Our Christmas this year, was super busy! I know, no big surprise there. For some odd reason, Chris and I decided to wait until Christmas Eve to go out and get presents and stocking stuffers. Actually, I take that back. I had bought Harley's stocking stuffer while we were in Florida in October. Not that it helped to avoid the slow CO drivers and billions of people also waiting until the last minute to get their Christmas shopping done. New Years Resolution: get Christmas shopping done before Christmas Eve next year.
On Christmas Eve (after we braved the crowds), we went to a church downtown that is actually a church plant of 2+ years. It was a nice service, just a bit late for Elianna. Elianna also got to open 1 Christmas present that evening. Hat and mittens!
Christmas morning we had our traditional breakfast of Stars. Chris wonders how he survived all those Christmas mornings without Stars. They are quite delicious! Maybe I will share them on 'Tis the Season this year. We also emptied our stockings - including Harley!
After breakfast and before church, we quickly whipped up 3 batches of bread dough for dinner rolls and threw 1 bread recipe in the bread machine to cook while we were at church. Our pastor decided to do something different this year and I thought it turned out very well. As he spoke through the Christmas story, we would sing a song that went along with it. For instance (and I honestly don't remember if we even sang this song), when he talked about the angels, we would then sing Angels We Have Heard On High. It was neat to "sing through" his sermon.
Right after church was over, my Chris says to me "Don't look at the picture on your phone. It will make you cry." Ok. First of all, I was already emotional thinking of last Christmas with Daddy and Kalei. Secondly, when someone tells you that, don't you just want to look? That's what I did and the picture did make me cry. So as everyone is all happy saying "Merry Christmas", I'm trying to not bust out into tears. Nice, huh? Anyway, the picture was from my friend, Karan, who went and had a Christmas wreath made and she put it on Toree's grave. Beautiful! A wonderful Christmas present!
While our 3 batches of rolls were baking in the oven, we opened our Christmas presents. Elianna made out good this year for Christmas! We are so thankful for all our family who gave her gifts! I think the funniest gift that both Chris and I received this year, was from Mark and Rhonda. *Pause for back history* While we were in WV for Thanksgiving, we had soup. Naturally, Rhonda broke out the crackers to go with it. Both Chris and I were excited to see Chicken in a Biskit. Neither of us had eaten them in years. I guess in all the cracker options now a days, Chicken in a Biskit got pushed to the back. *Fast forward* Yup, you guessed it! We both got a box of Chicken in a Biskit for Christmas! Yumm-O!
We then headed to Chris' cousin's house for the remainder of our Christmas day where Elianna made out like a bandit in the gift department there too! She got gifts from Shawn, Tiffany and the kids; Uncle Royce and Aunt Bobbi; and a stranger lady (to us not to the Hansen family) who knew a little girl was coming so she bought her a gift. Score!
We hope each one of you had a good Christmas and were able to be with family and remember our Savior's birth!
