JOYFUL ANTICIPATION

If I could have my way, Christmas would be celebrated on Sunday every year! This year was PERFECT!

We had given the kids plenty of warning that Santa would come after church. We talked about how it would be such a great way for us to show the Lord that He comes first. The kids were all over it! (They are better than I was! I would be freaking out, I am sure! :) )

When they woke up Santa had left a little gift for both of them. It was the only thing they could open before church. They both got new Sunday clothes to wear. They got dressed and ready without even a single peep about getting to see their presents.

Sacrament Meeting was a beautiful choir program and centered around Christ. Perfect!

When we got home, we all got back into our PJs and then we let the kids come through the barrier of blankets I had put up to help them keep their focus. This year Mal was SO much fun! Super excited about every single present! Pretty funny!

This year was the tester year for Jake. The magic, after 11 years of believing, was in question. I let him come to his own conclusion. When he opened a big barrel of licorice he was CONVINCED Santa had brought it. He said, "There is NO WAY you would have gotten that for me!" He believed! And then about a week later, he had to know and asked me out right. I told him. It rocked his world a bit. Then he spent the next few days asking where I got things, trying to wrap his brain around it all. He doesn't feel sad or let down, just a big change from what he thought and excited to help us keep it up for Mal until she is done with that part of her life too.

Anyway, a lot of family asked me to record this...and so I did! Mallory's reactions KILL ME! She is was SUPER stoked! The reactions over the $1 notebook, apple and the gum totally cracks me up! Enjoy! :)

A few more fun pics of Christmas morning! 

 Yes, she has asked OVER AND OVER AND OVER for a couple of years for a DS. This year, she finally got one. We finally gave in because she is awesome about limits. If I tell her she has 20 min. a day, she will ask every 5 minutes if her time is up yet. When it is, she shuts it off and walks away. However, if I am not good about watching the time.....well, she will play the thing all day. NOT GOOD! We have to keep on top of that, or we pay with a grumpy Mally!

I just love the joyful anticipation in her face! 

And just what was going through his mind? Who knows! But I sure like him!