Christmas & More

Christmas night we all laid snuggled in Brooklyn's room. Austin left after a while because naturally with seven kids in a room, it's quite impossible to actually fall asleep. Emmalee was on her little Dora bed squeezing her eyes shut trying to make herself fall asleep because "Santa would skip our house if we weren't sleeping." Adam was also frustrated because every time it'd finally be quiet Brooklyn and I would break out in giggles while the three of us older girls shared her bed. What I would give to go back to the Christmas I believed in Santa Claus... and be five and nine years old again. 

Oh the magical feeling and excitement that was added to the night before Christmas. Falling asleep was so difficult on that night, knowing that reindeer were coming and a plump happy man down the chimney. We heard the bells every year (turned out to be dad's tambourine) ... and Christmas morning was the greatest day of the whole year!

We had snuck out late that Christmas Eve at ten o'clock to go buy more Christmas presents for our dad to open. We all felt like we had more than him and wanted his Christmas to be just as special. Although, he didn't appreciate ANY of the presents from that Walgreens run, the As Seen on TV section was cool, alright? Every present was perfectly wrapped (even the one I used staples on instead of tape), they were perfect because they all had so much love and thought in them. I really took the time this year to find something each person would really love. 

I love Christmas night. I fell asleep thinking about how awesome my life was. How I was surrounded by that most awesome family, breathing heavily as they dreamed of Santa. How I have these wonderful friends in my life sending Merry Christmas texts. How I couldn't wait to see some of the thought out presents be opened the following morning. How blessed I am to have a family, a bed to sleep in, a house to live in (two actually), how I have presents under the tree, money to give, ornaments, Christmas lights, blankets... how I have a Savior who was born and lived everyday of his life in perfection. He is my example and guide and through Him I can feel the power of repentance, charity and true happiness. 

Christmas night this year was the worst sleep of my life. Brooklyn drowsily woke up about every ten minutes saying "what time is it?" Wow, really Brooklyn? We teased her about it, she's a good sport! haha.

Then the kids woke up. They were so excited they forced the rest of us out of bed and we lined up on the stairs. One by one we went to see what Santa brought us and if the reindeer (which were Kylee and I this year) ate the plate of carrots. They did. We made it look very reindeer like.

Every kid was so excited and grateful. Even the boy who only wanted a DS-I and didn't get that from Santa (because it was wrapped under the tree from grandma). This is the year that I wanted something from Santa the most! Normally I say, oh well Santa could bring me this or this... or this. I don't ever have that thing I want! But I could've written letters to the north pole and waited in the mall line to tell Santa what I wanted this year. And as I opened my eyes, there it was sitting next to me stocking... my guitar. <3

It sounds so perfect. And I may not be amazing yet, but playing the piano and guitar are a way for me to just think. I play the songs and most times don't thing about the words that belong with them, my mind goes wild. The guitar takes away my stresses and I just am so happy to have my very own! (PS I know that the picture on the right is not a real chord, either my finger is going for a D chord or I was just posing for a picture).

Christmas went on, we opened more presents and each time told what we loved about the person we were opening from. Do you know what I heard about eight times? "I love Lauren because she's funny." I guess I'm funny? Haha! I love my family because they know that I'm funny I guess. Emmalee was a little sweetheart about her gifts, Adam too, Austin even hugged me and said that my gift for him was one of his favorites. When you know what would make someone's Christmas, even if it's cheap cologne, it's such a good feeling. To really think about what someone would want and be right, it's enough to make your own Christmas. 

Brooklyn's present was beautiful, my very own watch band. Kylee's well, I picked it out myself and she picked hers out, but hey, we exchanged this year! It was nice having Luke there too, the newest family member. 

Best of all was this though: My mother has been wanting the Willow Tree nativity for years and years. It's kinda expensive so we've never made it happen. Today we had a plan, we combined together and bought her the two things she really wanted that and a camera. The camera was just number two in our gift, not the best part. But mom even cried from just opening that!! Then she opened the Willow Tree nativity. When she opened it she put her head down and cried! Grandma even cried when she was we got that for her. I love to show my mom that we really do think about her and appreciate her, it's moments like that that she really knows! I wish we could show her even more. 

My mother is so beautiful. Thank goodness I have her genes.

Dad was a little UNGRATEFUL for his omelet maker and 74.99 lap desk, but when the real present rolled around and he got his gift card to his favorite place he was finally happy. When he saw that we all wrote him letters, he cried! Dad doesn't cry and the letters weren't even read... that's how much our words mean to him.

That happening to my wonderful parents, the feeling you get when you make someone else SO happy, that's what Christmas presents are about and THAT'S what made my Christmas special this year.

Amazing presents were followed by an amazing Christmas brunch, movie marathon, curling of the girlies hair with my new curling iron, burning myself three times, cheese ball, Facing the Giants at Grandma's with Bryden's loud cheering and delicious little weenies for dinner. 

It was a very very very Merry Christmas!

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Day after Christmas:

We sang in church today. We sang it so beautifully in what seemed to be perfect harmony and balance from where I was standing... which was in front of the whole ward and all my childhood friends. Then come third verse of Angels We Have Heard On High half of us butcher the second line and all you could hear after that was a chorus of giggles. I know my family was pretty embarrassed and it was hard to look up as we were walking of the stand, but that was so hilarious to me. 

When one of us fails, we all go down together and laugh our way out of it. 

Funny story from Christmas dindin with the Falters.  The joke is: What is 90 feet long, green and bumpy that lives in the Ocean? Answer: Moby Pickle. One time grandma told the joke and had all these people laughing their heads off, she couldn't understand what was so funny! Well she realized she had messed up the punch line. What is 90 feet long, green and bumpy that lives in the Ocean? Her answer: Pickle Dick.

I love the laughs with my family. Like family prayer, mom whispered to pray for "Darin." Kylee said, "Please bless Karen" Mom: "Darin" Kylee: She says some other name... Dad: "MAREN" in his deep sick voice, my mom burst out laugh first, which rarely happens so of course we all end the prayer laughing. Good thing Heavenly Father has a good sense of humor, (I heard that once).