Christmas 2009

Christmas this year was so much fun. We were so blessed to be able to spend the holidays with our families. We spent Christmas eve with the Godfrey's. We ate a yummy dinner and then read the birth of Jesus out of the bible. It was a great reminder to us of the real reason we celebrate Christmas. Then grandma gave the kids their Christmas jammies. All the kids took off running for a bathroom so they could put on their new jammies. I'm sure you can just imagine what it looked like having 8 kids all running for a great spot to change. He,he,he!! Then we all headed home so Santa could come visit. Of course the girls were up bright and early trying to peek to see what Santa had brought. It's a tradition in our family that kids can't come down until the Christmas lights are on and the music is playing. I went to plug in the tree---no such luck. The lights had blown a fuse. (This is the second year in a row the lights have not worked come Christmas morning-so discouraging.) So we turned on the music and did the best we could. Wyatt came down the stairs first. He sat at the bottom of the stairs and looked around the room to see what was different. Then he spotted his 'dee' and crawled across the room as fast as his little legs would carry him. The girls came down next. Well, Santa had hidden their gift so they had to look around for it a little bit--sneaky Santa. They finally found a Wii underneath the village table. (Where I have my Christmas village set up.) Christmas was small, but we had lots of fun and we are mostly grateful to have each other. The girls each got 2 two toys, 2 outfits, a christmas dress and a new pair of shoes. Neil and Grandma Fortner gave us a web cam so we can see and visit with them and a portable dvd player. Thanks so much guys. We will really love being able to see and visit with you more often, and the dvd player will make car rides much more enjoyable.
After opening our gifts at home we headed to Grandpa Connelly's to visit for a little while. We enjoyed snacks and the kids were able to open their gifts from Grandpa. Then we went to visit Great Grandma Connelly. This Christmas was especially hard for her. It's only been 8 weeks since our sweet grandpa Connelly died.
Then we headed back over to visit grandma and grandpa Godfrey. The kids enjoyed seeing their cousins again. Grandma Godfrey has been working so hard on blankets for each one of the grand kids. Wow!! 11 blankets. She is amazing!!
We are so thankful for our family and friends not only at the Christmas season but all year long. We have been blessed immensely this year. Even through all the struggles we know Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers. We are grateful for our trials and the things we learn from them. We are also grateful for the Christmas season, that we can celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ and everything that he did for us.