Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! I can't believe it's already December 27th. The holidays are flying by. The past week has been filled with wonderful Christmas memories. We've spent lots of time with family and friends, exchanged many gifts and indulged in plenty of holiday meals, treats and drinks!
Justin and I are so blessed that we have such wonderful families. Since our parents both live in the same town as us, we don't have to travel and we get to spend lots of time with everyone. Justin's family has always gotten together to celebrate on Christmas Eve. It works out great that we spend that day with them and then Christmas day with my family.
We spent most of the 24th out at Justin's parents. At 5:00, we met my family for our church's Christmas Eve service. I have such great memories of getting all dressed up in pretty Christmas dresses and going to church with all our family the night before Christmas. We sing carols, listen to scripture about the birth of Jesus, take communion, and at the end of the service {my favorite part} everyone holds candles and we sing by candlelight. Some of my most cherished memories of Christmas Eve are going to Mamo and Bapo's church with all my aunts, uncles and cousins. They always had a time during the service where members could stand up and share that they had brought visiting family with them that night. Bapo would always proudly stand up and with a grin from ear to ear, he would announce that he and Patsy had all of their children and grandchildren there. There wasn't anything in the world he was more proud of than his family. Christmas Eve service is very important to me, and I am glad that we were able to take Barrett for his first one.
After church, we rushed back out to the McPherson family celebration. We had a big Mexican feast. Kim made tacos and we all ate and hung out. Barrett started acting like he didn't feel well during church, and it seemed to get worse after dinner. He fell asleep on Grandma Sandy's shoulder.
After he woke up, we put him in his jammies and gave him some Tylenol. By this time we were ready to start opening presents and he seemed to be feeling better. He had a great time opening his gifts and got some fun new toys and books.
Books are still his favorite gift, but he did LOVE this wagon he got from Grandma Jenny & Grandpa Everett!
I think Emily liked the nerf gun we got her :)
Kylie of course prefers clothes!
Around 11pm, we left there and headed to my parent's house to spend the night. Mamo, my brothers, sister-in-law, and nieces were all there and we all like to wake up together on Christmas morning. For as long as I can remember, we've always gotten up on Christmas morning with lots of family. We would usually all be at Mamo and Bapo's house. My siblings, cousins and I would wake up all the adults. Then they would make us wait while they got their coffee cups and cameras, and found a spot on the couches. We would line up in the hall, youngest to oldest and as soon as they said "ready" we would go running into the family room to see what Santa had left us. Our toys and stockings were always lined up in front of the fireplace.
Poor Barrett was teething, so the night was a little rough. The girls got us all up around 8:30am, and they waited in the hall patiently till we were all ready. Barrett wasn't really sure what was going on, but he seemed to like the pony that Santa left him. He tried it out and then we looked to see what was in his stocking.
Lauren got a little red car and Emma got a bounce house! Santa set it up out in Gigi and Papa's sun room and it fit perfectly! The girls both had a ball with that. Barrett even tried it out!
After we were done checking out all the Santa gifts, we passed out presents and starting opening. We go around in a circle and open one at a time. It takes a long time, but it's nice not to rush. We just stay in our jammies, eat cinnamon rolls and egg casserole, drink coffee and cider and enjoy the gifts. After all the time you spend shopping and wrapping, it's nice to see everyone open what you got for them.
I think we finally finished around 12:30. Then it was time to start preparing Christmas dinner. Mom made a turkey and lots of our favorites. I made the dressing with Mamo's supervision, and it turned out pretty good.
By 3pm, we were sitting down to dinner. It was sooo good!!
Christmas day is also my mom's birthday! We usually try to have her celebration in the evening, so it's seperate from the Christmas craziness. She opened her gifts that evening, and I made her a chocolate cherry cake.
Dad and I did all the dishes after Christmas dinner. Since it was her birthday, this is what mom got to do!
It was a wonderful Christmas, full of more great memories. These are a few of my favorite things from my creative sister-in-law, Kim. She gave me all sorts of handmade goodies.
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After he woke up, we put him in his jammies and gave him some Tylenol. By this time we were ready to start opening presents and he seemed to be feeling better. He had a great time opening his gifts and got some fun new toys and books. 
I think Emily liked the nerf gun we got her :)
Kylie of course prefers clothes!
Poor Barrett was teething, so the night was a little rough. The girls got us all up around 8:30am, and they waited in the hall patiently till we were all ready. Barrett wasn't really sure what was going on, but he seemed to like the pony that Santa left him. He tried it out and then we looked to see what was in his stocking.
Christmas day is also my mom's birthday! We usually try to have her celebration in the evening, so it's seperate from the Christmas craziness. She opened her gifts that evening, and I made her a chocolate cherry cake.
Dad and I did all the dishes after Christmas dinner. Since it was her birthday, this is what mom got to do!
beaded rings
a bunch of beautiful grocery bags
