Christmas 2024

Our kids woke up pretty early this year. They were already doing stockings at about 7 am. They can come up and get their stockings out of the piano room and take them back to the boys rooms until we are ready to start the presents. They all got a book in their stocking this year. 

I absolutely love that we start our Christmas morning off with a picture of our family. We did that and then we rotate through each person opening one gift at a time and watching each person. Our morning was wonderful! So many happy smiles and thank yous said. We even had enough time to get ready and spend some time with presents before we had to leave. It made the morning so much more enjoyable to not feel rushed. 

We went to Mark and Marianne's and we were all given a trip to Disney World in April. We hung out at my mom and she gave out gifts on Christmas Day this year too. It was such a fun afternoon. By early evening the kids were ready to get home and pull out some of their gifts and just be home. It was an amazing Christmas!

Christmas Eve

Our kids were so excited to exchange their sibling gifts that they couldn't wait. Matt just happened to come home for a few minutes of Christmas Eve morning and they convinced us that we should open gifts then. It was a secret for the season of who had drawn whose name. Claire bought Van a dinosaur stuffy. That was a fun one for me because I kept trying to pick for her in the store and she was dead set that she would find the right gift. As soon as she found the trex she knew that was what she wanted to give. This is why I love sibling gifts. They were all excited to give. Corbin was able to do his gift all on his own. He walked down to smith's with a friend and picked out and paid for Kent's on his own. 

That night we went to Marianne's for pajamas and stories. We played left, right, center this year and Corbin was in the final two, but the pot ended up going to Josh. Grandma read a story to the kids. I read "That Thy Alms May Be in Secret" because I am the only one that doesn't cry too hard to read it. The kids opened their pajamas and we headed home for the Christmas Eve sleepover. 

Gingerbread houses

Erin invited us over during Christmas break to make gingerbread houses. It was so fun! I made one because I thought Van would want to help, but he didn't help at all. Then he realized it was finished and was bugged I did it all so he made one of his own. Claire did hers pretty much all by herself. Corbin was speedy quick. Kent and Maggie took a lot of time and loved it. Grandpa ended up helping Kent and they made a very sturdy house. Maggie went to great detail to make a log cabin. It was a fun afternoon and got us out of the house. 

 

Bird Tree

Every year we do the bird tree with the Jenkins. We string food on a little Christmas tree and put the tree on Marianne's parents grave in Hooper. Our singing is a little rough, but we sing carols at the cemetery too. I love around the holidays how much time we spend with family. 

Davis Christmas Party

Our Christmas party was in Pleasant View, at Steph's house again this year. It was such a great night! We ate dinner and then put together a service project of bathroom items for refugees near us.  We played a few games. Joe had a chopstick game, whoever ate the licorice the fastest. The hit was the paper bag game that you had to bend over and pick up the bag with your mouth and stand back up again. Then you would rip off where your mouth was so the bag got shorter and shorter. Maggie, Abby, Cori, and Bryce were definitely the winners. 

I love the cousin gift exchange! I think everyone always does such a good job thinking about their cousin that they buy for. Then Grandpa and Grandma gave presents to everyone. Overall, just a great night with family.