Christmas Eve and Christmas morning

This year we decided as a family to make all of our gifts to each other instead of buying them. It was so much fun to see what the kids came up with and to see them get so excited about making and giving their gifts. I even made the kids a homemade tee pee. I was so excited and nervous. I didn't start making it until a couple of days before Christmas and everything that could go wrong did, until finally my machine just stopped sewing. Luckily a friend let me borrow hers and I was able to finish and it turned out great. On Christmas eve we had to put the finishing touches on all of the gifts. This is Makelle with Dad making a coloring book for Zak with tons of animal pictures and fun facts pasted at the bottom. It was a big hit! Zak built this carrying thing all by himself and was so excited to paint it Makelle's favorite colors. He built if for her to carry her makeup in but I'm not so sure she will use it for that!
This is a picture the kids took of John and I. John looks so excited to be with me! Don't look to close at the haircut, John cut it for me again, but this time it was the whole thing start to finish. The front is great and the back is fine, but the sides need a little work. Next time will be perfection. He is way more brave than I am to just start cutting my hair, or am I the brave one letting him go to town on my hair?
Christmas eve we let the kids open a present from Grandma Valynn. She made them Scripture people costumes and they were very excited to do the nativity in their fancy clothes.
Mary holding her baby in swaddling clothes. These kids never get sick of dressing up and I love to take their pictures.
Lantz loves to play in the cupboards and destroy the kitchen.
We had to put our oats and sprinkle reindeer food outside for Santa's reindeer and we left Lantz in the warm house.
We didn't have snow to sprinkle the food on so we decided to put it up on the roof for the reindeer.
And some down below just in case.
The reindeer are spoiled at our house!
We had a great Christmas eve. We didn't do a whole lot but we played tons together and that is what the kids love the most. We ate, had root beer floats, and put the reindeer food out and then we were rushed to bed. This was such a fun year for Zak he was so worried when it got dark and he wanted us to hurry to bed. Oh the excitement of kids is what makes Christmas so fun. We put the kids to bed and John and I got Christmas ready and then I cleaned the house. We went to bed and a few hours later I woke up sick and throwing up but I was feeling lots better a few hours later when the kids woke up and I got to enjoy the rest of Christmas feeling great. Luckily no one else seems to have gotten the bug, knock on wood.

Christmas morning was fantastic. The kids were so excited to get their toy kitchen. Santa brought it for all three of them and all three of them love it. Zak kept saying I didn't even ask for this but Santa knew I wanted one and would love it. They feed us food about twenty times a day now! They were also very excited about the huge tent. Zak was relieved to see that it wasn't pants that I had been sewing for him. He was so worried.

Lantz was a little un sure of what he was supposed to do and what all the fuss was about. Mostly he wanted to get every one's candy.
Lantz got a little toy car from Grandma Joan and Grandpa Bagley. He loves cars and he has started making the vroom vroom sound!

Zak and Makelle both made Lantz homemade shakers. They glued, painted, and wrapped them for him. He sure loved shaking them.
The kids were so excited to give me a wallet holder, since I always loose my wallet. They hand sewed it for me to hang up on the wall. Sooo creative. Luckily John wrote inside the wrapping paper what it was!! They were very pleased with themselves. They made homemade picture frames for their dad and a "secret safe".

One of Zak's favorite things was a picture book of all is aunts, cousins, and grandparents in Springville. He loved looking at everyone he misses. Thanks Grandma Valynn!
Emily sent movies for the kids and Grandma Joan and Grandpa Bagley gave Makelle a new coat and rain boots. She wore the coat for all of her present unwrapping and the rain boots have yet to be taken off.
John had a big yummy breakfast planned but since I was sick we decided to save it for another day. We settled on simple cereal. Lantz though it tasted better on John's lap!
We had a great Christmas and hope you did too! We are so grateful for all of our family and friends. We are so blessed to have so many great people in our lives. Zak said that this was his bestest Christmas ever and he never wanted the day to end. It doesn't get any better than that. Merry Christmas!