A lot to be GRATEFUL for.....

We had a wonderful Christmas this year.  We made sure to honor some of our favorite traditions....

Gingerbread houses, the reading of The Night Before Christmas (done by Caiden this year, who did a great job :) and of course we open one present, which is always Christmas jammies which the kids always wish is a toy.  Never gonna happen kids!

Preston was completely content with wrapping paper, boxes, a loose orange that fell out of someone's stocking and a plastic candy cane.  I totally took advantage of this easy-pleasing baby and bought him....nothing.  What more did he need????  But Grandma was nice and got him a walker....which I think it's safe to say he likes it.  

As for Paige, she fell in love with this doll.  It came with an armoire with several outfits and may I just say it is the most organized "dresser" in this house.  After we opened presents and were getting ready for Church, she was laying in my bed with her doll and Caiden was reading a book, and I heard Paige whisper "I just love you" (to her doll, not her brother).  It made me smile.  And chuckle a little too :)

And Mr. Caiden got himself a new pair of skis and boots.  Shhhh...nobody tell him they're actually used and not new at all.  Hey, come on.  Gotta save a buck somewhere.  He is SO SO excited to go skiing with his dad.  And no, he did not get a new phone.  He's eight, who does he need to talk to? Casey got a new phone for his birthday and gave Caiden his old one (except without the phone part).  It is solely for games and guess what?  I already want to throw it out the window after having smashed it into a thousand pieces with a hammer.  It's no secret I'm not a fan of video games, but alas, they have them.  However, they are strictly regulated by ME and it is my new favorite thing to take away when they are misbehaving.  In that sense, it works wonders :)

Speaking of skiing, the kids were so excited, they convinced Casey to run around the backyard pulling them on skis.  They had a blast.  Caiden even built a "jump" and was pushing Paige over it....who loved it :)

Sitting through church on Christmas Day, I couldn't help but feel how blessed my family is.  In every aspect of life.  I couldn't help but think of those out there who were NOT having a "special" Christmas Day with their families and maybe all alone and maybe this was, in fact, one of the worst days of their life.  Next year, I am determined to make a new tradition of having the kids buy or donate gifts or time or something to others.  I think it's an important experience they need in their life.  Yep. That's it. I'm gonna do it.  It's officially in writing!  A couple years ago when I was Primary Pres., we decided as a presidency to put together a box of items a family needed for Christmas and we left it on their doorstep.  We got in our dark clothes and I was the "get-away" driver and we snuck up to their doorstep and rang the doorbell...and RAN for our lives!  I was parked in a place where we could see them open the door and wonder who on earth left a box full of goodies on their doorstep.  It was seriously so fun!  Anyway....those are just my random thoughts this Christmas season.  Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas too!