Christmas 2009

It was my first Christmas without family. In fact, my first Christmas without my family. Any of the time that I've been with Ammon's family has been the day after Christmas or before because of Ammon's work...but never anywhere other than my mom and dad's on Christmas morning. No family at all in fact. Just Ammon, Matthew and me. Under the circumstances, Christmas Day was wonderful. We are SO LOVED. Everyone sent our presents all the way to Kentucky this year. We received about six boxes on Christmas Eve alone, one the week after Christmas and about four in the few weeks before Christmas.

I love Christmas. I think I love it so much because it is all about sacrifice. Not only is it about Christ and how his whole life, including his birth, was a sacrifice, but because every single person who buys things on Christmas is sacrificing a little bit for someone else. They are doing something small to help someone else. Even those people who put Christmas presents on credit cards will one day pay them off. I love that the malls are crowded. I love that people are willing to buy for others and that everyone (usually) is in such a giving mood in December. There are so many people in need and it is so amazing that we can give a little bit of what we have to others. I know that this year was a big struggle for so many people and we got so blessed. Heavenly Father never forgets us and neither does our family. There was not one person who didn't put thought into what they were getting us and every single person gave a little bit (or a lot bit) of what they had to give to us! I can't thank them enough. We were really remembered this year.

We woke up Christmas morning and felt a hundred times better than we did the night before. We had already cancelled dinner and had to call a few of the other drill sergeants and the missionaries. I felt so bad cancelling on the elders because all I could think about was Chris getting called and not having somewhere to go to eat on Christmas. They were okay with it of course and we rescheduled. The first thing we go on Christmas morning? Open stockings! Ammon did such a good job in filling mine...he always does a good job in gift giving. He really listens to what I say I want and remembers. When we were younger, we would always wake up before my mom and dad (of course) and we could never open a present, but we were allowed to see what was in our stockings.

Next? We read from the scriptures. I have always wondered where Matthew and Luke got their information about Jesus's birth. Perhaps they were already born and were young children who remember seeing the star. Maybe they had their parents tell them the story. Either way, the stories are there for us to read. And it never gets old! One of our favorite Christmas movies is the "Nativity Story" because it really shows what Mary went through. It shows what kind of man Joseph really was. The angel didn't go to Mary's parents and tell them about Mary; he didn't go to the lawmakers. He went to Mary. Then to Joseph. I really like that. And I wonder how Jesus was as a baby. Did he cry a lot? When he was a toddler, did he have to go to time out? And what kind of mother was Mary? She and Joseph probably had children after Jesus, so what kind of big brother was he? When did he know he was Heavenly Father's son? There is so much we don't know about his childhood. But. We do know the important part. He was born. And not in a mansion. He came to just a little stable. I bet Joseph was devastated. And poor Mary. I can't imagine how and what she must've been feeling.

Anyway. After the scriptures was when we opened presents. Matthew had a blast. I think that if he would've just had one present, he would've been okay. He wanted to play with each thing he opened until we had to take it away so he could open another. It was so cute watching him get excited with things. I can't believe it was his second Christmas and that he is old enough to get excited about things!

Matthew got a million things. He got so many clothes from Santa and got an Elmo and a Clifford that he has carried around everyday since Christmas. He got a little piano that he just loves to dance to and got books galore. More cups, silverware, plates, small toys, cars and balls. He got a big coat for the 10 degree weather we have and got shoes and church clothes and hats and mittens. It definitely must be nice being the first child. Once other kids are added, the money gets split up between kids! Santa remembered Matthew though, that's for sure! He was a good boy too. Maybe next year, he can draw him a picture of what he wants!

I didn't get Ammon much, but I did get him The Joseph Smith papers, both books. I have been able to look through and read some of them and I can't imagine how much he knew. He also got a fitness book he has been wanting, clothes, cologne and a cool book called Presidents and Prophets. Interesting fact. Did you know that when Wilford Woodruff was doing the founding fathers' temple work, that he ordained every single one of them to the office of an elder except for George Washington who he ordained a high priest? And they did George Washington's wife's family's temple work. Wilford Woodruff said he was that amazing of a man and that he knew he had to be a high priest. Pretty cool that prophets can know things like that.

One of the highlights of the day. Ammon said that when he went to Barnes and Noble and got this book, Matthew looked at it the whole time and he cried when he took it away. Christmas Day was no exception. It is a cake book and I absolutely love it! Ammon even looked at it too. It really is an amazing book with amazing creations. I want to be like that one day.

Tanisha, Ammon's sister, and her husband, Bryan went completely overboard. They had their package here by the 11th, and she had about thirty presents for Matthew inside. Matthew loves books and it was a good thing because he got so many books this year! It is so good! Tanisha gave him four books that have all "real" art in them (you know, Van Gogh, Mona Lisa, etc.) and Matthew loves touching the pictures. She gave him a little robot, gave me some silicone pans to cook with and a great apron that I love (I didn't have one before Christmas), and gave Ammon a massager that he uses anytime he is home.


Joanna sent us a wonderful package and I don't think there is one person other than my mom and Sloan that understands me and my tastes like she does! She is so good at gift giving. She got Matthew a little blue Ralph Lauren outfit that I just fell in love with right when I saw it. She gave me this cute book about being unique (it almost made me cry), gave us a game, money for a gun (this is the second year she did that for us), and got me a cute mirror that I'm sure she made. She is the best friend anyone could have. Shayler is the luckiest man in the world that he got her.

The Castillos. What can I say about Teri and Joe? They have been good friends to us. They went out of town for Christmas to see their three kids and so we were able to do our little Christmas get-together before they left. I made them a little plaque with their name on it that said Families Can Be Together Forever and got them some cookies and made them some things. We went over there and they gave us our present. A BLU-RAY PLAYER. Seriously. Does that even kind of compare???! No. They even got Matthew a little Tonka car race toy that he says WOW to everytime he sees it. They are very giving and so generous.


If we want to talk about going overboard, then we need to talk about my mom and dad. What a year it has been for them. They never cease to give. They are THE MOST GIVING PEOPLE I've ever known. I hope that I can be that way one day. They gave both Ammon and me a lot of money in gift cards, got Matthew his Cozy Coupe that he loves to ride around and push, a full suit, shirt and tie for him, plus other little things like hats, scarves, baking paraphernalia, Spam for Ammon and a beautiful picture of Christ. They are the best parents anyone could ask for!

Ammon's stepdad, Kevin, is so unbelievable. We sent him a small package and a week later, we open a card with money inside. He is ALWAYS the nicest person and it almost brought tears to my eyes to see what he does for us even though Ammon is not his "son" and he is not even married to Ammon's mom anymore.

Ammon's mom is also always so giving. Not only did we get a package with a hundred stocking stuffers, she sent us all presents. Matthew got a ton of clothes and pjs (what he always needs), Hailey got him some books, got me a beautiful frame that says Family on it (which I love!), got Ammon his favorite movie, New In Town with Renee Zelwegger (yes. His favorite movie) and Pat got Ammon the latest Glenn Beck book. We got a Walmart giftcard as well. Do they know how much I go to Walmart or what?!

All I have to say is that Ammon is obsessed with Rangerup.com. Sloan was so nice to get him two shirts from there. He was in love with them right when he opened the box and put them on right away. I got him a sweatshirt from there and he has worn them all many times since Christmas. She also got Matthew these Elmo legos.

Matthew also got money from both sets of his great grandparents. That was very much appreciated and it is going right into savings just for him!

Gina got me lovely jewelry that I really really like and made me a crocheted potholder which I've pretty much used everyday since I opened it.

His car from my mom and dad. He loves pushing it!Some of our presents. Ammon got me a food processor, the new Nicholas Sparks book that I read in a day like usual, three cook books/baking books and he got me a whole Livestrong workout outfit. I have been wanting that for years and was so excited! I got shorts, shirt, sweatshirt and even the yellow shoes. I was so excited and he did such a good job.

I made a breakfast casserole for that morning/lunch and since we had already cancelled dinner, we didn't have anything to eat. So...Our Christmas dinner! We gave the pizza delivery man a big tip because I felt bad that he was working on Christmas. How funny is it that we seriously ordered pizza on Christmas?!Our stockings

Our collection of Christmas cards this year

Overall, Christmas this year, other than the getting sick part, was a great success. I love getting cards, sending them, buying, shipping...and even though I have gotten over wrapping now, there isn't anything about Christmas that I don't enjoy. We ended the night, after talking to our families, watching a few blu-rays that I got Ammon for our new player and just enjoed being together. We even got a little unexpected gift dropped at our doorstep by the elders. We had a great Christmas!