AWAKEN BY BACON

So much determination.

Watching them interact was so much fun, because we dont 

I could stare at this Christmas village for hours.

The cutest little cousins

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are filled with family, good food, exchanging of gifts, music, laughs, and overall a good time. On Christmas Eve day we watched Elf as a family which caused us to quote "Bye Buddy, Hope you find your dad" the rest of the weekend. Around 5 we headed over to my grandparents house for pizza, and my favorite thing ever, Grandpa playing the accordion. Nola loved the music, she was dancing up a storm, and just running all over the place. Me and my sisters had a dance party to the accordion music, and Devan did the Leprechaun dance.  Nola wore the cute little moccs which were her uncle braydens all day and night. It was so cute when Bray found out they were his. He thought it was pretty neat. 

Once we were home,  We gave Nola her Christmas eve present which was a picture book. By this time she was pretty sleepy and ready for bed. I was feeling the same! After sitting down and writing what we wanted to give to baby Jesus this year, singing a verse of Silent night, and setting out some milk and cookies, we were off to bed. I remember how hard it was to fall asleep as a kid on Christmas eve. As a parent, I was pretty dang excited, as I snuggled up to Zach and lay there thinking about our first Christmas as a family of three, I couldn't stop smiling, but the exhaustion took over. 

Christmas morning we woke up around 7 to the smell of bacon. We kept saying how nice it was to be  "awaken by bacon". After poking the two brothers and brynlies pleadings for them to hurry up and get up, we gathered around for the nativity story. I went in and woke Nolie, and brought her out to our little circle on the floor. I love the way she acts right after she wakes up and to have her looking sleepily and sweetly at everyone in a circle, was one of the highlights of my day. She wanted to go around and give everyone loves. After brynlie gave the recap of the birth of Jesus and we said a nice family prayer we headed down stairs to see what Santa had brought. Nola was in complete awe. We cramed in our tiny front room, which becomes substantially smaller on christmas due to the tree and presents, and watched each other open gifts. Nola was having a bit of trouble with her wedgie jammies, and face planted it right on the carpet. Then she couldn't get back up. It was super funny. She got pretty good at opening presents and helped everyone out by ripping off the paper and stealing all the bows. 

Santa brought some nerf guns and darts for the family. Zach being the tease he is, grabbed one and shot it right at my chest from about a foot away. He was thinking back to his childhood days of the weak, wimpy nerf guns.... well now a days they are much stronger. Believe me I know... I had a giant welt for the entire day. He felt horrible. haha I got lots of extra hugs and kisses and I think even a pity foot massage that day from him. BEST CHRISTMAS EVER. 

Nola crashed at about ten on christmas morning, sprawled across zach and my laps at my grandparents home. What an eventful couple days we had. We ended the day playing some games, and laughing our eyes out. That drawing game gets me everytime! What a wonderful time of year, spent with the ones we love, and remembering the birth of the Savior of the World. He is the greatest gift.