Christmas Day

December 25, 2023 

Brian is awesome and always takes care of Christmas breakfast and dinner.  It is a delicious and much appreciated gift to the family.  This year, while Brian and I were napping, Brinley cleaned the whole kitchen!  It was very appreciated.

The traditional waiting in the hall photo.

We were all so happy that Tanner, Erin and Kaide were able to join us for an hour and a half on Christmas morning.  Erin has lots of family in town, and we knew they would be pulled in many ways.  

Checking out stockings!

Aub loved her itty bitty Nutella.

It was the year of new shoes.  Tanner got these b-ball shoes, and the other kids got new shoes as well.

Kaide found the keychain that had a tiny Croc (shoe) on it and was really wanting help putting it on.  It was hilarious.

Kaide didn't really care a thing about the gifts, but he was pretty happy just hanging out with everyone in the living room.  His bear slippers were hilarious.  (Adam and Megan passed them down to him.)

He did pause for 2.5 seconds to look at one of his new books.

Tanner and Erin spoiled Brinley and Aubrey with travel bags filled to the brim with fun girl stuff like hair clips and makeup accessories.  One of my favorite things about this year was seeing the thoughtful and generous gifts the "kids" gave each other.  They know each other well and were willing to spend a little more when they had a specific gift in mind.

To: Dad From: Mom...Kind of...we have a small budget and shop for our own gifts from each other.  It works out perfectly for us!

Kaide loves balls.  We gave him a small soccer ball and the tennis balls he is holding.  We also got him picture scriptures for The Book of Mormon and New Testament, some footsie pajamas, a hat and glove set, a couple of bath toys, books and a couple of outfits the girls picked out.

Our Christmas with my parents was kind of segmented.  We exchanged gifts a couple of days before Christmas, and then we went over again on Christmas day.  Here are a few pictures from a couple of different days.

Me & my dad (I'm wearing my wearable blanket I got at our sibling gift exchange.)

My parents give their kids/spouses the best stockings each year.  (This year's stocking was in the gift bag I'm holding.)  This year it was loaded with fancy chocolates (Ghiradelli, Godiva, Ferrero Rochir), fun lip balms, pistachios, fruit snacks, Icebreaker gum and other treats.  There was the traditional flashlight which we love to keep in our nightstands, a face cream and some other small gifts.  They also give both Brian and I some spending money, which is the best!  I usually use mine to splurge on massages, pedicures or other pampering type gifts.  It's just nice to have guilt free money to use any way we choose.  Thanks Mom and Dad.  

I kind of love this picture of Bri and my mom.

Gram and Grandpa gave the kids BYU blankets.  They were a hit.  

We had a very relaxing Christmas day.