Christmas Morning & Day

This morning, I got up around 6:30 to turn on the Christmas lights and start breakfast.  I pulled out the mixer to make cinnamon rolls.  I didn't really feel like making or eating them. Before starting, I heard giggling upstairs.  I found these two in Lexi's bed.  They were quite excited.  I asked them if they wanted cinnamon rolls and they said nope.  Lexi wasn't "in the mood for all that sugar." They wanted cereal.  We started the morning with photos.

Empty Santa Cookies Plate

Fresh Juice

Stockings

From Grandma & Papa - Lexi had been wanting a jersey since school started

Exchanging Our Gifts to Each Other

Presents from Church Members

Nintendo DS

Gifts from Santa

All the Gifts

Skating Queen

Play Time

Outside

Christmas Eve 2013

We were invited to have Christmas Eve dinner with families from church.  They are families we know, but don't socialize with very often.  It was great to get to know them better. We had a wonderful dinner and a wonderful time.  Before we left, one of them said he had packages for us to take home.  He had quite a few packages for the kids.

We got home and opened one present.  Following my family's tradition, the kids got pjs.  They put them on and quickly got ready for bed.  My kids are not horrible about going to bed, but they were very excited about it.  Lexi was so excited she could not contain herself.  I took a video of her silliness.  It took a while for her to fall asleep.  It was after 10 pm.

Too Excited

Disney Movie

This morning, I thought it would be a great day to watch Frozen.  Lots of people have told me that this movie is amazing.  I had it all planned out and then I got a text from a friend asking what our plans were.  She asked if they could go with us.  I had to get a picture.  These are some of the kids' closest friends.  We have quite a few playdates at their house.  It made watching the movie so fun for all of us.

Christmas Talk at Church

Lexi gave a talk in Primary this morning.  When we got home, she asked me make a video of her reading it.

Big Christmas Show

This evening, a friend took us to his church's Christmas show.  It is the Second Baptist church. They have amazing train villages set up in the lobby.  It was quite a spectacular show and seemed very Disney live show-ish, which is a bit different than we are used to for the story of the birth of Christ.  

Polar Express Day 2013

Jordan and Lexi only had a half day today.  I'm sure that it was all fun since they had Polar Express day.  They got to watch the movie, drink hot chocolate, and do other stuff.  The kids took gifts for their teachers.

Christmas Artwork

Big Christmas Concert

This evening, Lexi & Jordan had their big Christmas Choir Concert.  It was at an outdoor shopping center near our house.  Lexi kept saying she was nervous because she had a solo.  She seemed fine though and pulled it off.  

The video isn't clear, but Lexi is the one singing "big read cherry nose" every time. 

Light Show

This evening, we went out looking for Christmas lights.  I heard about this house.  The lights are timed to the music that is broadcast on a radio station.  It was amazing and there are many over-the-top houses in the neighborhood.  We'll definitely visit every year.

Christmas Tree Shopping

After the choir concert, we went shopping.  Our first trip was to the mall.  I had planned to get Lexi a coat for Christmas.  In a normal year, the weather doesn't get cold until after Christmas.  Sometimes only a few days here & there.  We've had quite a few cold fronts come through already though, so I decided to get it for her today.  She was very pleased with the coat we found.

Once that task was completed, we went Christmas tree shopping.  

When we got home, I hauled the tree in and brought the decorations down from the attic.  We enjoyed decorating it.

I snapped a few pictures and then set up the timer to get a few of all of us.  This one was my favorite.  I even like it better than the one we have for our Christmas cards.

Choir Performance at Assisted Living Facility

This morning, the children's choir had a performance at an assisted living facility.  It has been quite a cold day, but the perfect time of year to get out and spread cheer.