::a late night::

...not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse...

After baking some cookies (for Santa), making some bread (for Christmas dinner), making Grandma H.'s homemade cinnamon rolls (which was not easy), putting a couple of things together, wrapping a couple of things, putting a couple of kids back to bed, putting gifts under the tree, stuffing the stockings, moving the furniture back to make way for the morning, and taking a few pictures,

now we're ready for Christmas morning.

::Christmas Eve::

We always celebrate on Christmas Eve with Matt's family. We get together at his mom and dad's with all his brothers and sisters and their families and exchange gifts. We talk a bit about what Christmas means and how much we love this time of year and eachother.

This year, Matt's mom and dad presented a challenge to all of us to set aside some money each month for each child (from chores, allowance, etc) to donate or provide a service for somebody for next Christmas. We love this idea! I love the "sub for Santa"/angel tree types of programs, and we love to give back. We've already decided how much every month and everything, and we're excited about it.

Stefanie, Brandon, & Cooper

The kids got some presents from the name exchange that we do, and also a couple from Grandma & Papa...

Chloe got a princess game set, a book, and Twister Hop Scotch

Portie got a Buzz "fishin'" game, a book, and a Buzz "doll"
(do you call it a doll when it's for a boy??)

Coop got an ABC drum and a lawnmower & a book

Matt and I got a book, a scentsy warmer (which I LOVE!!), some money, gloves, and a scriptures DVD.

They spoiled us as usual :)

After we do our little party, we head over to their church building ('cause it's the only place big enough for all of us- 75 of us this year!) for the Halling Christmas party...

We have a great dinner (I was in charge of sweet potatoes again), and then gather 'round to listen to Matt's Uncle Steve play Christmas carols on his guitar.
the little ones all like to dance while we sing

All the great-grandkids do a gift exchange. The sit in a circle and walk the gift they brought over to the person it's for. This year they had to get something that started with the same letter as their first name-kinda fun :)

Cooper got Car keys (Porter got paint & Chloe got a clutch)

Towards the end of the party, when most are getting ready to head home, the sisters do "sister gifts." I've thought this was such a neat thing ever since the first time I ever saw it 7 1/2 years ago...

Each sister gets the same gift for each other sister and herself; so they all have matching gifts. A lot of the family gathers around to watch the exchange. They like to see what the gifts are. They're all unique and special-like each sister :)

Deanne gave some rare old photos of their mom and dad and a poem about "spending Christmas with Jesus this year" which made us all cry.

Alaine made these pillows out of Grandpa's overalls (which he ALWAYS wore) and his flannel shirts and also some pockets of some of their mother's shirts. Chloe came over and saw them. I explained what they were made out of, and I told her that any time Grandma Snowman misses her mom and dad, she can just snuggle her pillow. She understood and got a little teary herself.

Then we headed home! Christmas eve is when we do our gifts from eachother, which is always jammies.

We also open presents from Gramma Ruby on Christmas eve. She sent some magnetic "paper" dolls for Chloe, a train set for Port, and a lightup bug and sippy cup for Coopie, and a few things for Matt and I. Thanks, Gramma!

So, we always do jammies, and I was telling Chloe how I didn't have any jammies for Daddy yet and that he already has lots of jammies and maybe I should get him something else and she says: "Mom it doesn't matter, we always do jammies! You have to go get him some, that's what we always do, and it doesn't matter if he already has some. That's what we do!" So I got him some jammies.

And we also opened this...

...and I'm in love with it :)

And here we all are in our new jammies :)

::we still did frycakes::

A long time Halling family tradition is to make frycakes every December 23rd at Matt's grandparent's house. I kinda wasn't sure if we'd do it this year with the loss of Matt's grandpa.

We ran into Jennie (Matt's sister) at the store on Tuesday (the 22nd) and she says "you guys comin' up to do frycakes tomorrow?" I was glad to hear that.

I learned something new this year about this tradition. Matt's Grandma took this recipe to an extraction meeting where there was a man who had had this in his native country. He cried because he hadn't had them since coming to America. They've made these every year on Christmas Eve eve. These two sisters made sure they called their other sisters to see if they were making fry cakes too.

I helped roll the dough and flip them through. Amberlee cooked them. Matt's Aunt Deanne and his mom talked and reminisced. Deanne seemed particularly nostalgic this year. She shared lots of memories, talked a lot about how much she missed her mom and dad, and asked Susan about what she remembered about Christmas growing up. It was precious to listen to.

Grandpa was missed, but we
decided he and Grandma were still there.

::party time::

We're done with school for the rest of the year!! It's about a 10 day vacation, and we're (I'm) SO glad for it! I'm so ready to sleep in, not have to get up for anything, stay in my jammies til noon if I want to and just be on vacation--plus Matt's done with work too!!! ahhhhhh!!

Portie got done last Thursday and Chloe got done today :)

Port had 2 parties last week. The parent/child activity day was Tuesday. Cooper and I got to go watch him sing and do some fun activities with him.

they got a chime to ring during "jingle bells"


the picture's pretty blurry, but I had to get in it 'cause of that tongue!

They had 3 tables set up with little Christmassy projects for them to do.

He made a tree. He had to cut it out

(so frustrating to watch! He was concentrating so much on the motions of cutting and not paying attention to the lines of the triangles, so he cut them in half, and the tree ended up looking a little raggedy, but his motions were good!)

He's pretty proud of it

and some dang cute reindeer antlers

His second party was a PJ party. He got to wear jammies, take a pillow and blanket (and of course his "mahmah")

he was SO excited to wear his Buzz jammies!

they watched Frosty and ate popcorn in their jammies :)

Chloe had a "teeny tiny elf party" on Friday. I got to go for a bit (since I volunteer on Fridays). She also had a PJs party Monday and a PTA party today.

The elves in her classroom. They work the same way as ours.

The kids all had to bring a teeny tiny treat to share.

Chloe brought Nerds.

I (and the other "help mom") helped pack the bags full of the teeny tiny treats for all the kids.

Her bag (which she shared with Port when we got home and Dadduh when he got home)

Chloe's teacher read the kids a story (Grinch)

So now we're just waiting for Christmas! We're so excited! I have to admit though, that it makes me a little sad too. I was looking at the tree tonight all lit up and Chloe said in her squeaky little excited voice "Mom, only 2 more days 'til Christmas." I said "yeah" and that I was excited, and then it made me think of how it was all going to be over in one day. All the prep we do for Christmas (shopping, decorating, cooking, planning, etc) done in one day. Sad. I love Christmas. We've had fun with it this year. The kids understand the fun of it and also the true meaning of it, and we (most of us) can't wait 'til friday.

I'm so glad I got to go to their parties! I'm thankful everyday that I'm able to be with my kids. I appreciate Matt so much for his hard work so that I can stay home with them and be able to do these things. My mom wasn't able to when I was little, and I always wished she could. I want to express my love and appreciation for Matt's mom. Without her I couldn't go to their school to volunteer, or get done some of the little things I need to. She's always able to help when I need her. We gave her a little decoration/sign thing a while back that says "when I count my blessings, I count you twice". I hope she knows how true that is.

::a jeppsen christmas party::

We've been super busy this last week. We've been trying to finish up our Christmas shopping (Almost got it all done. We've only got a handful of things left now-hopefully I'll get that done on Monday), I got the boxes out to all my grandparents (always a fun experience-me and the three amigos at the busy post office), school parties, etc.

Saturday was the Jeppsen Family Christmas Party (on Matt's dad's side).

We get together for dinner...

I made lots of these...

Matt & J played bejeweled (a lot!!) on Amberlee & George's iphones...

Santa (or one of his helpers) always comes to the Jeppsen parties. He always brings the kids something little (a gift the parents send ahead for him to put in his bag).

The kids were way excited to see him...

Chloe waiting for Santa

Each of the kids got a little present and sat with

Santa for a minute while he gave them their gifts.

Chloe was just fine with Santa...

She got a princess Color Wonder coloring book...

Portie tried to just grab his gift and go...

His was a Toy Story Color Wonder book (no Buzz in it though, what the ???)

And Coopie...

...poor boy!! And he has mean parents who just take pictures of him crying instead of saving him from the big hairy guy.

...anyway, Santa brought him a little car; and he liked it. He makes little engine noises when he plays with it.