Christmas Baking
The week of Christmas I spent 2 entire days baking Christmas goodies. I had decided to do a little more Holiday baking this year and it was a LOT of work! I was completely exhausted but by the next day I decided that it was, in fact, worth it. (And I'm definitely doing it again) One of my favorite Christmas memories from growing up is of my Grandma Allen and the yummy cookies she used to make for us, so I decided I needed to carry on a piece of her tradition and add some of her cookies to my baking tradition. I made fudge, fudge and more fudge (Regular, Peanut Butter and Mint, MMMMMM!) The kids helped me dip pretzels, and boy did we dip pretzels! And I made Grandma's "Butter Cookies" and pressed "Christmas Tree Cookies".
I ended up baking cookies on the date that my Grandma passed away 1 year ago. Of course I was thinking about her that day and I was so happy that it worked out that I was baking her cookies that day. It made me so happy when they turned out perfectly and tasted just like I remembered them. It really took me back to my childhood and I loved having "Grandma's cookies" with my kids and sharing them with our friends. (Which is a major part of why I decided that the 2 day baking event was in fact worth it! Some traditions just need to be kept.) 
Not to mention how much fun my good little helpers had!And while I was spending so much time in the kitchen, after my helpers were all helped out, they moved onto this...
500 toys in our house and they choose to play in Mom's spice rack instead! They were certainly having fun and I was having fun watching them (while I scooped and pressed and sprinkled and...)Christmas Eve
One of my favorite and most meaningful Christmas traditions is reading Christmas stories of Christmas Eve. We have a few special books that we read to the kids before bed. This is something that my Mom used to do for me and my siblings, and one of my most cherished memories of her. One book she always read to us was "The Polar Express", when I read this story it's as if I can hear my Mom's voice in my head and it just brings me to tears every time...and this year was much worse for some reason, the tears started flowing much earlier in the book than usual! Poor Pierce and Madi,thinking- "Why does Mom always cry over the Polar Express?! It's not sad at all, it's a fun story!" I don't know if they'll ever understand the meaning this holds for me, but I love reading it to them and remembering my Mom at the same time. We also enjoyed a new story this year, "The Christmas Sweater" and "When Jesus Was Born in Bethlehem" was the perfect way to talk about the meaning and importance of Christmas.
The little cuties all excited for Christmas! Christmas Morning
Pierson was super excited to find that Santa had left him "Optimus Prime" and a Transformers (cartoons) DVD! He thought is was especially cool that Great Grandma Harrop had given him Transformer p.j.'s for Christmas and he was wearing them for the big moment! He also enjoyed a stocking full of other cool stuff including a Transformers coloring book and Transformer Band-aids! He was just as excited to open his gift from Mom and Dad and find that it was "Bumblebee"! He thought it was funny that we "tricked" him by putting it in a "clothes box", he really thought it must be clothes and was completely surprised and excited, cracked me up! He also loved his new Super Hero backpack from Sister and is excited to take it to school. I loved that he would hold up each gift with a big smile for me, so used to the camera, what a great little poser for Mom! Madi on the other hand...
...did not give the camera one glance during the entire Christmas Day! This girl has a lot to learn! Madi had changed her mind about what she wanted for Christmas about 50 times over the last month, so I knew she would delighted with anything. She loves the new baby cradle that Santa brought her, but I think she was actually more excited about the Hello Kitty Band-aids at the top of her stocking! She was overjoyed to find a stocking full of Hello Kitty and Princess coloring books, pens, pencils, notebooks, etc. She also loved the Pet Shops she got from Mom and Dad and the Tinkerbell slippers from Brother. She was so gracious and sweet opening her gifts, exclaiming, "Mom I've never had Pet Shops before and now I have them!" Followed by hugs, kisses and Thank You's. She was a pure Sweetheart! Ryan and I loved this sweet Christmas Day with our kids. They were so excited with small and simple gifts and excited to give gifts to each other and Mom and Dad. They were so happy and an so fun for us to watch. We love them so much, they truly are our joy. We are so thankful for the wonderful Christmas season we enjoyed together and for the beautiful meaning of Christmas, for our Savior Jesus Christ, his miraculous birth, his life and his sacrifice for us.
