The First Day of Christmas

Kristin went to sleep very early last night because she was so tired, so she was up and well rested bright and early at 5:30 this morning. I had already been up for a bit, rapping a few presents and getting a few other things taken care of. By the time she was awake I had Christmas music playing, and we got to spend about 2 1/2 hours together in the kitchen before anyone else awoke. We made sweet rolls and sausage and eggs for breakfast, and we also made cookies and got gingerbread and cheesecake started (I know, it's amazing the volume of things you can get done when kids are not present). It was the best way to start Christmas.

After a delicious Christmas breakfast with sweet rolls, Kristin went back to the kitchen to make more cookies and prepare some plates of goodies. This year, we weren't able to find a nursing home to visit like we did last year, and we've been a little sore throated lately and wouldn't sing well anyway, so instead we decided to make treats and take them to the people who have to work today in the fire station, police station, and ER.

So after a lot of prep, we got everyone in the car and spent about an hour or two driving around and spreading holiday cheer. And of course, the firemen who were on duty let the kids climb up into the fire trucks. It was way fun to know that we were probably the brightest part of someone's day.

We made it back in time for a late lunch and nap, and then spent most of the afternoon prepping for a totally awesome Christmas dinner. My contribution varied between helping Kristin and Kimberly in the kitchen, and playing with the kids so they wouldn't make things crazy (you can see I wasn't completely successful;-).

We then pulled out the fancy china and had one of the best and showiest meals we've had since we moved in. The kids were impressed by the fancy plates - I don't think they've ever gotten to use them before.

After dinner I took the kids down and we made wise men's crowns while the damage to the kitchen was controlled.

There was a small break for Darian to wrap a present (somehow he'd slipped through the cracks), and then we got to have Christmas night. We started out by watching a way cool video that the church put out of the true meaning of Christmas, and we talked about how important Christ should be to us. Then we got to act out the nativity, including everything from Darian as Samuel the Lamanite, to Eliora as the angel, frightening shepherds.

Of course, our performance didn't go workout its share of difficulties - at several points one of our more tempestuous actors rebelled, refusing to play the part of Joseph, along with multiple other roles. He collapsed in dramatic exclamation of indignation when we requested he play the part of a shepherd. So I guess he was our pre-madonna for the night. Eventually we got him to be a wise man.

Once Baby Jesus was born, the nephites saved, all visits concluded, and the wise men's gifts distributed, then it was our turn for gifts. Everyone got to run and get a gift that they had wrapped and place it under the tree.

We finally finished the evening by each writing something nice that we'd done for somebody else on a piece of straw and placing it in the manger, as our gift to the Baby Jesus. Kaela wrote that she'd helped Darian by setting up the toy trains for him to play with, and Eliora wrote that she'd made Kaela's bed for her. I put that I'd snuck away when Kristin wasn't watching and cleaned all the toilets in the house. What can I say, I like setting the bar high ;-).

After that we had an awesome cheesecake for dessert before finally it was bedtime. Then Kristin and Kimberly and I stayed up really late honoring one last Christmas tradition - we watched It's a Wonderful Life.

All in all the day was full and beautiful, as I think Christmas should be.