wrapping presents.

The kids and I had a night to ourselves while Jeremy was out caroling with the youth in our ward for their combined activity. I was a little bummed at first since this makes two nights in a row without my sweetie... but I decided to make the best of it and enjoy the time alone with my kids.

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We got the extended family pictures out and talked about all of the people we were going to see the next few weeks. It was so fun to watch their little faces light up as they pointed to all of their favorite aunts, uncles, grandmas, grandpas, and cousins! Then we talked about how we were going to give presents to lots of them like the wise men gave to baby Jesus when he was born. -------------------------------

The tradition at my parents house (which is where we will spend Christmas morning) is to get a small amount of presents from Santa... with the majority of the gift giving going on between family members. If you are there Christmas morning... you give to everyone else that is there. I love this tradition because we all get to think of each other and the focus is more on the family gifts because they are so meaningful! My mom called me this week to tell me that she had taken her kids to shop for my family this week. I got so excited as I started thinking about what my kids could give to each of them in return. I asked my kids tonight what they wanted to give them... and it amazed me what they came up with! (Grammers had a little help with his idea...)

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It was so fun for me to watch my kids get the 'Christmas giving bug' as they helped me wrap their gifts. Lincoln was especially particular about who got which gift and he even wrote his name under the 'from' on all of the tags. It was so adorable. I totally neglected to take any pictures... but I still had to write about it.

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I love this time of year! I hope you are having as much fun as we are at our house!