christmas memories i never want to forget

Watching them choose the contents of their Operation Christmas Child shoebox and listening to them as they discussed who might receive their box and where they might be from.

Reading the sweet notes they spent so much time working on to add to their boxes.

Attending the horse drawn carriage parade with Aunt Beth.  Even though it was extremely crowded and only Jason got to sit with the kids, it was neat listening to how excited they were and hearing about their favorite horses after it was over.

Watching the kids get creative and excited with cousin Shane as they worked on a gingerbread house together.  

Getting to attend the Awaited show this year at our home campus and with Aunt Steph, Uncle Dave, and Shane.  Watching the kids faces year after year as they are in awe of the beautiful dancers and music.

Creating sweet treats with cousins and then delivering them to a nursing home afterward where we met "the Colonel" who danced for us and a lady who had recently turned 100.

The fact that I decided to put the Christmas lights up myself for the first time ever while Jason was out of town.  Violet got really excited when I told her what I was doing and she did everything she could to help me out.  

The fact that Jason let me get another Christmas tree downstairs so the kids could have a special one upstairs in the "Kid Zone" for them to decorate to their hearts content.  The way that getting out ornaments year after year gets everyone excited and sentimental.  Watching them put five ornaments on a branch and not caring anymore because I grew up and now their tree is the most beautiful sight to me.

So many extra cuddles during Christmas movies and also introducing the kids to Bob Ross and them requesting to watch him again because they loved it.

The fact that the kids did their nativity reenactment this year randomly and without prompting and it was extra dramatic and awesome.

The way that our "Minivan Express" tradition always seems to get them more excited than almost anything and we have such a blast doing it.  The fact that Jason wears a conductor hat every year and the kids get popcorn in the car.  And this year we even added hot chocolate with marshmallows of course which thrilled them.

This year, we added the Kindness Elves to our Christmas traditions.  They arrived only 5 days before Christmas and the kids were extremely excited about them.  They named them Kennedy and Max.  They loved finding them each morning and completing the kindness missions for the day.  Simple, effective, and fun.

Our kids along with some neighbor kids decided that caroling in our little neighborhood was a great idea and they wanted to give out candy canes to each house.  It was freezing and started to rain during the process but they had a blast and covered as many houses as they could.  

Neighbors were so kind and gracious listening to them and seemed genuinely happy to have the sweet experience of kid carolers at your front door.

We finally experienced a Prasco Christmas thanks to the sweet couple that bought our old house.  They gave us special tickets and we had a magical time.  The kids got hot chocolate, ice cream, pictures with Santa, and it ended in a candy land full of every sweet and treat you could possibly imagine.  Watching Violet and Mia's excitement about meeting Santa and trying to decide what to tell him they wanted for Christmas was simply awesome.  

Watching the girls twirl in their special dresses I made them.  It was my first year to make their Christmas dresses and I was so happy with the results.  Watching how the girls loved to twirl in them made me so happy.

I love this sweet photo of the babies in front of the tree.  It's made even better by the fact that Violet has "sleeping baby" and is sucking her thumb.  Such a blessing to be momma to these precious souls.

We lit as many candles as we had for our annual Christmas Eve candlelit dinner at home.  The kids love this tradition and it's especially exciting for them when it's time to blow them out.  Wonder if they will always argue about who gets to blow the most out.

The kids gave gifts for each other and their siblings.  Some were handmade, some were bought with their own money and they were all so very thoughtful.  Watching their faces beam with pride as their gifts are opened is priceless.

Mia got Tyson a boomerang.  She was squealing with excitement to give him this gift.

The fact that Violet asked for a vacuum for Christmas and was crazy excited when she opened it.

Mia was most excited about her nutcracker that she had asked for ever since Christmas was over last year.

Little buddy got the Wii game he wanted so bad from Santa and he was pumped.

The way our 10 year old still wanted stuffed animals more than anything.

We surprised Tyson with his basketball hoop.  He had been saving money from his birthday and stuff for one but still had a lot to go so he was very surprised.

All of their sweet reactions to gifts, those dramatic faces they make that are awesome.  They do it over vacuums, basketball hoops, books, and even toothbrushes.  It's the best.

Watching them enjoy their toys throughout the day.  The fact that we got Violet a baby doll that can put her little thumb in her mouth.  How Violet named her Rosie immediately because of the flowers all over her sleeper.

Watching Violet put together her first Lego set with her tongue out.

The fact that this was the first Christmas in awhile where nobody was sick was a big deal.  There was so much love going around and such sweet attitudes.  I never want to forget the sweetness of this Christmas and how much we all enjoyed every minute.

The way the kids couldn't wait to head to Grandma & PaPa's the next day and how well they play with their cousins.

And then more cousin love a couple weeks later at Grandma's house.  Violet sat with Shane through most of the present time.

And then there was the moment when we all realized sweet Grandma had fallen asleep sitting up in the middle of all the unwrapping of gifts.  We got a good laugh out of it.  Poor Grandma, it's got to be tiring to have been through 95 Christmases.

It was a Christmas to remember, that is for sure and I am so thankful for all these precious memories.