Christmas Morning 2008

We had a not so typical Christmas this year. We were sooooo busy that sad to say we did not get to one of our traditions this year. There are so many special things we do each December but due to our schedules and travels none of them happened this year. We didn't do our annual decorate the house weekend. We didn't put up a tree. We never made it over to Downtown Disney which have done for almost 15 years with our friends The George's. I didn't have my Cookie Exchange. We didn't get to the mall to see Santa, see a Christmas movie and eat Chick fil A . . .I could go on and on. I honestly didn't think the kids were going to mind too much but did I guess wrong. As I soon found out as we got close to Christmas how disappointed the actually were.

Another sad thing that happened is that I got sick. I never get sick but on the 21st of December the night we went to Disney World I came down with the worse cold and cold symtoms I have ever had. That cold is still lingering with me today and I am writing this on 1/7/09. On Christmas Eve we always go to my inlaws to celebrate with Carlos's side of the family. I was so sick that I stayed home while they went. I did make a Sausage Egg Casserole so we would at least have that for Christmas morning. Also, I wrapped up the rest of the gifts and had them ready to go for the next morning. I usually get all their stockings together and ready too but sad to say all of our stockings were put away with all of our stocking stuff so I didn't do stockings but thankfully our friends Martha and Nathan surprised the kids and had sent home with me after church a stocking filled with goodies for each one . .even for Matt, Alexia's fiance and Jordan's girlfriend Jessica.

So, we wokeup Christmas morning around mid morning. I did feel bad that we didn't even have a tree up but there was nothing I could about it at that point. I wokeup feeling horrible! I wanted to stay in bed but I knew that wasn't going to happen. I had Jordan preheat the oven so I could get the Sausage Egg Bake going. We all eventually made it downstairs. I took a place on one of the sofa's .

Poor Matt still isn't use to our camera being out all the time but actually he lucked out because I normally am snapping pictures the whole time but due to not feeling good I had the kids take pictures this year.But he was a trooper and eventually warmed up to having the camera going :-)We didn't have too many wrapped presents because most of the kids wanted money this year. So, we started with present that Sierra gave to the family. She gave Carlos a coupon for something and a picture of herself.Then she surprised Jordan with something.Then AlexiaShe actually made this little jewelry holder for Alexia.She even gave Matt a little something.She gave Taylor a bear. And I forget what she gave Landon. She gave me a coupon for a free footrub!Alexia loves Bare Escentuals like I do so that is one thing she asked for. She got a few kits.
Sierra asked for clothes!
Taylor wanted mostly money but he got a few shirts so he had something to open.Alexia still loves Hello Kitty and she loves jammies.
Our friend Martha and Nathan gave Landon and Sierra two DS games.
A Bare Escentuals Makeup Travel Case for Alexia

Alexia and I did make it to the mall a week or so before Christmas so I could pick up something for Matt. We had a hard time deciding.
We finally decided on a gift certificate to his favorite store Banana Republic!More BE for Alexia!
More clothes for Sierra!
Jordan had told me about a month he ran out of ProActiv .
I ended up finding these jumbo sizes on QVC. He loved it . . .it should last him a long while.
More clothes!
Alexia surprised me and made this picture book for me.
I LOVED it!
Sierra's big gift was a featherbed which is what she has been asking for since last Christmas when Landon got his.
We then gave them their Christmas money which is always a hit.

Then we had one more surprise. Our friends Martha and Nathan surprised the kids this year BIG TIME. They purchased a WII system for the kids . . .along with games, accessories, 3 extra controllers and more. They were SHOCKED!!!! It was actually the biggest hit of the morning.Jordan then had a surprise for all of us. He was so excited for us to open it . . .. . I had no idea what it could possibly be. He set it out in the middle of the room and then had us open it. Much to our surprise it as a new Apple computer and a printer. Jordan works for Apple and receives one huge discount a year on a computer and he chose to use that discount on us! Wow! We were shocked!The computer is awesome! It is a desktop that does not have a tower. It' so cool!!I love it! My desk downstairs off the kitchen now has an amazing computer for us all to use! Thanks Jordan for this huge surprise.




The rest of the day we just all relaxed and then later that night everyone headed out to the movies except for me. I stayed home and went to bed! We were leaving the next morning for Kansas City. We were heading back up there to go to the International House of Prayer's One Thing 08 Conference. Thank goodness I had everyone pack on the 24th!