Christmas Eve and Christmas 2011

When we were raising our family Christmas Eve was always a very special time filled with wonder as we contemplated the significance of the birth of our Savior so long ago in a manger in far away Bethlehem.  We loved the story , the music, the smell of pine, the laughter, the twinkling eyes and smiling faces of family gathered together, and the anticipation of a special visitor from the North Pole bearing gifts to all the boys and girls of the world.  As the years went by so did some of the traditional Christmas activities and all too soon we found ourselves alone on Christmas Eve, though not very often. We seemed to get invitations from family to come and spend this special night with them.  Well do we remember the Christmas Eves with Stephen and Candice and their sweet family in Smithfield, and the snowy night of Christmas Eve at Alison and Ammon's place.  The past couple of years we have been invited to come to Ryan and Sam's for a special Christmas Eve with their precious little family.  Ryan has taken it upon himself to make a very special meal for us to celebrate this  night like no other.  I must say, he is a very good cook, in spite of all he had to endure from his father.  Maybe that has been my main role, to show everyone how not to do things.  I guess the main thing is that they learned.  This year, also, we had Stephen and Candice with us.  They went with us to Ryan and Sam's for the evenings festivities.  Afterwards we all came home to our little place where we were able to enjoy the fun with Stephen and Candice and their children before bedtime.  The children were allowed to open one special present before they retired and each of them got  a new set of  casual cloths, which doubled as pajamas, at least for the night.  It was so fun to have the sound of laughter and children in our home for Christmas Eve.  Thanks to all who shared some time with us during this special season of the year.  Below are just a few pictures of our 2011 Christmas memories.

Not to be forgotten, the reason for the season, celebrating the gift of Jesus' birth, life, and atonement to bless all the people of the world, past, present, and future.

Mother and Child, Samantha and Tristan,  Christmas Eve 2011.

We were blessed to have these three beautiful little girls with us on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  The blessing of happy children in every home would be my greatest  wish for Christmas?

Mason, Halle, Gabrielle, and Sophie patiently await the time to open their Christmas presents.

Time for a little breakfast on Christmas morning is made easier by the thought of some of Grandpa's huckleberries in the cereal.  Just another of the great rewards for spending a couple  of days on the mountain in the huckleberry patch last summer.

I didn't get good pictures of all of the festivities surrounding Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but These should help everyone get the idea, that it was a very good time for us, Christmas 2011.