Christmas 2008

We had a wonderful Christmas Eve, with Grandma & Grandpa Bascom, Aunt Karen and Uncle Bill joining our family. We enjoyed our traditional semi-formal Christmas Eve ham dinner with a place setting for our Savior, followed by reading the Christmas Nativity Story (Luke 2) where we all took turns reading a verse, and talked about gifts we could give to Christ.

followed by singing Christmas carols together

with Bill and Karen serenading us with "Our Christmas Tree"

After company left, we opened the traditional Christmas Eve present of "p.j.'s". Emily had plenty of nighties so she got a new purple robe. I really like the way we celebrate on Christmas Eve, a little more reverence and remembrance of our Savior.

Christmas Day brought EXCITEMENT for gifts received:

Even though Emily had asked for nothing, Santa brought Emily a scooter and a special music box with a letter inside from Santa! He let her know how proud he was of her for being such a giving person and not wanting anything for herself, and that he wanted to give something to her anyway. She immediately started dancing and twirling. It was darling.

Christmas Day brought: A PHONE CALL WITH CAITLIN!

Some of the gang around the phone

We have speakerphone, so we were all able to hear Caitlin talking and took turns talking with her. Definitely one of the highlights of my day, and it's awesome to think that in 2 1/2 months we'll be seeing her in person!! She sounded great, in good spirits, and her Spanish sounds like a native!

Christmas Day brought BIG THANKS for gifts received:

Andrew thanks Emily for her gift - a Wendy's coupon

Joe thanks Emily for her gift - rocket balloons!

Emily was excited about everyone receiving their gifts from her.

Christmas Day brought SMILES:

Uncle Justin & Alyssa

Christmas Day brought LAUGHTER:

I can't remember what was said, but everyone was laughing pretty hard!

Christmas Day brought: RELAXING

Alyssa "chillaxing" in the doll's cradle

Christmas Day brought PUZZLES:

We always get a new puzzle for Christmas. This is a very cool puzzle of New York City, NY, that glows in the dark. Jordan and Justin did most of the work on it.

Christmas Day brought: NAPS

Emily and Chipper on Christmas Day in one of their usual nap spots

The other nap spot - Chipper's pillow

Christmas Day brought FAMILY ACTIVITIES:

Caitlin had sent us something to do as family. There were Argentine treats, each with a picture of her and a scripture on the back, addressed to one of us. We took turns looking up the scripture that was for ourself, and read it out loud. It was really neat because the scripture and picture related to us individually. A lot of thought and work went into it. Anyway, it was fun to do this together - THANK YOU, CAITLIN!

Another Christmas has come and gone - it was small in quantity of goods, but big with traditions, music, love, family, and remembrance of Christ, which truly are the most important.