What a fun time of year to remember our Savior Jesus Christ,spend time with family, and also celebrate the season of giving. This year has been a crazy year and a huge blessing year for our family. Our first blessing was the good clean health of our Mom, Wife, and best friend. We were blessed so much from the help of friends and family. If it wasn't for them it would have been very difficult. We were blessed financially to help get the bills paid. It was an awesome opportunity to have our kids see the blessing. We were very blessed this Christmas by two Secret Santa's. We were definitely humbled and grateful.
We came home from the Christmas Devotional and there was a big box on our front door step. I was first thinking it was just a goody bag from a neighbor, but it was a box full of presents and food. We were stunned and at a loss for words. This was our first Secret Santa.
A few days before Christmas our second Santa came. Tiffany and I were cleaning the house and getting it ready for the holiday and the kids got home from school. I randomly looked out the window and saw a bunch of cars parked in the road and in the drive way. They were carrying boxes of wrapped presents. We were again shocked and I was at more loss of words. They knocked on the door and as I opened it they started singing Christmas songs. Tiffany and I were both taken by surprise by the whole thing. The elementary's CCLT group brought the presents and food. One of the school teachers, who is also Tiffany Farnsworth, came in and told us they had been thinking of us and because we had been through a lot, they wanted us to have these gifts and food. Once they left Tiffany and I just looked at each other in amazement. Emily broke the silence by saying, "Did we get these presents and money because we paid our tithing?" We answered back to her and said,"Yes Emily you are right, but also know it is other people's willingness to bless others and help them." I have to say this part to help others understand: While Tiffany was having her surgeries and treatments done, the Lord did truly bless us with what we needed. This Christmas has truly been the first Christmas Tiffany and I have had this happen to us. We were in tears because of the joy of how people continued to serve us. We sat the kids down and had a moment of learning and it was a testimony builder for the whole family. We knelt down and said a prayer of thanks giving to those who gave service to us and blessed us. We also told the kids it was our turn to give when people are in need.
This Christmas definitely been a great and amazing holiday. The kids were of course excited for Christmas day. They wore these festive Christmas clothes to church on Christmas Eve. I worked Christmas Eve and was bummed. Don't get me wrong I did have a great time with my crew though. I got a phone call around 4 and it was Tiffany wanting to bring the family over for dinner and open up our some gifts. I was so excited to hear they were coming. Usually when they come we always go on calls. This time, though, we were blessed with no calls and had dinner and hung out for a while. About the time they were thinking of leaving, a call came in. Perfect timing.
What a fun Christmas Eve. We were able to open our Christmas Eve Pajamas at the station. The kids got PJ's and new socks. They were all excited. Funny thing about my PJ's was my crew wanted me to wear them that night. I told them I would and come show them off.
I was able to come home for a few hours and have fun with the kids before they went to bed. We read the Nativity story, got their letters and cookies and milk ready for Santa.
They also went outside to put out food for the reindeer. The kids were so excited.
The whole family did the Last Straw family service activity this holiday. We all had a great time doing secret acts of kindness for each other. Every time we did an act of service we could but a piece of straw in the manager. Once Christmas Eve came, it was time to put Baby Jesus in the manager to sleep under the Christmas tree. The kids were way excited to see how much straw was in the manager.
Of course there is Colby being funny like he always is in pictures. Wacky kid. Then it was off to bed for them and I went back to work to finish my shift.
All the stockings were hung with care and the children were sleeping and dreaming that Santa Claus would soon be he.
Christmas is here and no one was awake when I got home, so I slipped into bed to acted like I was not home. This did not last long before the kids woke up and came and jumped on our beds. Like every young kid Christmas is a big deal. Our family tradition is the youngest goes out first and then up to the oldest. Everyone was up and very excited, but Charlotte was still sleeping and we had to wake her up. She was not sure if she wanted to wake up or not. She was still really tired. Finally though the other kids woke her up and they were on their way to the front room.
Charlotte was fun to watch this year because she was old enough to somewhat understand what was going on. She was so cute this year. Every time we saw a dog she would get so excited, so she got a little dog. When she saw it she was way excited to have her own puppy.
Charlotte also had a great time getting a rocking horse, babies, and clothes. After Christmas was done she found herself an apple and started to eat it. She was in Heaven all day long. Charlotte's favorite part of Christmas was ripping the wrapping paper off of every present. She loved opening present and didn't really care what was inside. She even tried to open a few presents before it was even Christmas. She helped everyone open their presents. What a happy girl.
Here is the happy girl posing for the camera with her fun toys she got from her family and Santa. She loves her rocking horse I made. Every time she gets on her horse she says rock a bye, rock a bye. She also likes to take her babies and puppies for rides on the horse.
Here is the second oldest kid. Logan was next and he was so excited. He kept running passed me and peeking. Finally he ran in there and he saw he got a lot of fun toys from Santa. He was able to get new shoes from Santa and clothes and some more Lego's. These boys love their Lego's.
He was so excited to get a tool box like his brother so he can now go out and build stuff. I had a fun time making him his rocking chair. He told me one day he was the only one that did not have a rocking chair. I felt bad because he was right. I usually made them when they were all about 2 years old. He loved the whole day opening presents and playing with his brother and sisters.
Here are all of Logan's fun toys he received.
Colby was of course excited also about seeing what Santa brought him as well. This year was a year of needs, wants, and a fun toy to play with. He asked Santa for new shoes and Mine Craft Lego's. Of course Santa knew Colby loves his Lego's, so he got those and his new shoes.
Logan got Colby a new scooter because his other scooter got ran over by the truck. Mom got him a great gift for all of his Lego's. She got him a big plastic tote carrier. Now he can put all of them in it and not all over the floor. Grandma and Grandpa Farnsworth got him a remote control car, and Grandma and Grandpa Morwood got him some great new clothes. He had a great time putting together his Lego's and riding his scooter. He loved all of his gifts.
Emily is getting so big and as the oldest, so she was the last one to come out and see what Santa got her. This year she asked Santa for a suitcase of her own, new shoes and books to read. Santa saw that she was a big girl and did need her own bag to travel with and he also was able to get her some nice shoes for school and to run in. She also got the Laura Ingalls collector books, and roller blades for Kit.
Colby gave Emily a cool sequence pillow, Logan got her a nice art set, and she has been obsessed with spy stuff and how they work, so I got her a spy forensic kit. She got clothes from Grandma and Grandpa Morwood and a porcelain doll from Grandma and Grandpa Farnsworth. She has grown up so much this year and it is fun to watch her change in want she likes to play with. She cannot wait to use her new bag and she is always playing with her pillow.
Here are all of Emily's gifts this year. Our CCLT Secret Santa got Emily a Madame Alexander doll. Emily loved it and immediately introduced "Alex" to Kit. The dolls became instant friends.
It was a fun year for Mom also.
She was able to get some new clothes because with all her surgeries it has changed her body shape. We got her new pants, shirts, and socks. Santa found out her Sonic tooth brush died and she has had it for ever. She was sad when it died. Santa got her some candy and a new tooth brush to clean the candy off her teeth later. Emily got her a FHE board, so we can do better at having FHE.
I also had a great Christmas and received many fun gifts.
I was able to get new clothes form Santa and have fun watching the kids open all of there gifts. It was funny to watched Charlotte slowly open each present and once it opened she got way excited. Logan was over joyed when he saw he got a Transformer car. Colby loves his new Scooter. Emily loved her bag. It is fun to sit back and watch all of them react. Charlotte got me a massage roller for when I get sore. Colby got me some new moccasin shoes because my other ones started falling apart. Logan saw that my old tackle box was falling apart and he got me a new one with some cool fishing supplies.
The whole day was a great day full of fun and playing. Everyone was excited to play the new games we got and also put together their Lego's. We also all loved Emily's pillow and we fought over who could make cool designs on it. We were also truly blessed by the community and what we got from them. It was truly a blessed Christmas. It is a blessing to know as parents that your kids know what Christmas is all about. They know there are toys and candy, but they were so grateful for what they got. This has been an amazing Christmas. We played so hard Charlotte passed out before dinner time and woke up later and continued play once she woke up. Merry Christmas everyone.
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