time to spy for reindeer!

Eve and Christian "playing" nicely... 

And once I took a shot of Eve, June had to get in on the camera action! 

We also FaceTimed with family in Utah wishing that we could all be together for this wonderful holiday.

June and Wes disappeared during the video call and we had to show them where they had gone- 

 Just reading in bed together! So cute!

And you would never guess these three are cousins, would you? #triplets

We got Chinese food, decorated ginger bread houses and ended the night with the nativity reenactment. I have to say it was a pretty fabulous Christmas Eve!

 We had to get creative to keep Eve from eating and ruining everything, so cardboard, frosting and some candies did the trick!

 Brian and Thad were the masterminds behind our marshmallow igloo and I just put the frosting where they needed it. 

The nativity was sort of last minute, but we couldn't let Christmas Eve pass by without turning our attention to the most important thing that makes Christmas what it is. The kids were great sports, June took her role pretty seriously and Wes was as bright as the Angel Gabriel with that smile of his!

These cousins sure make a good team and I hope they always remember the Reason for the Season.

All three kids fell asleep on our ride home and were excited to get home and in jammies so that Santa wouldn't pass us by! 

So we read "The Night Before Christmas"-

Eve was not happy about not being able to sit on Dad's lap and block the whole book from the boys.

We set out cookies for the Big Man and carrots for the reindeer-

And last, but not least (even though we forgot and had to come back downstairs to do it), each kiddo picked a spot for their stocking- 

Wes just being the big helper he is-

 And off to bed it was-

The magic of Christmas is pretty spectacular! They couldn't wait to see what the morning would hold!