Christmas 2014

Our family Christmas tradition is to have dinner at my parents' house on Christmas Eve. Then we usually have some kind of program followed by opening presents with those who won't be there

Christmas morning. My mom made most of the dinner and it was delicious, of course. Our whole family, minus Thomas, was there, plus my Grandma Shoaf and our family friend Laura Roman.

This was Grandma's first time at our dinner and it was so fun to have her there. It was also the first time we'd seen Laura in a while so that was fun, too!

Listen, you can't expect me to carve the ham and not take some bites, especially when I don't eat lunch...

Micah and I went to the store before dinner to get a few things and found this adorable Santa hat for Adelina. For some reason, Dominika wasn't very impressed but I think it's pretty obvious that it was the best idea we've ever had.

The whole group, minus Laura who was taking the picture. Dinner was delicious!

The kids' table

It's a family tradition.

My mom asked me to put together our little Christmas program this year, so we organized a live nativity involving the kids, then we all made a commitment to Share the Gift of Jesus Christ throughout the year. The nativity was adorable. Dad was the narrator, and he read excerpts from Luke chapter 2.

Everyone had a part when we stopped to sing a few Christmas hymns at various spots in the story.

Mary and Joseph getting turned away at the inn, then shown to the stable. When we were getting the costumes on, Cooper was refusing to be in the play at all, let alone be Joseph. Fortunately, as he saw everyone else getting into character, he came around. And what an adorable little couple they made!

Baby Jesus is born!

The Shepherds

The Angel

Dominika, Micah, Mom, and I sang a four-part, a capella rendition of "Angels We Have Heard on High." It was so fun to harmonize!

Shoaf Grandchildren 2014

Present time! Over the last few years, we've followed a tradition where the youngest person opens all their presents then we move on to the next oldest and so on. Adelina started us out, and she loved all the crinkly paper!

 

 Baby got more stuff than she'll ever know what to do with!

Cooper was next and he got this plush lion from my mom - right off his wish list. He hugged and loved on it for so long - so sweet!

Campbell got this Frozen Elsa hat with a long braid that Grandma tried on and modeled for us. She was killin' it that night!

Nalon recently moved from my parents' house to live with Jacob full-time. My mom got him a blanket with a larger-than-life picture of the two of them on it so that he can get a hug from her anytime he misses her. 

Isaac and Holden surprised Dominika with a new violin. She was moved to tears, but I think Isaac's joy from surprising her was even sweeter.

I got to hold this sweet, sleeping baby the whole time, which was gift enough for me. Check out those lips! I did get some other gifts, too, though.

No picture of Isaac, since most of his gifts were joint gifts with Dominika.

The four older kids chipped in and got Dad a skeet thrower. He's notoriously good at guessing his gifts before opening them, but he had no idea on this one! We got Grandma some new clothes, and she was a fabulous model.

Thomas was so sweet and sent a box home with a small gift and note for everyone. Here's the crew with their gifts from Thomas.

 Traditional Sisters Picture

That night, Isaac and Dominika and their kids and I stayed the night at my parents' house, which meant I got some reindeer-jammied baby snuggles the next morning! I got her a couple of new books for Christmas, so it was fun to read those to her, too.

The missionaries came over and joined in our Christmas breakfast, then we all went to a local church to help with a Christmas lunch they do for special needs adults. It was a great way to spend Christmas day - serving others.

We then came home and video-chatted with Thomas! The internet wasn't cooperating very well, so it was a mix of facetiming on Micah's phone and video-chatting on Dad's computer. Thomas seems to be doing well, and it was fun to all talk to him at once.

Later that night, Isaac and Dominika came back over (they'd gone to her Grandpa's house for Christmas dinner), and we played games and then were able to video-chat with Thomas again so he could meet Adelina. He pulled out his ukelele that my parents got him for his birthday, and Adelina loved it! She was dancing on the table. And then they changed her into her pajamas, but not before we got to love those squishy little rolls! She made my Christmas, for sure. Love that babe.

I love the chance to get together as a family for Christmas, and I know so many things in our family are possible because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Like all families, we've had our share of problems but we have overcome and continue to overcome them thanks to the strength, forgiveness, and healing made possible through the Atonement. I'm so grateful that He came to Earth to atone for us so that I can have the blessing and joy of a family.