Christmas Trip....Part 3....Christmas Day

Christmas Morning

The kids stockings

Ammon talking to the kids about the meaning of Christmas, just like we do every year.  I am sure by the time they are teenagers they are going to be enacting the whole thing by themselves.  They already know it almost, word for word.  

We are grateful for our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Emrie, tearing into her present.  The boys thought that she needed their help. 

Uncle Ty spoiled Bowen and got him his own bat, glove and balls.  Santa brought Bowen bases and the such.

Awww....the eclairs.  This is one of the #1 things that I look forward to on Christmas morning.  Schmidts Pastry Cottage and their delicious baked goods.  Sugar cookies on Christmas Eve and Eclairs on Christmas morning.  Yummmmmm!  Thanks Suz for bringing them.  Forget the gifts, give me the eclairs.  These things are gone in like 8 seconds flat.  IF you don't get one right when they are out, you are not going to get one at all.

And all of the other delicious treats that my mom puts out.  See's chocolates, homemade peanut brittle, homemade banana bread and zucchini bread, homemade english toffee, and her new homemade christmas mix.  My dad has got to have his turnover's, cherry and apple.  This year we had to sacrifice the cherry...they were no where to be found.  So we had to be okay with apple and blueberry....I guess it will do.

Mom and dad, I am so grateful for all of your hard work and effort in making all of the Christmas festivities traditions.  I value them more than anything.

We certainly are blessed.  Another year of everything we all wanted and more.  Thanks to the uncle's, aunt's, cousin's and Papa and Mimi for the wonderful, thoughtful gifts.

Emrie, riding on her present from Mimi and Papa

Another family tradition that has been going on for generations is that the men of the family make Christmas morning breakfast.  I love this tradition for more reason's than any of the other one's.  I love it because the woman are ALWAYS expected to do the cooking, but for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day my dad and mom do a ton of cooking to make it possible. He is not biased because he is the man of the family.  In fact, I think he loves the tradition as much as the rest of us.  My mom, of course, behind the scenes doing a lot to make all of it possible.

Ammon and Hayden working on his erector set that Papa and Mimi got him.  Right down Hayden alley......and Ammon's too.

My parents gift.  Every year their gift to the families is a summer trip.  Every year we will be going on a summer trip........and I love this present.  These gifts are invaluable because of the memories that are made.  Thanks dad and mom for the gift.  I can't wait to go to California this summer.

She made all of the families a cozy minky blanket and bought all of the family members new towels with their names enbroidered on them.  Bowen ran off with his before I could take a picture.

Christmas morning Breakfast....Yum!

Ammon sporting his apron.  He is such a stinker.  He is totally mocking me in this picture.  I keep telling him that though he doesn't care too much about the pictures I take, our posterity will.

I am so glad that we got a visit from my grandma Olsen (Mimi's mom).  She is 82 and all by herself.  I think she would prefer it that way.  She is pretty independent.  My grandpa past away quite a few years back, about 6 years ago.  We miss him and his sense of humor terribly.

My grandma, Leola (82), Halle (9) and Emrie (9months).

All dressed up and ready to go to church.
Let the chaos begin.

My beautiful parents.

Carl.  A family friend.  It wouldn't be the same without a visit from our good family friends.