Merry Christmas, me hearties!

This is the second time we read this one as our Christmas Eve book, and it was so much more fun with Darin reading in his Scotch Mexican pirate accent. Ha ha ha.

Here we are, all 9 of us, at the Orgill family Christmas Eve party. It was soooo much fun! Thanks again, Alison! :)

Caleb's birthday book

Our traditional Christmas Eve Eve book. :)

There was no snow on Christmas Eve...

Instead, a desert zephyr blew.....

Another new one

A story about a little boy in Germany. It talks about German Christmas traditions, which was fun because that's where Darin served his mission.

Silent Night, Holy Night

The true story of the Christmas Truce during World War I. Very moving. In other words.... yes, it made me cry.

They are the magi.

This has been one of my favorite Christmas stories for a long time. Last year, I bought this new edition (with amazing illustrations by P.J. Lynch) and read it to the boys for the first time. They all remembered the story this year.

Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are the wisest. Everywhere they are the wisest. They are the magi.

Room for a Little One

That night, beneath the star's light,

a Little One came for the world.

Book #17

It was their first Christmas. But it wasn't their last.

Either #2 or #3 on my list of favorites

Jonathan Toomey is #1, of course. But I can't ever decide whether this one or the Grinch comes in second. I guess it's whichever one I'm reading at the time.

Another excuse to eat chocolate

Our tradition: Share a chocolate orange while reading this book. :)

Orgill tradition

And so, this Christmas, if you please,

Beneath the tree that's in your house,

Why don't you leave a piece of cheese?

You know who'll thank you? Santa Mouse.

Living for the sake of others

One of my top 5 favorite Christmas books. And attempting to have a serious family night lesson after reading this book taught me one thing - my children are serious smart alecks. ;)

A new star

I always love including our Book of Mormon Christmas story. And it gave us a reason to sing Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus, one of my favorite Primary songs. :)

It was the child.

A new one this year, Darin's contribution. I always put a label inside each book that says our family name and what year we got it. This one says "The Chatwin/Leslie Family - Christmas 2010." :)

My miracle

Yes, this one makes me cry. Shocking, huh?

Check, check, and double check

Mooseltoe has been with us since the first year (2004). This time, Grandma read it with the boys while I was gone to Darin's work party. Thanks, Mom!

The quiet stable in Bethlehem town

The quiet stable, dusty and brown.

A new one this year....

I got this at my book club Christmas book exchange last year. Very cool story. Thanks to my friend Dianne! :)

I wouldn't touch you with a 39-1/2 foot pole.

Such a coincidence, that we opened this book the day after President Uchtdorf talked about it during the First Presidency Christmas devotional. I absolutely love this story, and I made my kids watch the old movie with me after we read it. Some of them were more cooperative than others, but they all enjoyed it. I think.

Let down your hair...

Our family night activity. All the boys loved it. It was cute, funny, and very entertaining. I didn't even fall asleep like I usually do, even though I woke up at 2:30 this morning. Of course, that might have had more to do with the theater's temperature and my frostbitten toes than the movie itself. The wicked "mother" was the most evil Disney villain ever. Uhhhhnnnt like her.

The last straw was Eric's after all.

My mom still has the original story she cut out of a magazine almost 30 years ago. Amazing!

And I cried through the last 5 pages of it this time, because I knew what was coming.

My favorite favorite

This year we found out that this book makes me cry even if my kids try to prevent it by quoting Monty Python at random moments while I'm turning pages. LOL!

Did you know?

I have had this book since 1997, and I just found out that it's based on a Disney movie that was made in 1978. So I bought the movie too. :)

Oh, wasn't it grand to have a tree--

Exactly like Mr. Willowby?

Christmas tradition

I guess this is what it takes to get me blogging again... My favorite Christmas tradition. And we always start with this one.