Christmas

 Christmas was very different this year; we were out of town four of five days around Christmas and we were missing children that weren't with us. While we have learned to be "go with the flow" sort of people, I'd like things to return to normal next year! We deliberately quit traveling for Christmas about the time Moriah was born and we all our enjoy our traditions at home.

On Christmas Eve the children present a gift to the person whose name they drew. We used to keep who got who a secret, but we gave up on that a few years back and just try to keep the gift a secret. That is hard enough with a lot of little people with big mouths. 

 
 On Christmas morning, we open the rest of the gifts. We generally then make a hot chocolate run in our pajamas and bring it home to drink with our cinnamon rolls. This Christmas, we waited until evening to make our traditional run.      

Christmas jammies and Big Foot slippers

 It only takes a few presents per child before the living room is a complete disaster. We started bagging wrapping paper and putting the bags out on the front porch mid gift opening. No matter how careful we are, we always throw something away that requires us to go back through the bags looking for it. This year, it was the keys to Julia's Dream Diary.

 This will probably be Aunt Deb's last Christmas living in America. We will hope she is able to fly back at least one of the next few Christmases.

Aunt Deb and Selah

 Merry Christmas from eight of the 10 children living at home; eight is about as many as I can get together at any point for a picture!