Our Christmas Hoopla began with a great Family Home Evening about the Savior's birth with my mom and step-dad and siblings at my sister Julie's house. It then proceeded with Scott's family on the 23rd. We had a sibling gift exchange as well as a cousin gift exchange. Things started out really well...both of the kids were really excited to be getting and giving gifts to their cousins. Here is Annicka, holding her gift for her cousin Jake. She was SO excited...that was until she opened her present.
Her gift was from her cousin Carter. The limit was $5. Apparently Annicka had her heart set on a "talking doll". The first time I heard about it was when she went BALLISTIC about the pom-poms she got instead. She had the meltdown of a lifetime. Scott said he had heard her talking about it before, but I had no clue that's what she wanted. Her expectations were not met. We had to have a long talk about being grateful for what we do get, and that we don't always get what we want.
The next day, Christmas Eve, we had my mom and step-dad and all of my siblings at our house. Thankfully grandma Copple hadn't gone shopping until the night of the 23rd and was able to save Christmas with the present she bought for Annicka.
Here are the kids with Grandma Copple and Papa Jim. They sure had fun with them while they were here!
We also got a TON of snow over the last week or so. I'd say it all added up to at least 18 inches.
We spent Christmas morning at our house with just the kids eating breakfast and opening their presents. Park was really funny! Every present he opened came with the exclamation of "WOW!" We got it on video. We then spent the rest of the day at grandma Chamberlain's eating a wonderful turkey dinner with cousins and had lot of fun making a giant snowman (which fell down before anyone could get a picture, apparently it was a little too big!). We wrapped up our Christmas celebrations with lunch at my dad's house on the 27th. We had some delicious Posole (a traditional mexican soup) and the kids had a great time playing with their cousins and aunts and uncles. We even got to go home with leftovers and some delicious homemade bread that my step-mom made. I need to get your recipe, Cynthia. We devoured it within hours of getting home. We hope everyone's Christmas was as good as ours!
Her gift was from her cousin Carter. The limit was $5. Apparently Annicka had her heart set on a "talking doll". The first time I heard about it was when she went BALLISTIC about the pom-poms she got instead. She had the meltdown of a lifetime. Scott said he had heard her talking about it before, but I had no clue that's what she wanted. Her expectations were not met. We had to have a long talk about being grateful for what we do get, and that we don't always get what we want. 
The next day, Christmas Eve, we had my mom and step-dad and all of my siblings at our house. Thankfully grandma Copple hadn't gone shopping until the night of the 23rd and was able to save Christmas with the present she bought for Annicka.
Here are the kids with Grandma Copple and Papa Jim. They sure had fun with them while they were here!
We also got a TON of snow over the last week or so. I'd say it all added up to at least 18 inches.
We spent Christmas morning at our house with just the kids eating breakfast and opening their presents. Park was really funny! Every present he opened came with the exclamation of "WOW!" We got it on video. We then spent the rest of the day at grandma Chamberlain's eating a wonderful turkey dinner with cousins and had lot of fun making a giant snowman (which fell down before anyone could get a picture, apparently it was a little too big!). We wrapped up our Christmas celebrations with lunch at my dad's house on the 27th. We had some delicious Posole (a traditional mexican soup) and the kids had a great time playing with their cousins and aunts and uncles. We even got to go home with leftovers and some delicious homemade bread that my step-mom made. I need to get your recipe, Cynthia. We devoured it within hours of getting home. We hope everyone's Christmas was as good as ours!
