Because we were flying to Las Vegas December 24, we celebrated out Christmas Eve on the 23. Our new traditional dinner is finger foods, no one complains! Each year since we moved here we have hosted Christmas dinner with friends, an we decided to share our Christmas Eve with friends since we would miss it this year.
After everyone left we continued with our traditions and read from the scriptures and shared our testimonies. The girls then were able to unwrap their pajamas and books they get each year. Everyone was excited with what they were given, although it took Lexi a little while to realize why she was given used books. She has been asking to read the Twilight books for years- seriously years! She has seen the movies with me skipping a few scenes, but I didn't feel the books were something she needed to read, because there was way to much detail in some of the scenes in the 3 and 4th book. I bought her used books and scribbled out the parts I didn't feel were appropriate for a 12 year old. I also tore out many pages as well- because she doesn't need to read about the Honeymoon. She was really excited and read them very quickly.
Good morning girls!
Carly was so excited to get the American Girl doll McKenna. Here she is with her stash of gifts behind her.
Lexi and her gifts.
Ashlee and her gifts.
Baylee and her gifts.
We opened presents, ate breakfast, opened more presents, and then had the tree undecorated and out on the curb by 10:00 am. We love having a real tree but we couldn't leave it sitting for the 10 days we'd be gone. Darrell took the girls to see a movie while I finished packing and cleaning.
When it was finally time to leave for the airport we were all very excited! While waiting in line we noticed a news crew there. They asked if they could interview us, the kids thought that was awesome! We never were able to watch ourselves on TV, but were told my many friends that they saw us.
We stayed with Grandma Taylor and aunt Robyn, and we were able to share their Christmas morning. Our girls each had one more gift to open as well.
Later that day we spent time and dinner with Grandma Wiser. It was a busy but fun day!
We decided we wanted to take the kids on the Strip. They're old enough to walk and deal with crowds and they kept hearing about it but didn't really know what it was. We went with lots of cousins and started at the Bellagio. The water show wasn't going to start for a while so we decided to walk to the M&M factory. B the time we got there and watched the movie/show everyone was tired and ready to get out of the crowds of people. My girls told me they don't want to go on the Strip again- they were grossed out by many of the people and signs they saw, and we are now officially small town type people so the crowds of people was a big turn off to them as well.
It was fun to spend the day with cousins. We miss all of them so much. Carly was 2 when we moved to Arkansas and Baylee was born in Arkansas so they haven't grown up with cousins and Aunts and Uncles close. I love to watch my older girls reconnect with their cousins and watch my younger girls get to know them. Baylee is still very confused at why I have so many brothers and sisters- too many aunts and uncles to remember!
