Christmas has come and gone again so quickly.  I panic and fret about gifts so much that I don't have time to enjoy it until I get all my shopping done.  I say I'm going to start earlier every year, but I fail.  I love those gifts that I find, or think of, that brings that giant smile....I didn't do as well as I wished I could have this year at that, but we did have a great Christmas!!! I know that we have way to much "stuff" and there is absolutely nothing that we need.  I am really thankful to have all that we have!!

 

We have had several Christmas gatherings and we still have one more to do this weekend at my Dad's.  What I love the most is everyone gathering together at one place at one time.  I also love to take lots of pictures, so that I might catch some good ones. 

 

I took a little over 300 pictures of the Christmas festivities.  I decided to pick my top five to post, besides the couple that I am saving to do something extra special with.  So, here they are in no particular order.  But it is what Christmas is to me.

 

A.  My mother:  I have gotten to spend 40 Christmases with her so far.  I love that she gets so into the Christmas spirit and goes all out with hats and ribbons and bows.  I love that she makes chicken and dressing every year and it ROCKS!!  I love that she drives all the way to my house on Christmas Day so that we can start our own traditions with my little ones at home.  I love that she loves me.  I love that she wears festive Christmas attire. 

B.  This is the face of pure excitement!  I love love this picture.  I have no idea what was going on at the time or what was going on in her head, but this is the absolute cutest Christmas present picture ever! 

C.  I love this picture of Molly because it was the first Christmas gathering that we went to and the first presents that she opened.  This year was really the first time she has gotten excited and interested in opening presents.  In fact, she wanted to help open everyone's gift!  She soaked up lots of love and attention and she has turned into a professional present opener.  This was her patiently waiting to open her gifts. 

 

 

D.  I love this picture because it shows the love between cousins who don't see each other as often as they should, but are never strangers no matter how long it has been since they last saw each other.  I also love this picture because it reminds me that the following morning, Payka and I sat at the bar at Mom's and had our own little Sunday School lesson.  It wasn't scripted, it wasn't from a book, it was just conversation between the two of us about our Savior, Jesus Christ.  It warmed my heart without a doubt!

E.  Last but not least, I love Christmas morning when the girls come wake us up with excitement wanting to see what Santa has brought them.  I love to be able to fill their wish list as much as I can.  I love that they believe, or pretend to believe.  I love that we are all together as a family.  I love that each one of them are as excited about giving as they are receiving.  There is nothing better!!