I feel like I'm a ball that starts rolling around Halloween quickly gaining momentum with every passing day. By the time I reach Christmas I'm in a full fledged panic to get a million things checked off my list before December 25th. Like every year, I had high ambitions to accomplish 90% of Christmas before December 1st. Hmmm. Maybe next year.
Christmas tree? Check. Christmas card? Check. Christmas lights? Check. Christmas picture taking, shopping, decorating, visiting and home teaching, caroling, pre-Christmas baking, menu grocery shopping, stake fireside planning, party attending, cleaning, wrapping... check, check, check!
Oh yes, and among all that we had to find a way to feed and bathe our children, do homework, change diapers, and reinforce to our children the true meaning of Christmas. (That last one was actually my favorite part.)
Amidst all the hustle and bustle that December brings, we managed to truly enjoy each other's company. Brian took some time off work and we took advantage of every minute. We loved having Christmas music fill our home all day every day. What can I say? We spent most of our time just being happy.
'Twas the Night Before Christmas...
After slowly placing each ornament on our advent calender Christmas tree, and our kids celebrating each new December morning as "Christmas Eve-eve-eve" until it was only one "eve", the night before Christmas could not have come any sooner! The anticipation was slowly killing our children - and me. I may have gotten just as excited for Christmas as they were.
We were lucky to share Christmas with family. Nana decided to spend Christmas with us this year - and we felt so blessed to have her here! I think it made it even more special for our kids knowing that "Nana Clause was coming to town."
Like every year we had fondue for Christmas Eve dinner. It's such a fun and unique tradition - and the kids really enjoy skewing their steak and watching it sizzle in the pot. Judging by her smile, I think Irelynn enjoyed eating Cheese Puffs the most. 
We discussed The Last Straw, one of our favorite Christmas books, and talked about how we can serve others. Then we read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. But this year instead of reading our traditional book, we received a special 'Twas the Night Before Christmas from Grandad and Granny Kim. The kids got a kick out of the book - because each page was a vocal recording of Grandad and Granny Kim reading them the story. 
Natalya made sure we didn't forget to sprinkle reindeer dust (oatmeal and glitter) on our lawn so the reindeer could see our house from the sky. We were also sure to leave Santa some sugar cookies, eggnog, and 9 carrots - one for each reindeer. 
I love this picture because I told Natalya and Branson to say, "Cheese!" when Irelynn cut in front of them for her closeup. 
On Christmas Eve we let our kids open the gift that they bought or made for each other. This year dad took Natalya to find a gift for Branson and I took Branson to find something for Natalya. It was sweet to see Branson run up and down the toy isle pointing to everything he thought Natalya would love. Once he settled on a gift, keeping it a secret was the fun (and excruciating) part. They felt so proud to have wrapped the gifts themselves. I loved watching the gift-giver's expression when the present they chose was being opened. Branson opened a mini Buzz Lightyear and Natalya opened a Fur Real kitten. 
The, "Thank you, I love it," kiss.
The, "That was a wet one," face wipe. She must have really liked it.
Yep.
A Magical Christmas Morning
Irelynn awoke at 6am jolting Brian and I out of bed. (We didn't want her to wake the rest of the house before we were ready.) While Brian entertained Irelynn, I ran downstairs, flipped on the Christmas tree lights, started the Christmas music, called my parents to inform them that our house was waking up so they could arrive before kids came downstairs, found our Christmas bell and was done right when Branson woke up. We kept him upstairs, too. Then my parents and my sister, Ellen, arrived just before 7:00. The only one still sleeping was Natalya! I rang the Christmas bell and once she came out of the grogginess and realized it was Christmas morning, the kids zipped downstairs. Here's what they found...
Branson kept saying, "Santa came! He came!"
For a minute they didn't want to touch anything! That didn't last.
Sure enough, Santa had the cookies and eggnog. There were only cookie crumbs and half-chewed-up carrot pieces remaining.
Opening stockings was fun - but after a minute Branson decided to just dump it all out on the floor. Smart guy.
Santa left stockings for everyone.
After stockings and gifts from Santa had been opened, we sat down to breakfast. We had homemade cinnamon rolls, and fresh fruit with fruit dip.
After breakfast it was back to presents under the tree. We stretched it out as long as we could - finishing up around 10:00. The best part was sharing the morning with family.
Some of us still in our pajamas, we had a beautiful spread of food prepared for Christmas dinner.
My kind of sugar plums.
What's Christmas without 20 feet of bubble wrap? You could run on it. Dance on it. Poke it with your toes, fingers. Jump on it. 
Do a cartwheel on it.
Wrap yourself in it. Roll on it. The possibilities are endless. :) Any way you pop it, it's a whole lot of fun.Bellsnickle
Bellsnickle has been the Freebairn family elf for generations. He's a magical elf that checks on us throughout the year, especially around Christmas time. He determines whether or not we deserve to be on Santa's Nice List. Then about a week after Christmas, Bellsnickle returns to our home to refill our stockings with anything that Santa forgot. (Sometimes it's batteries for a new toy, or a container to keep a toy's small pieces, etc.) And if you haven't already taken the Christmas tree down, Bellsnickle will do that for you, too. The kids get just as excited for Bellsnickle to arrive as they do Santa!
What a week. Despite all the stress that naturally accompanies the holidays, I remembered why this is my most favorite holiday and I could truly feel the peace of Christmas.
Merry Christmas to all- and to all a good night!
One of the highlights of Christmas was when he got his first backpack. He thinks it's so cool.
Outside "Smarty Pants" preschool. His teacher runs her school out of her home - but you wouldn't know it when you step inside his classroom. It looks awesome!
After I dropped Natalya and Branson off, I was down to one kid. We had some shopping to do. (I guess it's nice that I have a few hours here and there to grocery shop, etc. without three kids hanging on me. I never realized how easy it is to take care of just one.) :)
Miss Kristy is a fantastic teacher - and perfect for Branson's first educational experience. She has created a happy, loving environment that is both structured and fun. After school he tells me everything he learned, the songs he sang, the crafts he made, his snack, his outside playtime, circle time, and the list goes on... 
Natalya loved Santa. She said she especially liked his voice.
Irelynn had a different experience. She had the I'm-15-months-old-and-you're-a-weirdo-who's-freaking-me-out experience.
The food.
The family.
The day after Thanksgiving we were looking for something to do that was inexpensive and fun for the whole family. We got everything we wanted when we went to our church with a basketball, several Nerf balls, and a Frisbee. We had so much fun just messing around! The kids were hilarious.
Irelynn kept trying to hide in the gym's curtain dividers. She would jump out at us and say, "Boo!" Branson enjoyed shooting basketballs and playing catch. Natalya preferred organized sports - usually when she did the organizing. Brian and I liked playing catch. It reminded us of life before kids - when we used to go to the park after work/school and play catch. Everyone had a great time. The kids didn't want to leave!
This is my pretty trifle. We didn't save room for dessert on Thanksgiving, so we ate all our dessert the day after.
Irelynn has more fun pushing her friend on the ride-along toy than riding it herself! And she's strong.
Irelynn and Karlee, her best friend.
