The Big Day

We've finally gotten there- Christmas! It only took three posts...

We woke up early (of course) on Christmas and did our presents from Santa here at the house, and then we made the trek over to mom and dad's for family presents. Way, way too much stuff later (including totally awesome purple cookware!) we ate breakfast and settled in to admire our new stuff. Max loved playing with his toys, and I'm glad he's finally at the age where he does care more about the toys than the boxes. Darreck also got his dream popcorn maker, but his quest to make the perfect popcorn is fodder for another post. After a few hours of chilling, we took Max home for a nap, followed in quick secession by going back to mom and dad's for dinner. I made dessert this year- a two layered red and green jello poke cake- and have a feeling Gram would not approve because it wasn't pie. She also wouldn't approve that mom made pork loin instead of ham, but that is precisely why we love Gram so much :) After dinner we went to Hale's to see how there day had gone, and it was fun but low-key.

VERY, VERY early in the morning!

Probably the most memorable part of this year was getting to spend it in our new house. It was fun to have enough room for all our decorations and getting to hang lights and make a fire. I think it really made it feel like *home*. That's the problem with living in apartments for so long; nothing seems very permanent. We're so blessed to be living where we are.



Telephone from Grandma Great



More toys and even a "Max" book

 And, last but certainly not least, I am most thankful this Christmas season for the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Without his miraculous birth and infinite Atonement, we would have no purpose here on earth. We praise, adore, and seek him still, and this coming year our wish is to continually become more and more like Him- our exemplar and perfect elder brother.