Christmas Day.

On Christmas morning everyone woke up around 7:30 am. Of course we were all freaking out to open presents but Emerson was going to face time at 8:00 am so we decided to wait and open them after we got off the phone with him! 

There aren't words to describe how fun it was to talk to him. His mission president gave them a lot of time to talk as long as it was okay with the members. So Emerson was actually able to participate in our Christmas breakfast as well as opening presents!

Before I forget I just wanted to write about where Emerson is. He is serving in a little beach city in Narragansett, Rhode Island and is absolutely loving it! Who wouldn't?! He has a great companion and the members in the area are great as well and are so good about taking care of the missionaries. We are so proud of Emerson and know that he is not only blessing the people's lives of Rhode Island but his family's back home as well. 

For breakfast we had homemade cinnamon rolls, a breakfast bacon, cheese, and hash brown casserole, and orange juice. And then as far as opening presents we of course took turns starting from the youngest and moving to the oldest.

Everyone was completely spoiled. Michael bought me a bunch of makeup that I had been wanting. Having a makeup artist for a sister has been super fun. I told her I wanted to get some new makeup because mine was all old and I also wanted her to teach me some natural ways to wear it. Michael got some running gear and movies as well as a gift certificate to eat at Rodizio Grill.

For lunch we had some garlic pastry knots, an avocado, tomato, and feta dip, and a spinach artichoke dip. Yum!

After lunch we were able to talk to Matthew on the phone. He is currently serving in North Carolina waiting for his visa so he can go to Brazil. One of my favorite parts of talking to Matthew was hearing him bear his testimony at the end. One thing I love about Matthew is how he is always trying to be better. He has always given me such good advice and motivates me to do and be better every day. Getting emails and letters from these missionary brothers of mine is the best thing ever. I feel so blessed to know them and could not be more proud of them. They have blessed my life more than they will ever know and I am so grateful to them.

We had a relaxing afternoon, the boys were able to go play basketball at the church while we prepared dinner. We had a ham, cheesy potatoes, and rolls, with raspberry cream cheese pie for dessert. Oh my goodness on the food today! 

Enjoy the pictures below!

Santa came!

The yummy cinnamon rolls.

Hello Elder Farr!

There's little Emerson on face time talking to us while we open presents!

The boys all opening their gift certificates. Good thing us wives got to join in on that goodness:)

Olivia opening her presents. She was in heaven and definitely had a hard time waiting her turn:)

Taking a quick little break while she waits her turn.

She especially loved her new cowboy boots!

Looking stylish in her new sunglasses.

She was especially excited about these since when we were in California over the summer she accidentally dropped her old ones in the ocean and we never could find them. Since then she has been talking non stop about wanting sunglasses.

We are super excited about the kindle. It is time for some learning games!

Clara was surprisingly good at opening her presents!

And trying to eat her presents...

And the wrapping paper!

Olivia is going to have a blast on that cute scooter of hers!

And then we found Clara trying to eat some more wrapping paper:)

Olivia and all her presents!

Spoiled little girl:)

Baby Clara and her presents!

Here is my new makeup! I am beyond excited!

This pie has to be my favorite.

Olivia decided that Pa would be River and so she put the reins on him (yes she did that) and rode him around the house thinking it was the best thing ever!

We definitely had a very merry Christmas! 

I think my favorite part of the day was watching my perfect girls excitedly open all their gifts and of course talking to my two missionary brothers. 

I am so grateful for my family and friends as well as for a loving Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ. 

I am beyond blessed.

Christmas Eve.

Christmas Eve has to be one of my very favorite days of the year. 

Mostly because I am in love with what my family has for Christmas Eve dinner.

Seriously though you can ask Michael, I talk about it every day all year long.

I love the excitement and anticipation we all feel as we get ready for Santa to come that night.

And of course there aren't words to describe our excitement to talk to our missionary brothers Emerson and Matthew.

This year we had a very relaxing day.

Olivia and I made the traditional cut out sugar cookies.

She is such a cute little helper.

My mom and I prepared a lot of food for our Christmas dinner.

Homemade raspberry pies, cinnamon rolls, and a breakfast casserole. We figured it would be nice not to have to cook a lot on Christmas day:)

For dinner we had Raclette. Potatoes, mushrooms, bread, little onions, sausage, salami, tomatoes, olives, apples, and pickles drenched in melted raclette cheese.

My favorite are the little onions. Oh my goodness.

To drink was sparkling cider with pomegranate seeds.

I am already looking forward to next Christmas just thinking about it!

We watched the Luke II video and then Jingle all the way.

We set up mattresses downstairs in the basement so that everyone could sleep by the Christmas tree. 

(Except for Michael and I, we slept in the bedroom because little Clara still doesn't sleep through the night.)

Here are a few pictures...

Olivia was such a good little froster.

(Haha she mostly ate it!)

Uncle Winston sure loves these little girls!

The little dinner set up.

Haha notice the canned nacho cheese sauce in the bowl..that was Ryan's idea!

My plate.

Yum!

This sweet girl is beyond excited for Santa to come.

Happy Christmas Eve!

Pre Christmas fun in Utah.

Well we made it to Utah!

Flying with both girls was surprisingly not bad at all.

When we landed and were down in the luggage area the twins and Harrison and Sophia all came in to help us carry out our stuff. The second Olivia saw them run through the doors she took off running and jumped into their arms. It was the sweetest thing.

There is nothing like seeing the people you love most when it's been a while.

We were able to meet Jill (Winston's girlfriend) who will sometime in the near future be joining our family. They aren't officially engaged yet...:)

She is so perfect for Winston and I feel like Sophia and I bonded with her immediately. So we are definitely excited to welcome another sister!

I do take lots of pictures but not enough. One of the pictures I failed to take was of me, Sophia, Sophia's sister in law Eryn, and Jill all going to get our nails done. I got a nude colored shellac with a gold sparkly color on my ring finger. It turned out amazing! We also went to a couple family Christmas parties and I only managed to take 1 picture. But it was so fun to see everyone.

Here are a few pictures of our pre Christmas fun.

This is a little blurry but Michael and I can hardly handle how cute she is from the back view in her little snow gear.

Visiting Grandpa's work and playing with some of his Christmas decorations.

(She isn't crying even though it looks like it ha).

(Oh and that's Howard one of my dad's long time friends that is holding Clara).

Doing a little Christmas shopping!

Everyone was fighting over who got to carry Clara around in the front pack and Winston won!

Aunti Elizabeth and Olivia had some fun taking pictures on her I touch.

We went on a triple date, Michael and me, Ryan and Sophia, and Winston and Jill.

It was my first time eating at the Cheesecake factory and it was definitely amazing!

City Creek was so fun with all of the Christmas light glamour.

I sure love this guy more than I can say.

These girls are the best.

We all have matching coats!:)

What's Christmas without visiting Santa right?!

Olivia was very hesitant but when she saw that Clara was sitting on his lap and was totally fine, she decided that it would be okay. And especially after he gave her a yummy chocolate lollipop!

Oh and I just have to rant about how ridiculous it is that you have to pay like 17 bucks for 3 small pictures. I mean come on, can I not just take one with my phone? Or at the very least charge me 5 bucks or something and let me take my own photo!

I think Michael loves taking pictures of his girl:)

Uncle Winston loving on little Clara.

She was a little scared of him at first but after some effort and kindness on his part she decided that he was maybe okay:)

(Caroline, Sophia, Winston, Daniel, Joshua, Tessa, and me).

We had a family Christmas dinner/party at the Brown's house this year.

And these people are seriously my favorite people ever. Minus little Emerson:(

These cousins of mine are more like brothers and sisters than they are cousins. The memories I have with them are seriously some of my favorite.

Love you guys!

Okay 1 post down like 12 more to go haha.

But seriously I am so behind!