Christmas

By Christmas Eve the snow was still on the ground (another unusual Washington trait when it comes to snow- it usually melts within a day of it hitting the ground) and we were gearing up for a white Christmas. We had a wonderful Christmas Eve dinner with the McClellan side of the family and enjoyed their company. We had fun sitting together and taking pictures, talking, and then of course having the Christmas story read from Luke by my Dad. We all dressed up, as is tradition (but of course way more fun when you have little people to help out), and that was quite the entertainment. We enjoyed remembering the true meaning of the season, and that is our Savior, Jesus Christ. I always treasure that part of Christmas, it really helps to put all of the joy of the holiday into perspective.

Lydia and Claire playing the Grandma's musical Christmas tree ornaments.

I just thought this was funny. Claire was trying to reach for the camera right as Jeff took the picture.
Lydia singing along to the Christmas carols.
Daddy getting some video of Lydia singing with the microphone.
Kimia and Jeff singing along. They later became a wise woman and man.
Grandma getting a cheesy picture of Lydia.
Dad, our narrator.
Isn't he a cutie? And he's single!! (Ryan later became our third wiseman.)
Andrew and Lydia as shepherds. The shawls are ones my dad brought back from Chile.
Natalie, being our angel (and the star).
Joseph looks pretty tired. Mary was the photogrpher here, and our baby Jesus just crawled all around.
Another picture of Lydia in her shepherd outfit. She wasn't too fond of it because it was itchy!
The family on Christmas Eve (minus Jeff, our photographer).

We woke up Christmas morning with the Boyd side of the family. Amazingly enough, our girls slept in, which meant we did too! :) We opened gifts with Jeff's parents and brother Jason. Later on in the morning Josh and his girlfriend Stephanie, and her daughter Natalie, came over and we opened the remainder of the gifts. It was quite an entertaining morning!! Lydia wanted to open everyone else's gifts, and then play with them herself! Claire enjoyed the wrapping paper, but amazingly enough her toys too! Jeff and I enjoyed watching our children be happy, (and getting the fun surprises of gifts) and enjoyed being able to be with the people we love most- our families! Later in the day we went to my parent's house to spend time with them and open gifts.

Jeff helping Lydia sing with her microphone!

Here I am helping Claire get her toy out of the box, and Jason took this picture. The look on her face is the look she gave anyone whom she thought might be taking her away from me. And notice the leaning? Yeah, that is her clinging to me saying, "Mommy, don't let them take me!"
Claire playing with the tissue paper!
See what I mean about Lydia playing with everyone else's toys?
Claire's fairy outfit from Grandma Boyd. Lydia got a matching one, but with a pink tutu and pink and green head band.
Lydia enjoying the Christmas chocolate that we didn't realize she knew where it was!
Trying to actually eat the ice cream cone from her play food set.
This is Lydia eating a pat of butter. Yes, you read that right, butter. Josh heard that Lydia really likes butter (our favorite line from her regarding butter is: "Mmmm, good buh!"). So while he was out a few days before Christmas, he found a bunch of pats of butter and gave them to her, and she ate one entire pat! It was gross just thinking of all that fat! We only let her eat one; the rest we left for Jeff's parents to use.
An impromptu family picture after opening gifts.
Claire and Daddy
Jason and Lydia showing off some really good chocolate!
Claire and I at my parents house after opening gifts.
Our white Christmas! You can even see my Dad trying to shovel the ice off of the steps.
A happy girl on Christmas Day!

We hope that you all had a very merry Christmas and were able to spend it with those you love!

Hope you enjoyed segment two of A Washington Christmas!