Christmas Day!

We weren't sure how to handle Christmas morning since we had church, but it all worked out perfectly.  We got up & woke the boys up at about 7:50.  They came out & were so excited {but still sleepy}.  We decided to have them just open stockings & we all did that.  We had a great time & they would have been happy with just those!  Grayson did ask if his storm trooper ship was here {it's the only thing he asked for} and I told him we weren't sure & we'd have to wait & see.  Zac was giddy about a gift to me and wanted me to open it first, so I did.  It was a new camera!  I was psyched since I haven't been able to use mine for several months!  It's a Canon 7D and I have MUCH to learn about that thing. (:  We got all of us ready for church & headed out.  We were even five minutes early, but still sat in the gym in the front row.  Max & family sat beside us and I can't say enough how adorable that kid is.  He is such a joy to be around.  He was so excited to be near Grayson and wanted to sit on my lap.  We love him.  The boys had a harder time being reverent in the back, but everyone was so lax & understanding.  Beckham about made me laugh out loud when he turned over & dumped out the entire contents of our diaper bag-crumbs mashed in the bottom & all.  I guess the secret is out & everyone knows we're not perfect now.  Haha! (: It was a great meeting with a beautiful spirit and a beautiful time to be in church-on Christmas day.

We ran home & changed back into jammies-the boys LOVED that.  We opened Santa's sack that he'd left & then the rest of our presents to each other.  The boys were excited about everything, but I could tell Gray was a little concerned his storm trooper ship was no where to be seen.  He asked & I said, "Sometimes Santa asks Moms & Dads and Grami's & Grandpa's to help him because he can't do it all."  That seemed to satisfy him for a while.  We were all spoiled & thankful for the gifts we'd gotten and then packed up a few things to spend the rest of the day at Pete's place.  Before I talk about that, I have to put a plug in for Zac.  He was so cute this year.  Last year {2010} he'd gone with a "comfort theme" for my Christmas gifts and I totally loved that he put so much thought into my gifts, but took almost everything back to the stores because it was all pastel & didn't match and wasn't stuff I needed or had room for.  I did keep my favorite body pillow, a big fleece blanket, and a special neck pillow.  But, he felt awful that I took stuff back & although it wasn't a big deal, we all tease him about the comfort theme and he cracks up every time.  This year he went way overboard.  He basically printed out my Pinterest wishlist & went to town.  He told me he was making up for last year.  It is all awesome stuff & I love it and will use everything, but more than that, I love the guy & the thought that he put into every item.  I love that he was so giddy about seeing me giddy.  He serves me so much on a daily basis & I hope I can someday return the favor as well.  Anyway, we got there as they were finishing lunch, but still got a little something to eat.  The great grandparents were there too, so the kids got to tell them/show them their gifts.  They left after a bit & we put Beckham down for a nap and everyone crashed for a while.  Grayson and I watched a Franklin movie while Daddy & everyone else napped.  L&K were in Rigby with her family and we missed them!

After everyone woke up & probably got something more to eat?, we headed downstairs to do Christmas with the folks.  We had given our Christmas to the family in McCall, so weren't expecting anything, but knew the grand kids & Doll were getting some gifts, as well as watching mom & dad exchange their gifts to each other.  Of course mom & dad surprised us by not sticking to the deal & got each set of married kids a baking item off our Pinterest lists {we got a cake pop maker} & an awesome Shark kitchen vacuum that we all coveted at the McCall house!  So fun!  They are too good to us.  We watched the kiddos open their gifts & they loved it all.  Grayson was patient and whispered to me a few times, "Do you think my storm trooper ship is here?"  I think he was probably thinking to himself, "Santa, I'm counting on you.  Don't let me down!"  I felt bad it was the ONLY thing he asked for and the last thing he opened!  But, he did get one.  Grandpa & Grami were the Christmas savers.  He opened it and exclaimed, "I knew it was here somewhere!"  He loved it and was so excited to take it right home & play with it.  We told him-unfortunately-he'd have to wait til the next morning to get it all set up, and he was really good about that, too.

Mom & Dad opened their gifts to each other and they both did awesome, as usual.  They both try to be really thoughtful & I love that about their gifts.  Mom made Dad a rad quilt & got him a guitar! and he got her an iPad & a fun quilting surprise.  PS: I didn't have one picture of the two of them together on Christmas, so I used one from November. (:  After we were done opening gifts, Dad asked us each to share a little bit of our thoughts on the experience we'd had in McCall for Christmas this year.  We all immediately got a little emotional and no one wanted to start, so I finally did.  I basically told how grateful we were that they'd suggested & allowed us to have that experience {of course I was crying-cause we do that.  It's inherited} and how grateful I am that I was raised by such generous and service oriented people.  That they have shown me-from the time I was a baby-that you help other people no matter what.  I am grateful my kids were given the opportunity of being witness to that.  Zac went next & expressed how thankful he is to be married into this family-that his in laws are his best friends-that we hang out together often & prefer each other's company, and that we could have this opportunity to serve.  He told that it doesn't come naturally to him {which it totally does}, but that he watches my parents and learns from them and desires to be more like them.  He expressed a desire to be financially independent to the point where we can help others like they have helped us & so many others.  He expressed how thankful he is to be a member of this family and that he has been treated like a son since he came into it.  Everyone each took a turn and it was tearful, beautiful, and wonderful.  The spirit was strong and I felt like it was our best Christmas to date.

We all composed ourselves, hugged, said I love yous, and headed upstairs to eat some more & pack up to leave.  Dad wanted to have family prayer before we all headed out, so we did.  Then as we finished, another box was placed in front of each of us.  Dad said that Santa must have gotten lost on the way to our houses. (:  They are seriously crazy generous.  We all had no idea what to expect, because we hadn't been expecting anything & then they'd already gone above & beyond that with the gifts downstairs earlier.  The gifts were made out to each of us, but Santa had used bad spelling & sometimes crossed out our names & written someone else.  Silly Santa!

Doll went first.  She opened her gift which was a Mickey Mouse Disney music CD.  There was a folded piece of paper that had a picture of Disneyland!  Her gift was a trip to stay with her best friend Keara at Disneyland this summer {she's doing an internship there}!  She was majorly excited, to say the least!  Such a sweetie.  Taylor was next & opened her gift which was a cute jewelry box.  Inside was a picture with diamond earrings on it.  She has wanted diamond earrings for the longest time & Santa was listening.  She got a cute pair of her own.  Talon opened a tool box with a gift card to Home Depot & a picture of a pair of nice headphones.  I was next & opened a box with a tablecloth in it.  And..and picture of a new table & chairs!  I had been wanting new chairs for a long time because we have been down to two for a while & they are getting kinda nasty.  I couldn't believe it!  What a blessing!  So so excited!  Zac opened his which was a gift card to iTunes.  And, a picture of a Zeppelin speaker which he has been wanting for a year or so!  He was PSYCHED!  And, his was out in the garage, so we brought it right home & set it up and listened to music while we visited about the day.  It was a sweet surprise and the stuff is so great, but the lessons we learn from my parents on a daily basis are even sweeter.  They are the best at gift giving, presentation of gifts, and they never do anything half way.  They are truly Christlike in their actions & sacrifice much for their kids.  I can only hope to someday become more like them.

We had a perfect Christmas day.  The boys didn't even put up a fight about bedtime {even with all their stuff out on the couch in the living room} and went right to bed.  Zac & I got everything put away & cleaned up and then relaxed the rest of the night.  What a blessed Christmas this was for our family.  I won't soon forget it.