Christmas Day

6:30 a.m. sure comes early when you've been up until 2 a.m.! It seemed like we had just gone to bed and it was already time to get up (per the agreement between siblings). I got some cute pics of the kids coming into the family room - I think - I haven't been able to download them off my new camera yet!

Jen's family does things a little differently than C and I (or any of the other siblings as far as I know) on Christmas morning. They are good things though! All of the adults went down to the kids and we all gathered round to hear a story about opening the gifts slowly so the love doesn't fall out. I'll have to try to find the actual story and post it. Then, we had a family prayer. It was a great way to start off the morning.

It was so much fun watching the excitement on their faces as each gift was passed out. There was no arguing. There was no jealously. It was just fun and togetherness. What a crazy mess there was afterward! But it was so wonderful!

After all the presents were opened, we had Christmas casserole for breakfast and Kurt and Kevin's families packed up to leave. It was sad to see them go. We'd had such a short time together. After they left, I worked on getting some of our things packed but fell asleep while doing so. I actually ended up laying down on the floor next to the bed where C was sleeping and Jonah actually thought I fell over! No sweetie, I was just REALLY tired! After a while, I woke up and put the prime rib in the oven. C and I had ordered a 12 pound P/R for dinner for Jen's family, Dad, and us. It was delish! Probably the best P/R I've EVER made!

It was sad that we didn't get to stay longer and have seconds...we had to finish packing and head for the airport. The evening was cold and crisp and it was sad to leave everyone on that beautiful Christmas night. It was a memory that I'll never forget and money that was so well worth spent:

$505.00 Airline tickets
$105.00 Dog Boarding
$113.00 Car Rental
$50.00 Prime Rib
$65.00 Extra Groceries for Christmas Eve #2 and Christmas Day
$125.00 Extra Christmas Eve Dinner
$85.00 Christmas Eve Jammies
$700.00 New Camera to Capture the Memories
Total for a Memory Never to Be Forgotten: PRICELESS!

Thank you Sweetie C for insisting that we go!