Christmas 2011

Our 2011 Christmas season started on the 14th of Dec. this year. I decided to do the 12 days of Christmas. Each night we set out a new piece to our manger and talked about that piece and the meaning behind it. Of course ending on Christmas with baby Jesus. Also after we did that the girls got to open one gift to the both of them...it was a book each night, some Christmas books some not. They seemed to like it, but of course they are kids and like getting gifts! We would read the book that night as a family.
A few days before Christmas we put together our gingerbread house. This year I got one that was already put together you just had to decorate it, yes I'm getting smarter! The girls LOVED doing this and I know they look like orphans or that their mother doesn't comb their hair, but it's break.
Josh decorated the gingerbread tree and by the end that tree had more frosting on it then the whole house!
On Christmas Eve we got together with my whole family. I gathered all the kids together to take pictures. I had to let them do silly ones if they were going to sit for a nice one!

The adults were worse then the kids when I wanted to document them for this occasion!
After dinner we all came and sat down this is a tradition in the Cole family. The kids are all sat down in a row in front of us and we start with the sharing of testimonies. The kids usually start and then it goes around the room. My dad and mom started this with just us girls and it has continued as our family has grown. This is my favorite part of Christmas to get to hear my sweet girls share their testimonies with out any help from us is so special.
After our testimony meeting comes the over spoiling of the grandchildren aka: gifts from Nana! We open presents from each other first then my mom gives out hers.
Christmas morning after going to church we opened the gifts from Santa and us. The girls got American Girl dolls from Nana the night before and has dragged them everywhere. Each gift they opened up the next day they would show their dolls!
It was a good Christmas, Elizabeth said that it was the best day of her life, Of course she says that every Christmas and come to think of it every birthday...I think she likes gifts! That day the girls played all day with their new toys and Josh and I took a much needed nap!