It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

our family loves Christmas so much! we have so many traditions and i am so grateful that we got to be together to do them all!

on december 1 the kids all get to open and wear...

christmas pajamas! kent got a christmas cd since he doesn't care about christmas pajamas =o]

the not hand-me-down version lol

we started decorating the house but it took a long time... about a week all said and done. 

the kids were so excited about the little trees for their rooms 

the homemade decorations they got to put up

and the nativity sets they got to display 

i made four new stockings this year, and i think these will stick now =o]

the extra one on the far right is for Jesus. we all put a gift to Him in on christmas eve that we are going to do that year.

doing the big tree was definitely the biggest deal for everyone and kent likes to have it done just so =o]

starting on december first, each day before quiet/naptime the kids got to unwrap one christmas book. we are going to keep doing this one for sure! i LOVE our christmas books and look forward to growing our collection. 

also starting on december first we started doing the christmas binder each night with a scripture, song and story by tree and candle light. MAGICAL! (and sometimes crazy as you can see!)

we watched the first presidency christmas devotional 

went caroling to our neighbors

made SO MANY christmas treats (thankfully a lot of them were delivered to friends =o])

and got all gussied up for church each sunday =o] (because of hand-me-downs, jenna had a different  christmas dress each sunday this month!)

we loved playing with all our nativity sets

and reading all our christmas books!

we did our advent calendars 

we went to our first christmas breakfast with the bishop that our ward here does each year for the primary kids. 

we sent out and received christmas cards, we did service projects, we sent off and received packages of presents... it was a busy and wonderful time! 

but the best part of all was that kent got to take off so much time off work to be home- the whole week of christmas! (and he doesn't go back until the 7th!) 

we started reading harry potter with the kids, which we are all enjoying! 

finally it was christmas eve and time to do our christmas play. we don't have as cool of costumes as my mom so caleb was disappointed about that, but otherwise it was a joyous and hilarious occasion as to be expected. 

we had a christmas eve buffet while we watched a movie. 

and then the kids put out a plate for "santa" and it was off to bed!

christmas morning was exciting as usual and i wouldn't want it any other way! it actually took us until 4pm to finish opening presents because we had to keep stopping to play with the things we got =o]

us watching the nativity on kent and i's bed before going downstairs 

waiting in the hall turned into waiting on the bench ha ha 

after stockings i went to put seth down for his nap and found this picturesque scene. it was a sweet sight!

then we had breakfast before jumping back into it!

this pretty much sums it up for me =o]

then we took another break because our neighbor came over and told us the firemen in la verne come around each christmas morning with santa in a fire engine and hand out peanuts, and apparently have been for 88 years! 

waiting outside

hearing the sirens

cool thanks! and they are off again =o]

then we took another break for lunch, and then it was naptime for this little chickadee

but we kept busy =o]

the kids got a big surprise from dad! harry potter wands!

and the aftermath...

then we had a yummy christmas dinner 

and since we had finished reading the book... we watched the first harry potter movie! (jenna watched like the first 10 minutes before i put her to bed =o])

all in all it was a wonderful christmas!
and you know what? the fun didn't end there! because we are doing the 12 days of christmas so really the celebration is ongoing! there was boxing day, then a day to organize and put away all our new things so the missionaries could come over for dinner. the next day we made gingerbread houses

and then on sunday our mackay family christmas program.

on monday we went on a mackay family trip. this year we went to DISNEYLAND! we were surprised and overjoyed to receive season passes from kent's parents for christmas. (get ready for a photo dump and not even in order haha)

then yesterday was new year's eve and we celebrated by playing lots of games, making chex mix, and toasting with sparkling cider. the kids felt so special!!

then kent and i rang in the new year by reading our patriarchal blessings, writing in our family journal (including goals for next year) and watching les mis. it was a fun and relaxing night! 

and as for the rest of the 12 days of christmas... you'll just have to wait and see ;0]

Merry Chistmas and a Happy New Year!