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!
