Christmas 2011: Smith

This year we had the opportunity to travel to Rexburg, Idaho and have Christmas with Steven's family. This year was going to be a big year because all of the kids were coming home for Christmas (4 kids including Steven) but at the beginning of the month Steven's brother and his family decided it would be better not to come for Christmas. They are having a baby on January 3rd and didn't feel safe traveling so close to the due date (and no would could blame them). Even though it was sad they couldn't come, it was still fun! We drove down on Tuesday morning and then Steven's sister, Julie, flew in on Thursday afternoon, and then Steven's other sister, Marie and her family, drove down Friday night. It was a good week and we were sad to come home on Monday.

There were 12 people total (including kids) and we had church at 9 so we didn't get to open presents until around 11 am. And Steven's family has the tradition of wrapping every single gift and then we open gifts one at a time, youngest to oldest. Needless to say, it took us from 11 to 3 to open all the gifts (about a 30-45 min intermission during those hours). But it was worth it! It made Christmas last longer and we got to see whatever else got!

Christmas Eve, opening our PJs

Christmas Eve, Grandma Lorna reading a Christmas book before bed

Just woke up and waiting to go see what Santa brought! (although we had church at 9 am so all the kids could look but no touching until we got home. We didn't get to open presents until around 11 am the kids were good about it!)

Christmas morning

All the kids in their Christmas church outfits

Heading to church on Christmas morning

Lily saw these babies and freaked out. She was trying to get them out of the box as fast as she could!

This big box was a decoy! There were 3 other boxes inside each other that the boxes kept getting smaller and smaller. The final gift was a Kindle Fire.

Dora from Grandma and Grandpa Bradshaw

Lily likes my new Kindle A LOT

Lily and Josie watching Dora on my Kindle