the most wonderful time of the year

Christmas really is the most wonderful time of the year. I am so grateful I grew up in a family that feels the same way. Even though I'm sure it was stressful for my parents having to plan a Christmas for seven kids, they always made it so fun! They always had something planned to make Christmas memorable and they are still making fun Christmas memories every year. This year everyone went to the 3-D Christmas Carol movie. Ryan and I opted out just because we have a newborn, and didn't know how long Sara would last in the movie, but then met everyone at my parents house for dinner, dessert and presents. This year my parents set up karaoke and made everyone sing! If any of you know my family, you know the majority of us don't sing, because we can't. There are a few that were blessed with a voice, but not many. And... if you any of you know my Dad you will be shocked to know that the picture on the right is him. Yes, that would be my father, dressed up as a girl singing "Santa Baby" It was so great! So This year they gave all the grandkids jammies. It was so cute to see all the kids in them, so we took this cute picture of my Mom and Dad with all fifteen of their grandkids.

My parents always throw their Christmas party on the 23rd so we have all Christmas Eve to spend with Ryan's side of the family. We always go to Ryan's Grandma Goodrich's for dinner then head over to Ryan's parents to open jammies. I've always loved her tradition of letting everyone open one present on Christmas Eve. That's one tradition my family had never done so I was excited to learn that Ryan's family did and I've been getting jammies from Ryan's parents ever since we've been dating. Here's my family, all in our Christmas jammies...

Ryan also always writes a Christmas quiz that we take on Christmas Eve. Ryan's Dad usually always wins just because he knows everything about everyone, oh- and he's the oldest, therefore he's the wisest :) It was kind of a bittersweet moment leaving that Christmas Eve. Every year since we've been married we've slept at Ryan's parents house Christmas Eve and have spent Christmas morning with them. This was our first one just with us at home, and this was Ryan's very first Christmas away from his family. We're his family now and it was actually a lot more fun than we thought it'd be. We woke up Christmas morning and told Sara Santa came and asked if she wanted to open presents she did her little "huh?" (which is her way of saying yes) and ran and knelt in front of the tree ready to open some presents. It really was so cute 'cause she was so excited about everything!

I'm bummed 'cause I didn't get a picture of the girls in their new outfits they wore for Christmas, but they both looked so cute. Our Christmas days have always been so busy trying to visit everyone. Ryan's parents, my parents, Grandma and Grandpa Goodrich, Grandma and Grandpa Garrett, and Grandma Walker. We wanted to visit Grandma Betty too, but she was sick.

We really did have a very Merry Christmas. There is nothing better than spending time with loved ones, and it was so much fun having our first Christmas at home with just the four of us. I hope everyone else had a Merry Christmas, now onto the new year!