Christmas Morning 2011

Christmas morning came, well, way too early.  To explain I have to back up just a little bit.  About a week before Christmas (right in the middle of all our Christmas parites actually) our family got the flu.  It worked its way through each one of us, but luckily we were in the clear before all of Ryan's family got into town.  Before Ryan & Tiffanie left to come their family got sick, but they were pretty much over it by the time they got here.  Greg & Kirsten had flown in and spent some time with his family, who then got sick.  Dave & Brittanie and Nathan & Crystal...they were in the clear, for now.
  Two days before Christmas Greg got sicked.  He was quarantined upstairs and all seemed good. (This was before anyone else was in town)  Christmas Eve came and we all went to bed.  About an hour later I hear Paxton, Greg & Kirsten's little boy, puking in the room.  Great.  I get up, help them change the sheets, and get everything all cleaned up.  Everyone goes back to bed.  About 20 minutes later Paxton is puking again, and then again, and again, and again.  That poor little boy puked all. night. long.  We gave him a blessing around 6am and shortly after that he was able to finally go to sleep.  So, with next to no sleep we started waking everyone else up for Christmas morning.  To finish this story, over the course of the next week everyone was puking.  There were puke bowls everywhere!  Oh, there were some good puke stories, but I will spare you all the details.  Needless to say, it was a holiday we aren't likely to forget. 

Brynnley wasn't so sure about getting woken up 

Sorry Dave, this is the only picture I have of Ryan. 

Brynnley's cute doll from my parents

They were so excited for their new toys!

I love Christmas time.  I love the excitement and anticipation in the air during the holidays.  I love the opportunity we all take to serve one another more.  I love the time to reflect on the birth of our Savior.  I love seeing my children's eyes light up when they wake up Christmas morning.  I love the smell of Christmas trees.  I love baking all the goodies.  I love Christmas lights.  I love being with family.  I love Christmas time.