Christmas Day

I love it when Christmas Day falls on a Sunday.  Following Christmas Eve and other holiday parties, we generally have a small, lower-key Christmas Day.  I guess it's not really small, but peaceful.  And I can't think of a more peaceful way to start a day than to go to church, sit with your family, listen to beautiful Christmas hymns, and ponder the birth of Jesus Christ.

Usually, our girls aren't particularly early risers on Christmas morning.  We have never had to deal with overly excited children clamoring to open presents at 5am, so this year because we needed time to get ready to go to church in the morning we actually gave the girls a wake up time---7am. 

Paige came into our room at exactly 7am and said, "it's time to wake up.  I'm so excited.  I have been looking at the clock every 3 minutes since 6am!" 

Poor girl, I didn't really think she would wake up early.  So we hopped out of bed and headed downstairs to open stockings.  We also allowed the girls to open their presents from Grandpa and Grandma Smith, which happened to be new Christmas dresses they could wear to church.  We didn't open any other presents.  We would wait to do that until after we got back from church.

Bursting with excitement on Christmas morning





love beautiful Christmas dresses!!

We had a wonderful Christmas Sacrament meeting.  The ward choir did a wonderful cantata and I am happy to report that the Smith family was well-represented in the ward choir.  Ashley, Paige AND Dave were all in the choir this year.  Ashley and Paige really wanted to join the choir and since they needed a ride to practices, etc. one of their parents pretty much had to go with them and since I CAN'T sing, it was up to Dave.  I'm actually really proud of him for doing it.  Singing in a ward choir isn't really his thing, but he did it for his girls and they were so happy!  Ashley even was part of a small group that sang, "Mary's Lullaby."  Even though I had to sit by myself after the rest of the family joined the choir on the stand, I was full of love to see them all singing. 

After church we came home and changed back into our pjs to open presents. (Pjs are the most appropriate present opening attire!)



Surprise!  yes it's really a cell phone!



Singing Barbies!



The 2011 Holiday Barbie - I can't believe it!

After the fun of opening gifts we ate a late breakfast, then spent the rest of the day relaxing, talking to family on the phone and playing with our new stuff.  Later we had our traditional Christmas dinner of prime rib and twice-baked potatoes.

What a beautiful and blessed day.