Christmas Eve and Snow!

On Christmas Eve we took picture with my whole family I can't believe this is the last time we'll be all together for almost 2 years as both my little sisters will be leaving to serve missions in the spring!  The weather was frigid for us Texans (oh how acclimated we've become!) but I think the picture turned out nice--I guess we'll find out later!

When we got home it started to snow! I couldn't believe that we'd have a while Christmas! I was so grateful because Nathan has been praying for snow for months- he was a very happy boy that day! The kids (and Chris) had so much fun playing, running, building snowmen, catching snow flakes, and just having fun experience snow for the first time.

After an excellent dinner we decorated the kid's tree my Mom and Rachel made for them

then read the story of Christ's birth while the kids used the Nativity to help visualize it.  All the kids got to open a present from my parents. Abby got ride on toy (it's a plasma car...so cool) and Nathan got a blue camera (blue is his favorite color, so of course he thought it was amazing).

Both of them loved their presents. But the winner present that night was a group gift to the kids- Angry Birds! Nathan loved flinging the birds into the structure he build, and Abby just loved knocking it down.

After their cousins left our kids opened up their Christmas pajamas- so cute.

They wrote a note to Santa (and Rudolph) and then headed off to bed so excited for Santa to come.

 While Elise obviously had no idea what was going on I love that Nathan and Abby were so excited- being a parent is so much fun!