We had a marvelous Christmas. I had been waiting and planning for this Christmas for almost 3 years, since Blake started his mission papers and we knew 2025 would be the next Christmas we would all be together.
Hatch's came in on the 22nd. The rest of us still had work on the 22nd and 23rd. On the 23rd they moved their stuff out of their storage bin and into the house they will be renting. Blake was going to go help but his car died. Christmas Eve everyone was home. We had enchilada soup for lunch. Those that needed to finished wrapping their gifts. We played some games and started prepping the appetizers. We scaled back a bit this year. Made more of a few rather than little of many. I asked everyone what their must haves were. At one point during clean up, I was holding Jane and Leah had Rhoda as us 3 girls were trying to do dishes. I looked to the front room and saw all the boys sitting down. I asked them if they saw anything wrong with the scene. :/ The rest of the weekend everyone helped with dishes and kids. Blake did seem to get out of a surprising amount and we started to tease him about his skill.
We then watched 2 (turned out to be 3) short movies. When the kids were very young I found a $5 VHS from Wal-Mart "The Night Before Christmas" Turned out to be the worst cartoon ever made. They streeeeetched it to 24 mins, animation was horrible, script was crazy with Santa fighting with reindeer etc. But we watched it because it was so funny. I had searched online to see if I could find it again to watch Christmas Eve. I finally found it and we had so much fun watching this terrible movie that brought back memories. Then Leah and Blake had made a short western movie when they were in Grade 4 & 7. They acted it out and had saloon music in the background. I got that loaded up and surprised them with that too. We were all laughing so hard. Next, as the video kept rolling and unbeknown to me, Cora, Leah, and Blake had also made another one. A Lego movie that was fantastically funny. They had their hands in Lego mode and walking and sitting with knees unable to bend. I loved it. We then ended on a spiritual note and acted out the birth of Christ. Rhoda got to play baby Jesus. Leah had this idea for crowns for the wise men a few days before they came and when they came down stairs we laughed so hard.
Jane was the cutest little shepherd.
We spent some time just chatting, working on puzzles, and reading till it was time to put the stockings out.
Dave and I went to bed as everyone else stayed up. Later they told us they went to the basement to workout with kettlebells till 2 am. Crazy kids.
Christmas morning we slept in a little. I got up and got breakfast in the oven and Dave stuffed the turkey and started it roasting. When everyone finally awoke we opened presents, ate breakfast, and got looking all pretty for family photos. Leah did a fantastic job or taking pictures and giving us prompt to get great shots. It was so cold we could not stay out long.
a few of us went to break the bulls water. I took Jane along, she loves cows. Then back to start prepping the rest of Christmas dinner. We had invited the missionaries to eat with us. A few card games as the turkey was finishing.
After a great dinner and saying goodbye to the missionaries, Cora had a power point presentation for us. It was kind of done in jest and a study for herself. She had documented how many times she had cried during the year. Cora is not a crier, she could think of 5 x in her life she had cried before having kids and there was 17 x last year. She had pie charts of why she cried etc. It was fascinating. If you have question you can ask her about it. Later they were joking that Dave should document all the new words I make up during the year.
Again the kids stayed up late.
Boxing Day was chill. Breakfast, games, chatting. Natalia came out that night. Cora made us dinner. We watched It's a Wonderful Life.
27th was more games, we played a lot :). Dave, Blake and Natalia went out to fix the cows water that was frozen and feed cows. Which did not happen because the tractor was frozen as well. Power had gone out over at the farm and so the tractor wouldn't start. We invited Myrna over for dinner so she could see the little girls. Leah was going to make dinner that night, but we had so many left overs we just ate all those. Leah and Braydon then left to go home so they wouldn't have to get a sub for their class the next day. We started Hatari. That was such a fun movie to watch with Jane. She loves animals and is talking a lot and she was enthralled with it all. Blake and Natalia left about half way through the movie as it was getting late. Cora and Ammon were staying with us a till Monday.
It was a great Christmas all together. Good food, many laughs, just hanging out and being together. Rhoda is the smiliest kids and Jane is so fun. zshe is a tease and it's hilarious.
Merry Christmas to you all. I hope your holiday was filled with love.
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