I'll be Home for Christmas

HRM to the JFK = SLC

The Welcoming Committee

It's good to be home.

Christmas 2009: Part II

Christmas Day

The BEST Christmas is a simple Christmas. We had a great time celebrating a little early this year, and we are happy Santa found us all the way in Nova Scotia.

After the kids woke up in the morning they got to come down stairs and see what Santa brought for them the night before.

We took turns opening gifts.

And helping each other open gifts.

And playing with the gifts.

And trying on the gifts.

And giving Kisses, because of the gifts.

Christmas morning was a hit. I don't know what Miley was more excited about; her new boots, or the shoe box they came in. It was fun to see her face light up over gifts as simple as socks. She helped pass out the gifts under the tree to Mom, Dad, and Brother, and would clap her hands every time one of us opened a present.

Jaclyn and Richard invited us over for a yummy Christmas brunch with their family.

Hannah and Ella helped their Dad with their tradition of putting the angle on top of the tree.

All of us ate and visited while the girls played with the babies. The Leeco's were so sweet to give us gifts for the kids and pictures of our kids together. We LOVE this family. We could not ask for better neighbors.

The rest of the day was full of more Miley Craziness,

helping Scotlin fall asleep, and getting ready for our trip.

This is the first time in a long time Scotlin has slept lying flat on his back. We are working on it, and it is a good feeling to walk in his room, and see him in his crib instead of his car seat or swing.

Nothing beats looking in on my sweet little guy sound asleep.

Love this scene:

Two closed doors with two babies sleeping peacefully in each room, (and in their own beds).

This is what mom's want for christmas. :)

We are busy getting things ready. We are anxious to get home, and see our families. We are more grateful than ever for the reason of the season. It is in our hearts.

We are happy. We are tired.

Merry Christmas.

Goodnight.

Christmas 2009: Part I

Christmas Eve

Justin and I celebrated Christmas with our kids early this year because we are flying back to Utah to spend the holidays with our family.

It was fun to watch Miley get excited about Christmas this year, and having baby Scotlin here for his very first Christmas makes this year extra special.

Here are some of the highlights of our Christmas Eve...

What?,... Christmas??

Oh!... Christmas!!

This year we are celebrating a Christmas of firsts. It's our first Christmas in Nova Scotia, and our first Christmas as a family of four.

For Our Christmas Eve we started out by having a fancy candle lit dinner together.

After dinner we baked chocolate chip cookies together to leave out for Santa.

We got out the crayons, and Miley wrote Santa a letter to let him know she's been a good girl this year.

We have a tradition to open one gift on Christmas Eve. So before bedtime Miley and Scotlin got to open up their Christmas P.j.'s.

First it was Miley's turn. We wrapped all of her gifts with Disney Princess paper so she will know which ones are hers. She got excited when she saw a surprise inside the wrapping paper, but she was not quite sure what to do with it, so after she opened her jammies she kept trying to wrap them back up.

After she realized she could keep them, she carried them all around the house. She even tried to give them a swing...

Next it was Scotlin's turn to open up his very first Christmas present.

His gifts were wrapped in Mickey Mouse paper. (Mostly so Miley knows they are not for her.) Scotlin just needed a little help from Dad to get it open.

Then it was time to get their new p.j.'s on,

Snuggle,

and hold hands. ;)

We got the kiddos all snuggled up into bed with promises Santa will be coming.

Tomorrow morning will surely bring more smiles.