Christmas 2013

This was our last Christmas in Iowa.  I have mixed feelings about it.  I will miss our friends here, and the traditions we have started, but next year it will also be great living 3.5 hours from St. George, my hometown.

On Christmas Eve, Ryan took the kids bowling.  Jace loves it.  We went a few weeks earlier for Family Home Evening and they have been excited to go back.  Our tradition is to go to the Wasserbaun Water Park in the Amana Colonies, but it was closed this year for remodeling.

While they  were gone, I put on my Christmas apron and went to work cooking a lovely meal.  I also set the table with my beautiful red Christmas place settings.  But I forgot to take a picture.  After dinner was over and cleared away, we had our family devotional.

We had a new baby Jesus this year!!  

We dressed Kjersti in blue and you would never guess that Jesus was a girl this year!

After the devotional we went downstairs to our family room and opened our family gifts.  Ryan and I  bought Jace a model car he had wanted from Costco, and Gracie received a bird house making kit.  They were both so excited.  We then sent them to bed so Santa could come.

And Santa did come!!  Santa (a.k.a. Ryan) stayed up until 3:47 AM putting together a pink kitchen and army plane!!  I was up with Kjersti so it was a party! Jace woke up at 6:30AM so excited to go see what he got.  Luckily it was still pitch dark outside, so we told him that we didn't think Santa had even come yet, so he went back to bed!!  

We all got up by 8:30 AM. Gracie got  a kitchen, cash register, doll and pajamas.  It was everything she had wished for!! She looks so cute in those orange PJ's!

Jace had asked for a large nerf gun to shoot his Dad with, a True Hero army plane and a Lego set.  He also got the game Battleship.

Here we are playing store.

Jace is checking out his cool army Shark Cargo plane.  It makes lots of nice noise as well.

Santa brought Kjersti and Gracie's doll matching outfits.   

Here I am with my girls!!!  Gracie's' doll cries when you put her on her stomach and only stops crying when you give it a binky!!  It is so fun having another crying baby in the house!!

It was a wonderful Christmas again this year! I  am always so sad to see the day come to an end. It really is the best day of the year.  I love it.

Finally, here are some of my favorite pictures I took of the kids throughout the day. 

The plane killing bad guys.

Jace giving baby Jesus a ride in his new car.

Gracie showing Kjersti her new play mat from Santa.

Kjersti all tuckered out from all the excitement.

Baby doll getting a ride too. 

Head shots of our newest addition.  

She's a cutie!

We hope you all had a very wonderful Christmas too!