Christmas Day

Christmas day was a magical day. The kids woke up at 8 and was in no hurry to go and look at what they got instead they wanted to come and snuggle daddy and I in bed so we laid there for a little bit while we just snuggled in bed.
We finally got up and had the kids line up in the hall way with there cute new Jammie's on and walked out to see what Santa brought them. Santa left them some clothes Kenzie got Hannah Montana shirts and a pair of pants and in her stocking she got candy with fruit. Braxton got a couple of pants and a shirt and a pair of Cars Jammie's. He also got the same in his stocking. Santa left a family gift for us it was a Rock band 3. The kids loved there stuff from Santa even if they didn't get any toys from him they enjoyed there new clothes the simplest things they appreciated. This year we kept it simple to keep focus on Jesus and not on the presents so Tyler and I got each kid 2 presents each from us to open so Kenzie got a new stroller and a poster of Hannah Montana. Braxton got a Buzz light year and a woody. The church helped us this year and got each kid church clothes or church shoes. So that was very thoughtful of them to do that for us. It was amazing how grateful they were for such a little Christmas this year they enjoyed everything they got and boy was the house a mess but it was worth watching them play with there new things with out once complaining about what they got and how little they got they also wanted to wait for Ashleigh and Jackson to come over to open some of there presents so they picked out the ones they wanted to open with Ashleigh and Jackson the funny thing is they picked the littlest ones to open with out them and wanted to wait for the big ones to open with them. I don't know how many kids would wait patiently for 3 hours to open there gift under the tree waiting for there brother and sister to come over. They just had so much fun with what they got.
At 1 o' clock Tyler went and picked up Ashleigh and Jackson to bring them here for there presents. They also got clothes from Santa with Candy and fruit in it. Then it was time to open more presents so they took turns opening presents Ashleigh got a fushigi ball a movie and church clothes, Jackson got 2 Lego sets and church shoes and clothes as well. Each child picked out a movie for one of there siblings which they pulled a name out of hat and got to choose a movie for them and wrapped it them selves. It was an enjoyable day even Tyler was enjoying himself and was so excited for Christmas which he never is, until.
Jackson was having fun and enjoying Christmas when all of a sudden he was disappointed that Santa didn't bring him any toys here or at his mom's (quoted by him) he was acting ungrateful and sad and threw a fit and started crying over presents. So Tyler took him back to his mother's and took his toys away to try teach him a lesson about Christmas, that it is (my favorite pic)
not all about presents and you should be grateful for what you got.
A few hours later Jackson called and apologized for acting up and told his dad he understands if he gives his toys away to someone who got nothing for Christmas, it was very big of Jackson do say that. He came back and we headed over to Grandpa Madsen's for there Christmas party.
I think that was the best night for Grandpa he was so excited about Christmas he had Laurie with him the whole way. We had a big family dinner then each family handed out there gifts to the family they had this year. Then it was Grandpa's turn he gave each grandchild marshmallow shooters which turned into an all out war with marshmallows flying through the air. It was the most fun ever. Then grandpa gave each of his kids a light house to resemble there mom and the last gift he gave was a walking stick which had a story behind it. The last time Laurie and Jay went up the mountain to get wood. They found a pile of sticks that wood make good walking sticks so Laurie told Jay that he should make walking sticks for all the kids. So he sanded and furbished and painted each stick to give to his kids for Christmas from there mother. We then did the Christmas orange and the Nativity reenactment with the grand kids. Then just enjoyed each others company.
It was a day of love, laughter, family and Jesus Christ. but definitely one of the hardest but best Christmas ever.

Christmas week

This year was a very emotional year for the family with Laurie being gone and loving Christmas so much. We were lucky enough to have Charsty, Kira, Aurora and Shontel to come and visit us for the holiday season. We did miss O gosh Josh though. We spent most of the week at Grandpa Madsen's house enjoying many dinner's, talks and lots of laughs as a family. Watching the cousins play and enjoy spending time together. Laurie loved watching and listening to her grand kids giggle and laugh and be kids.
On Dec 21st we went and saw the temple lights which we do every year and this time Jay came with us and the kids loved it. We did ginger bread houses with Charsty, Kira, Shontel and Jerica we also had Ashleigh and Jackson with us on December 23rd before that we had Kenzie's birthday party which we were suppose to go sledding but there was no snow so we just had a little get together at our house and had snacks and cake and watched her open her presents.
On Christmas Eve we spent time at my parents house and had dinner and watched the kids open there presents and they enjoyed all the stuff that they received and loved giving there presents that they made, a reindeer goody bag. That night when we got home the kids got to open one present from us which is pajamas Kenzie got Hannah Montana Jammie's and Braxton got toy story 3 Jammie's which they put on right a way. That night we tracked Santa on the Internet and the kids saw him and daddy told them he is so close, so they jumped up and said lets go to bed. So I tucked them into bed and laid by them for a while and we were so quiet that we heard Santa bells so they quickly closed there sweet eyes and went to bed.